What The Bump CLT - Charlotte Doula

Before the need for perfect, there was simple.⁣
Oh, so completely simple.⁣
⁣
A stable.⁣
Wooden manger.⁣
An exhausted new mother.⁣
A terrified first-time father,⁣
unsure of his fresh role.⁣
⁣
Before the quest for the perfect holiday,⁣
there was a journey.⁣
⁣
A faithfully fearful passage.⁣
Full of eager anticipation.⁣
Following the guidance of an angel.⁣
By the light of an unmistakable star.⁣
Straight toward prophesied uncertainty.⁣
⁣
Before the craziness and chaos of the holidays, there was undeniable peace.⁣
Amidst the quiet darkness of a wooden⁣
building meant for animals, not a King.⁣
A baby’s bed made of hay.⁣
Respectful visitors, in awe of new life.⁣
Rest, tranquility and anxious-filled quiet.⁣
⁣
Before chasing the mirage of perfection crept into our lives...⁣
⁣..a grand tree⁣..an expensively prepared holiday meal⁣..hundreds-upon-thousands⁣
of dollars spent on gifts⁣..rushing from event-to-event;⁣
from obligation-to-obligation⁣..working overtime to ensure a faultless experience...⁣
⁣..there was imperfect.⁣
⁣
Gorgeously uncertain and incredibly simple;⁣
imperfect.⁣
⁣
An imperfectly beautiful night that⁣
granted each-and-every one of us⁣
the greatest, most undeserving⁣
Gift of all.⁣
⁣
Unconditional.⁣
Ever-forgiving.⁣
All-encompassing.⁣
Unlimited.⁣
Life-everlasting.⁣
Grace.⁣
⁣
A lifetime of the most unmerited gift. Made possible by the sacrifice of a newborn baby. In the quiet stillness of a livestock stable. Under the majestic light of the North Star.⁣
⁣
So humble.⁣
So fearful.⁣
So anticipated.⁣
So serene.⁣
So still.⁣
So often forgotten.⁣
So easy to remember.⁣
⁣
Such a powerfully tranquil celebration.⁣
⁣
Before the need for perfect, there was simple.⁣
⁣
Oh, so completely...⁣..beautifully...⁣..magnificently...⁣..sovereignly...⁣..intensely...⁣..redeeming-ly...⁣
simple.⁣
⁣
Written by reposted from

Merry Christmas 🤍

🚩 Routine does not mean it is the best and safest decision for everyone 🚩

💧 An amniotomy is an intervention routinely used in the hospital for induction or augmentation. It consists of the medical provider artificially releasing the bag of waters using an amnihook that looks similar to a crochet hook. 💧

Somethings to consider

• Am I progressing?
• Where is the baby stationed in my pelvis?
• What are the risks?
• What are the benefits?

An amniotomy CAN be a tool to help labor progress but it does NOT need to be done if labor is already progressing. It is important to understand the benefits and risks before consenting to one.

Keeping your water intact as long as possible also cushions you and your baby from the intensity of labor contractions. Picture it like a swimming pool for your baby and bubble wrap for you!

And YES! It is possible for your baby to be born in their sac also known as en caul and it is actually considered a sacred thing!

So Remember light 💡 you ALWAYS have the option to say no! Or consider it when baby is lower in your pelvis later in labor. Or just wait for it to happen on its own! Or perhaps, your little one is extra special and is born en caul 🤍

✨ WHAT ITS LIKE WORKING WITH US ✨

Did you know there is an enormous amount of evidence showing that doulas decrease the rate of cesarean birth by almost 40%, increase birth satisfaction, decrease birth intervention, and sooo much more.

if you’ve EVER considered hiring a doula we truly think it’s the best decision you could make surrounding pregnancy- whether that’s us or another one of the AMAZING doulas in our community! 🤍

SCREAMING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO .e.chen 🤍🤍🤍🤍

the most selfless, giving, and kind soul you will ever meet- and of course the best doula in the game. I love you so much 🤍

✨Do you approach your birth with a fearful or joyful mindset?

Your mindset surrounding birth is going to shape and impact your birth experience ✨

Fear in labor looks like :

•an increase in heart rate
•tension in your jaw
•clenched fists
•shoulders rising
•the urge to fight or run from contractions
•mentally spiraling, which leads to more pain and the cycle continues

To break out of this cycle it’s important to focus on activating the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is your calm and relaxed state which allows your body to open and relax while in labor.

Trust in labor looks like:

•slow and controlled breathing by deeply inhaling and exhaling throughout surges
•trusting your body knows what to do and repeating positive affirmations
•relaxing your jaw, fists and shoulders
•allowing each surge to wash over you rather than fighting them
•closing your eyes and visualize your body opening and your baby

Birth beautifully designed with a purpose. Is it hard work? Yes! But the reward of holding your baby is worth it all.

What helped you mentally prepare for birth? Share with us in the comments ⬇️

meet Stephanie!

“Hello, my name is Stephanie! I am a wife, boy mama times two, labor and delivery nurse and a doula!

My experience birthing our son truly filled my soul and has led me to be apart of numerous birthing experiences! Whether it is your first baby or fourth baby, making the transition and growing your family is a true blessing that I want to be sure you feel informed and supported for no matter what your birthing preference is! You must feel empowered to make the best educated decision possible for yourself during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
As a nurse, I have the knowledge of the medical system as well as the background of evidence based research to educate myself to then help educate other mothers to make the best informed decision for your birth. I would be honored to serve you physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually as you walk though this sacred journey of pregnancy, birth and postpartum!” 🤍

Meet Anna!

“Hi! I’m Anna- a proud wife, mom, artist, and Certified Birth Doula. My passion as a doula is for women to feel educated and empowered rather than apprehensive as they approach their birth. Labor is an endurance event, but with the right information and team by your side, you can approach it without fear! I spent seven years in the corporate world directing teams and software strategies via data analysis and research.

It was a complete leap of faith for me to leave that behind to follow my passion for birth, which I discovered through the birth of my own daughter. I can honestly say being a labor doula has been the most satisfying job I’ve had (besides being a mom!). Like my career move, following your gut is rule number one for your pregnancy, labor, and motherhood. You know what is best for you and your baby, and it would be my honor to walk alongside you in your journey towards your birth!” 🤍

Meet Larissa!

“I am a mom to Lady, my nine year old Yorkshire Terrier! As a registered nurse who has specialized in labor & delivery for 3+ years, I have assisted many mothers and their partners in welcoming their little miracles into the world. Wanting the experience to be even more personal, I obtained my Doula training through the Academy of Certified Birth Trainers. I am a certified labor support professional as well as a certified breastfeeding educator!

Being kind, compassionate, and open-minded are key morals for me and I would love to help you have an informed and empowering birth experience. During my free time you will find my fiancé and I at local sporting events or at home watching the game. I love to cheer on my teams and would love to be there to cheer, guide, and advocate for you during your birth experience!”

thankful for this amazing team of doulas 🤍

longgg overdue announcement but we’ve added a few new faces to WTB! truly they aren’t new faces to us at all. each of these women have been apart of our lives for years- and we’re so excited to now join all of our skills, knowledge, experience, and passions together to serve the mamas in our area 🤍

separate intros to follow :)

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Wishing the creator of What The Bump CLT the Happiest Birthday!

Jenn is not only the best doula but if you have the opportunity to know her, you know she is an amazing and loving wife, mother, daughter, sister doula, and friend!

Thank you for the impact you have made in the birth world and so many women’s births and lives. We are so excited to see what this new year brings for your family and business Jenn! We love you!

If Jenn has made an impact in your life, show some love for Jenn today in the comments 💕

✨ HAPPY NEW YEAR ✨

we are honored to have walked alongside 56 families just this year alone! It’s truly a dream that we call this our job.

we were able to encourage, love, support, educate, and advocate for 56 families while they experienced pregnancy and birth. It was such a beautiful year with so many new lives welcomed into loving arms🤍

here’s some 2022 year end stats:
• 56 births attended with one set of twins!
• overall cesarean rate of 10% (this does not include planned cesareans)
• cesarean rate without induction - less than 5%
• 6 planned cesareans
• VBAC RATE OF 100% ✨✨✨
• induction rate of 21% - and we’re proud to say almost all were absolute medical indications!
• the hours we spent with clients: countless. Truly. I wish we calculated this and next year we will- but man did we feel like we lived at the hospitals some days!

thank you 2022 for the biggest blessings 🤍

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✨ no soap in the va**na!!! ✨

Is this a thing? YES! this is my soap box- no pun intended. We’re very passionate about keeping SOAP out of your VA**NA during BIRTH for many reasons!!

some practitioners will use soap (Johnson & Johnson specifically) in your va**na while pushing as lubrication- and you may not even know it!

How often were we told in middle school to not wash your v***a or put soap into your va**na? This is basic s*x ed 101. Putting soap in the va**na disrupts the GOOD bacteria and yes, there is such thing as GOOD bacteria. Using soaps in your va**na can throw off your va**nal PH and lead to yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis. It can also interfere with the inoculation of bacteria and the establishment of your baby’s microbiome!!! The establishment of the microbiome at birth is important for many reasons, one being that the microbiome plays a big role in the development of your baby’s intestinal immune system.

It is NOT necessary to use lubricant in your va**na during birth- especially in the form of soap. nature has designed it perfectly with all the “lubrication it needs”. Research as shown the use of lubricant gel during labor does not reduce the length of labor or improve maternal or neonatal outcomes.

empower yourself with this education if you see a practitioner doing this! IF you do prefer some assistance or perineal massage some other alternatives for lubricant in the va**na are oils such as grape seed, coconut, olive, almond, or mineral oil. Even KY jelly is farrr better than soap!!!

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See y’all at 7pm!!

a million emotions wrapped in one moment, captured in one photo ♥️

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✨questions to ask to help you make an INFORMED decision✨

asking questions doesn’t mean you don’t trust your provider or are questioning their expertise - it means you want to gather all the information and make a decision that fits your family best! No one size fits all!!! So just because a friend or relative or “most” people do something doesn’t mean it’s best for you.

Let’s role play an example: your provider recommends a 35 week growth scan even though your baby is measuring normal.

1. why are you recommending this?
• they say: it’s routine, helps ensure the baby is growing properly, make sure baby isn’t too big to “fit”.
2. what are the risks?
• they say: ultrasounds can be unreliable and have a range of error when it comes to estimating baby size. We may recommend cesarean or induction based off results that aren’t always accurate.
3. what are the benefits?
• they say: if baby is having any growth restriction or is very large (which likely all would come with other signs) we can confirm with US.
4. what are alternatives?
• they say: we can monitor your weight, belly measurement / growth which have all been normal.
5. what happens if I decline?
• they say: nothing, risk not knowing if baby is large.

there’s a quick example of how it can play out with something as simple as a growth ultrasound.

ask all the questions prior to making your choice.♥️

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🛑 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE CONSENTING TO A CERVICAL EXAM 🛑

1️⃣what is the purpose?
• Are you look for a certain number? Baby position? Labor progression? A cervix can go from completely closed to 10cm in a short period of time or from 6cm to 10cm over a long period of time. DILATION IS NOT LINEAR. this doesn't accurately predict your labor onset or progression. Know what your practitioner is assessing with the cervical exam.

2️⃣what are you going to do with the information?
• Your practitioner may want you to be dilated a certain amount so they can determine the next intervention. If you’re less then __cm are they going to push pitocin or breaking your water? Asking this helps you understand the motive behind the exam!

3️⃣will this change our course of action?
• If doing a cervical check isn't going to change the plan of care or next steps then it is UNNECESSARY. A great example of this is “routine" cervical exams at your 37, 38, or 39 week OB appt. This will NOT change the course of your pregnancy whether 0cm or 5cm and not in labor. I have seen so many mamas discouraged because their 0 then go into labor within days and many mamas so excited because they’re 4cm and go 2 weeks past due! even during labor cervical dilation should NOT be the only tool to assess progress!

we are by no means saying cervical exams are useless, they can be helpful when used very sparingly during labor to assess your progress and give a general over all picture of your labor at that moment- esp if you’re being induced / need an intervention to determine that next step.

However cervical exams are without a doubt extremely over used!

There is next to NO reason any practitioner should be routinely checking your cervix during a low risk / “normal” labor more than every 4 hours if not MUCH MUCH longer… there are many other ways to tell a mamas progress in labor and babies positioning from the outside :)

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✨ EAT YOUR DATES ✨

You definitely don’t want to skip out on eating dates at the end your pregnancy!

we always tell our clients - this is an ALL or NOTHING thing, if you’re going to eat them you must stay consistent, or you won’t reap the benefits!

They are packed with a sweet punch so it might be hard to consume them all in one sitting. We recommend breaking up the 70 grams throughout the day, adding them to a big smoothie, or make it savory with some sea salt and nut butter!

While dates can be a great tool to prepare your body for labor, it isn’t a guarantee, but it’s definitely worth the try!

Did dates help you prepare for labor?

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✨cute fresh newborn baby toes and a beautiful rich cord✨

see how the baby’s vernix (a protective, thick, greasy, moisturizing layer on the skin) is a yellow green color? normally vernix is white!

this baby had meconium (his first p**p) prior to being born! This caused his vernix and even parts of the placenta and cord to have a yellow tinge! most babies with meconium stained fluid have no complications from it - but the NICU team is always at the birth just in case baby needs any help!

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✨ happy world breastfeeding week ✨

breastmilk is truly AMAZING. It contains live cells, stem cells, germ fighting cells, and changes throughout the day based off of what baby needs.

we also understand so many mamas chose to not BF, can’t BF for many reasons, struggle with production, latching issues, so so many things. we are in no way shaming those mamas but also wanna highlight how amazing breastmilk is and celebrate the hard work + sacrifice breastfeeding is!

any way you feed your baby is amazing, sacrificial, and such hard work! ♥️

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✨ EVIDENCE BASED WAYS TO REDUCE TEARING ✨

1. YOUR PROVIDER- overall if your provider has a low tear rate, you are less likely to tear!

2. YOUR BIRTH SETTING- evidence shows tear rates are lower in birth center births & home births.

3. AN UPRIGHT POSITION- laboring upright has been proven to result in less perineal trauma and episiotomies (probably because you cannot cut an episiotomy on a mama laboring / pushing upright!)

4. HANDS OFF- an approach of waiting and watching, with some help to keep babies head from rapid expulsion at the very end. The opposite of this would be a hands on approach where your provider is doing perineal massage, applying lubrication, helping baby make any rotations, and overall having their hands on the perineum while pushing.

5. WARM COMPRESS- proven to reduce more severe tears, kinda a “why not?”! It can only help + provide some warmth and relief to the perineal area during pushing!

6. PERINEAL MASSAGE- not much evidence behind this, but may help reduce more severe tearing!

for more info check out this webinar - https://evidencebasedbirth.com/replay-of-the-evidence-on-the-top-5-ways-to-prevent-tearing-during-childbirth/

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when dad was offered to catch his own baby, he jumped at the opportunity! It was a beautiful and amazing moment, he was the first person to touch his son and guide him earthside!

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I love this photo, captured is mama (with a perfect manicure per usual) reaching over to hold her babies hand after she made the choice to have a belly birth to get him here quick & safely!

unpredictable birth doesn’t mean disempowered birth! although birth plans change all the time you can still feel empowered, educated, and in control. ♥️

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skin to skin, nursing, the golden hour, uninterrupted. That should be protocol. That should be the priority. That should be the standard of care.

nothing is urgent (unless baby needs help with immediate transition / breathing). I see it alllll too often where baby is taken to the warmer immediately after birth for weights and shots because it’s “their protocol” 😵‍💫

weighing baby, medications, assessment, all of it, it’s NOT urgent (and most can / should be done on mamas chest anyway!)

the benefits of uninterrupted skin to skin are tooo many to count. It regulates babies temperature, breathing, keeps them relaxed, helps bonding, breastfeeding, stabilized blood sugar, and much more!

(and thankfully so many providers / midwives / hospitals are practicing this more and more often!)

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4 hormonal shifts that happen postpartum ➡️➡️➡️

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I recently heard a provider say they do not ever do delayed cord clamping longer than 30 seconds … 😵‍💫

no one can tell you no, it is your body and your baby! annnnnd there is SO much evidence in favor of delayed cord clamping.

🛑 wait for that cord to stop pulsating and turn white!!! 🛑

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those first moments right after birth, skin to skin, finally meeting the little baby you’ve been growing for 9 months ♥️

It truly trips me up to think we grow these babies for 9 months, they never ever leave our sides, they’re with us 24/7 in the womb, they’re literally 50% us, but yet when they’re born we’re just meeting them for the first time in a way… 🤯

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these pups have a hard time when they suddenly realize they aren’t the only baby and center of attention anymore!

here’s ways to help your pup adjust!
1. introduce baby toys, items, bassinets, swings, ect EARLY on. Let your dog get used to these items.
2. Bring home a hat or swaddle with babies scent on it and let your dog explore + smell it prior to you bringing baby home.
3. Once home make sure to still carve out time for your pup, even if it’s just 5 minutes to play while baby naps!

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✨ cervical dilation is NOT linear ✨

I find myself reminding clients of this all the time! Dilation can move slow and steady, or extremely fast.

This mama went from 2cm to 3cm in over 2 hours. She felt discouraged tired, assuming she had hours and hours left. We got in the tub for some relief, her water broke 10 minutes later, and a baby was in her arms very quickly after. so I’ll say it again, dilation is not linear! ♥️

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a common question we get is “how can I support her once labor starts, I don’t know what to do!”

labor can seem foreign and even sometimes scary to partners watching from the outside, as a doula we LOVE to guide and involve YOU in labor!

here are 4 ways you can support a laboring mama!

___