There could be a link between men’s caffeine consumption before conception and pregnancy loss.Couples may want to limit their caffeine intake to fewer than three daily beverages, and women should continue to to be advised to take daily multivitamins before and during pregnancy, the researchers wrote in their conclusion.

Interesting news for those who are trying to conceive. What do you think? Did you drink caffeine while trying to conceive? How about while you were pregnant?

Source: For Couples Who Want To Get Pregnant, Men’s Habits Matter, Too

World Health Organization(WHO) Recommends Doulas Attend All Births Globally

The WHO has developed a Safe Birth Checklist and doula support is included in that checklist.

First a little bit about the problem and solution directly from the WHO:

“Of the more than 130 million births occurring each year, an estimated 303 000 result in the mother’s death, 2.6 million in stillbirth, and another 2.7 million in a newborn death within the first 28 days of birth. The majority of these deaths occur in low-resource settings and most could have been prevented.

In response to this unacceptable situation, the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist has been developed to support the delivery of essential maternal and perinatal care practices. The Checklist addresses the major causes of maternal death (haemorrhage, infection, obstructed labour and hypertensive disorders), intrapartum-related stillbirths (inadequate intrapartum care), and neonatal deaths (birth asphyxia, infection and complications related to prematurity). It was developed following a rigorous methodology and tested for usability in ten countries across Africa and Asia.”

The WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist is a very simple, 4 page document that lists very basic interventions. The instruction recommend that the checklist is to be used for every single birth. 

On page one, the instructions are:

1. Does mother need a referral?
2. Partograph started?
3. Does mother need to start antibiotics? Magnesium sulfate?
4. Confirm Supplies are available to clean hands and wear gloves for vaginal exam.
5. Encourage birth companion to be present at birth.
6. Confirm that mother or companion will call for help during labor if needed.

That’s it, 6 instructions. And two of the six are related to the birth companion. The glossary in the implementation guidebook gives more information about “labor companion” which I have quoted below:

“ENCOURAGE BIRTH COMPANION TO BE PRESENT AT BIRTH

Birth companions provide support to the mother during labour, childbirth, and in the postpartum
period. They can also help to recognize danger signs, alert the health-care worker in
case of emergency, and care for the baby. Examples of possible birth companions are family
members, the spouse, friends, community health workers, doulas, or staff members.

Evidence shows that birth companions can help to improve health outcomes. The presence
of birth companions increases the likelihood that the mother will have a spontaneous
vaginal delivery instead of a caesarean, vacuum, or forceps birth.11 Mothers with birth companions
have also been shown to need fewer pain medications, be better satisfied with their
delivery experience, and have slightly shorter labours. Babies can also benefit. Studies have
shown that newborns’ 5-minute Apgar Scores are better and there is improved maternal
bonding postnatally when birth companions are present.11,12,15,16
The Checklist user should encourage the presence of a birth companion during labour,
birth, and in the postpartum and postnatal periods. If a birth companion is present at the
time of admission then s/he should be encouraged to remain present for the entire childbirth
process. If a birth companion is not present at the time of admission, then the mother
should be encouraged to identify a birth companion.”

To read the full Guidelines Checklist and Implementation Guide, please follow these links:

http://www.who.int/patientsafety/implementation/checklists/childbirth/en/

http://www.who.int/patientsafety/implementation/checklists/childbirth-checklist_implementation-guide/en/

This is great news for doulas to receive validation for the beautiful work they do every day. Recognition from one of the most influential health organizations in the entire world that doulas work matters.

Aliza Bancoff, Founder International Doula Institute

Source: WHO | WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist

Am I in labor? As this classic scene from Friends illustrates, this is exactly what happens when a woman goes into labor: She feels a twinge of what may be a contraction and that means labor has started. It’s time to panic! The baby is coming. NOW! There will probably not be any time to get out the door to a hospital or birth center, so that means anyone near her must become an instant expert on delivering babies. Oh, and, not to mention the mess!

You can always trust your Friends, right?

Well… maybe not in this instance. Let’s talk about what labor, particularly the beginning stages, really looks like.

In many cases, deciphering the beginning of labor is not quite so straightforward. Especially if you’re a first time mom that has never experienced a contraction, it can be difficult to know when your Braxton Hicks contractions, which can become more frequent near the end of pregnancy, stop and when real contractions begin. You may also experience Prodromal labor for several days before you are in the throes of active labor.

Prodormal Labor, also known as false labor, produces contractions that feel like stronger Braxton Hicks. But, unlike true labor, these contractions are irregular. They may show up at the same time each day, and last for just a few hours, disappearing as quickly as they arrived. The length of each contraction will also vary. In true labor, contractions will not go away. Instead, they will become stronger, longer, and closer together.

This false labor can be confusing and emotionally draining! But, take heart, if you experience Prodromal labor, all that work is not in vain. It can help to begin the process of softening and dilating your cervix, which may in turn cause you to lose part of your mucous plug – a sign that true labor is coming! There’s certainly nothing false about the bloody show.

So, what can you do if you’re experiencing false labor? Take a hint from your body: just as it’s practicing for the rigors of labor, you can practice your coping mechanisms, breathing, and relaxation techniques. It may also be a good time to double that you have everything packed and ready to go, or to simply sit back, rest, and enjoy some time to yourself before you begin your transition into motherhood.

When real labor begins it’s also not usually the immediate emergency situation it can be made out to be on TV or in the movies. During the early stages of labor, you will likely have time to labor at home, take a shower, or even get some time to rest before heading out the door to the hospital or birth center. Of course, there can be a lot of variability, but an average length of labor for first time moms is between 10 to 20 hours and generally progresses more quickly if you have already given birth vaginally. So, there’s no need to start boiling water or cutting sheets at the first sign of a contraction. If you are at all confused about whether or not you are in labor, you can always give your doctor or midwife a call; they will be able to answer any questions you have and help you assess if it’s time to come pay them a visit.

And of course, one thing you can always be sure of when it comes to your labor, just like your Friends, your doula will be there for you.

Thank you to Amber A. from Wyoming for answering the question:

What do you think you will love the most about being a doula?

“I think what I will love most is watching the transition into motherhood and being supportive. I wish I would have had a doula when I had my son. There is nothing more exciting then helping a mother welcome her little bundle of joy!”

Emotional Intelligence for the Doula

By understanding your emotions, you can move adeptly through your current challenges and prevent future ones.

Source: How Emotional Intelligence Can Boost Your Career — And Save Your Life

The above statement is why we teach Emotional Intelligence here at International Doula Institute to all of our new doulas.

“Decades of research now point to emotional intelligence as the critical factor that sets star performers apart from the rest of the pack.”

It’s one of many pieces of what sets IDI doulas apart from the rest. Emotional Intelligence for the doula is so important to allow us to have a better understanding of ourselves, our motivations, behavior and most important, love and empathy for our clients and improvement of our ability to connect with our clients.

By teaching emotional intelligence to our doulas, they are able to have improved thinking skills, improved personal effectiveness, better self-management, better professional relationships and improved leadership capability. These are such important pieces of being a great doula, gaining the trust of our clients so that we can most effectively educate them on the things they want to learn from their doula to become better parents as they grow into their own roles in the family.

We teach emotional intelligence to our students to harness the great power of emotional intelligence to improve their doula work tremendously and become leaders in their doula communities.

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters At Work