2012 Doula/Monitrice Birth Stats

Dec 282012
 

2012 Portland Doula Monitrice Stats Photo

  • 0% Unnecessary Inductions*
  • 0% Cesarean
  • 100% Breastfeeding

*(before 42 weeks/medically necessary for Baby or Mother)

Someone asked me why I think none of my clients choose to have their labors induced when it’s so prevalent in our society. After some reflection, I think there are 3 key factors for this rate:

1) I’m so openly anti-unnecessary-induction for women/babies that women who are inclined to them don’t seek me out. Seriously. Given that Mom is objectively healthy and psychologically intact, and baby is objectively healthy and thriving, there is no reason other than selfish motivation to force a baby out before they are done gestating. I offer Moms some evidence-based research, they educate themselves, and they prepare mentally for the potential obstacles to a natural, physiological, birth. They have self-selected into my practice knowing how I feel. They are strong in their resolve to have a natural vaginal birth without unnecessary interventions.

2) Their partners were active participants – they also studied and learned about interventions that are commonly used in hospital birth, the potential effects, and the “package of interventions” that go together and what that means for labor and birth. They actively supported their partners in pursuing a natural, physiological birth. They weren’t apathetic – it wasn’t that they didn’t care and just put it all in the woman’s hands to decide – they also wanted the same things for the birth that the mother wanted.

3) Their providers were supportive of their choices. In every case, either the physician or the midwife at the birth “sat on their hands”. They were present and monitoring labor, providing support, but they were happy to sit back and let things unfold naturally. They offered various options, and even offered inductions at times, but they didn’t ever try to scare my clients. My clients reported feeling supported by their physicians and midwives. This is probably the single biggest factor. We put a lot of trust and faith into our providers.

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Herbs for the Childbearing Year at Portland Mama Baby Center

May 302012
 

herbs for the childbearing year

Herbs for Women in Their Childbearing Years
With Jessica Elliott

  • Herbs every women should have in her life.
  • Fertility & conception.
  • Nourishing herbs during pregnancy.
  • Herbal solutions for common pregnancy complaints.
  • Postpartum herbs for the perineum.
  • Milk supply herbs.
  • Preventing & treating postpartum blues.

CLASS: Herbs for Women in their Childbearing Years
WHEN: August 18 from 10am to 4pm.
WHERE: Portland MamaBaby Center (map)
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITE: Herbs for Everyone
COST: $75.00. 

To register, simply download our registration form and attach your payment.

Return your completed registration form and payment to Portland MamaBaby Center at 5528 SE Woodstock Blvd. Portland, OR 97206. We also accept Paypal and major credit card. If you wish to use PayPal or a credit card, please fill out the registration form and send it in and then contact Kate directly (kate@PortlandMamaBabyCenter.com) to make your payment.

For specific questions about the class, please email Jessica at Jessica@PortlandMamaBabyCenter.com

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Monitrice Doula Care at Portland Mama Baby

May 292012
 

big pregnant belly african american mom white dadIt’s clear to me that 99% of the people I know outside of the birthing bubble aren’t exactly sure what a monitrice does. Even within my little bubble of birth professionals, there are people who cock their heads to one side when I say the word, as though I’m speaking a foreign language, so I thought I’d take a second and just write another post to try to clear up any questions.

Monitrice is the feminine form of the word monitor. A monitrice is there to monitor your labor.

A trained monitrice is typically a woman, typically a midwife, who is there to monitor your labor at home, allowing you to confidently labor at home until it’s time to have your baby. Our monitrice team is highly educated and have both passed the national NARM test required for midwives to become certified professional midwives.  That’s right, our monitrice team is made up of two midwives who work as birth assistants in the Portland metro area. They both have taken and passed CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation courses. You can read more about our monitrice doula team, and specifically Jennifer and Jessica on our website.

So here’s my elevator pitch to people who ask me, “Just what is a monitrice and how is that different from a doula?”

Monitrices are like doulas plus with a background in midwifery or as a medical assistant and specialized training. Our monitrices are women, actually CPM midwives, who:

  • are trained to monitor the Mother’s vitals
  • are trained to monitor fetal heart tones
  • are trained to assess your cervical dilation and effacement (check your cervix) at your request
  • have attended >100 births and knows what are ‘normal’ births and what is ‘abnormal’
  • help you to labor at home longer, confidently, with the expertise of a midwife
  • know when it becomes necessary to leave immediately for the hospital
  • double as your doula so when you go to the hospital for pushing, your monitrice becomes a supportive doula by your side at the hospital
  • provide midwifery based prenatal and postpartum care
  • are trained to help you prepare spiritually and emotionally for the birth of your baby
  • have helped hundreds of women and babies learn to breastfeed
  • refer you to paraprofessionals if you have special needs

Our monitrice team is not:

  • A cheaper way to have a planned home birth
  • Your primary provider for the pregnancy
  • An under the table version of a midwife (unlicensed midwifery is legal in Oregon, you can easily find an unlicensed midwife if that’s what you’re looking for – we’ll be happy to make a recommendation)
  • Competitive with your obstetrical care. The monitrices work with you and your doctor as professional doulas. Professionalism is a high priority in our practice.
  • Out to convince you to have a home birth or change your plans. They support your choice to have a baby with an OB or nurse midwife in the hospital. Home birth isn’t for everyone, but there is plenty of evidence that shows that laboring at home longer increases your chances of a healthy, natural, hospital birth.

If you have questions about monitrice doula care
or you’d like to make a consultation appointment
with the monitrice team, please contact kate:
kate@portlandmamababycenter.com
or give us a call at the center (503) 206-7715

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