NoticeBeing pushed out of our comfort zone may be an opportunity to stretch our horizons or reinforce a boundary. The key is knowing WHY and responding with confidence. nOticeThe feeling of offence is our processors signally that this new information needs to be carefully considered before making a determination. There is No One Way..your offence …
Have you ever heard, or even said: It would be great if we didn’t need doulas or I wish we didn’t need birth plans Like ‘leave your dignity at the door’, these statements are not quite what we think they are. What would it look like to not need a doula? would this mean a …
Are we doing what we’re told Or buying what we’re sold? Are we all agentic and resigned To accept that we’re confined? Why do we trust our overlords Who disregard the needs of hoards? Why do we believe the lie that we are free When we still have liability? Why to this will do we …
“I raised a concern with the obstetrician and she said we just have to play it by ear as to what’s happening with the pregnancy at that point. So I felt reassured by that.” Reassure say or do something to remove the doubts or fears Dismiss treat as unworthy of serious consideration The quote above describes an all too …
The following is an excerpt from The Birth Map: boldly going where no birth plan has gone before The medical terms used to describe pre-labour caesareans are ‘planned’, ‘elective’ or ‘scheduled’. Any in-labour caesarean is deemed an ‘emergency caesarean’. However in the interests of clarity, there are degrees of urgency. From ‘Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: …
In this video, I challenge a recent paper, “Second Victims in Maternity Care – The Hidden Fallout of Parental Birth Plans”, that raised some concerns for me. Hidden? or non-existent? or disrespectful? The merging of consent with compliance is alarming. You need to comply/consent, or you’ll hurt the feelings of the one seeking your consent/approval. …
Is there such a thing as forced professional passivity? Read More »
The strength of a Birth Map is found if our journey needs to detour. Considering some of the more difficult pathways in advance, can help us immeasurably in the event of adversity. You may have heard that birth plans set us up for disappointment…there are some common mistakes made when creating a birth plan, which …
We are seeing bundle after bundle rolling out to improve care and all they seem to do is increase paperwork and scare The bundles are a bungle of tokenistic action despite well established solutions that would cost but a fraction! There are two bundles in recent times that have been cause for concern. The first …
In the healthcare context, our language can have a big impact – including a nocebo effect. Whether we are focused on risks or benefits, recommended care or alternatives…the fact remains that there is The Decision belongs to one impacted (in maternity care, this is the pregnant woman). The words counsel, shared, persuade and consent are …
Preparing for Birth is like preparing to climb Mount Everest, but with much more chance of success and a lot more warmth! When climbing Everest, a Sherpa is an essential part of your team. They know the landscape, the climate and remain calm and alert. In Birth, a doula is like a sherpa. The doula is familiar with the location, the people and the physiology, remaining calm and alert, guiding and supporting you.
