Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:46:49 -0600WeeblySun, 27 Mar 2011 14:49:10 -0600http://www.supportingmom.com/2/post/2011/03/home-birth-or-hospital-birth.htmlI sometimes get asked by clients who haven't come to a decision "what is the difference between a home or hospital birth?"
Of course there are many differences  but for me,  I often give what i call my living room response.
When you have a homebirth, everyone who attends...your midwife, your best friend, the midwife's assistant, everyone, is there as a guest in your home. You are in your own space, where you are comfortable. All of your guest are there to make your birth work for you and your family.
When you go to the hospital, it is as if you are stepping into a strangers living room. you do not know where anything is, you do not know the rules of the house, you are not in charge.
For me, that is the biggest difference.
Of course, midwives and doctors approach birth differently. Some women will feel much safer in a hospital situation because that is the cultural norm. There are also several birthing centers in our area, which can offer a good halfway point.
I for one am very grateful that we have so many choices available to us in the Austin area.
]]>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 20:44:36 -0600http://www.supportingmom.com/2/post/2010/12/things-are-changing.html In the last few years, I have realized that I have a talent for overnight work. I love helping new moms learn how to night time parent. I like helping a family to set a healthy and supportive sleep environment for their babies.  I enjoy supporting their babies in learning to soothe themselves back to sleep.
So, I have built a new website to address my overnight work. please check it out.. www.AustinBabyGuru.com
]]>Sun, 14 Nov 2010 21:45:55 -0600http://www.supportingmom.com/2/post/2010/11/birth.htmlI love attending births. Every single time... I am left in awe of the power that women have to bring new lives into the world. I love watching the way the process of birth takes over. It doesn't matter if this is the first time experiencing it or your fifth. A mother has to give in to the process to move forward. Some women do this easily, others fight it a bit longer. There always comes a time in labor when the mothers world shrinks down and just includes those few who are blessed to be present for this event. I am so lucky to have that opportunity on a regular basis. Thank you to all of the families who have welcomed me along on their journey.
]]>Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:03:53 -0600http://www.supportingmom.com/2/post/2010/10/from-allison.htmlThis should have been put as my first blog post but i am still figuring out how to do this so....

I have always thought about doing a blog but had no idea how to go about it. Our new host here has a built in blog so I thought "why not?"
OF course now we will have to see what I have to write about. I thought I could use it as a place to put my thoughts on pregnancy, birth and new parenting. I might also put links to things  I find interesting on the web.
This could be fun. Please follow along on my blogging journey.
]]>Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:58:43 -0600http://www.supportingmom.com/2/post/2010/10/breastfeeding-101.htmlI have been teaching an introduction to breastfeeding class at the north babies r us for the last couple of years. It is a free class, usually held on the first Tuesday of the month (if you decide to go, be sure to call BRU first. they schedule the classes and occasionally shake the schedule up).
We had a great class this week! There were about twenty moms and dads in attendance. I love seeing the dads get involved, they can make a huge difference in a mom's success breastfeeding. Besides, it is something that is so important for his baby.
We cover things like positioning baby, how to tell if baby is getting enough milk, pumping and going back to work, sore nipples, nursing in public, etc. Best of all it is a free class!
why don't you come join us?
]]>Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:31:51 -0600http://www.supportingmom.com/2/post/2010/08/is-your-child-as-safe-as-they-could-be.html

http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/108322/9_lifesaving_car_seat_rules

I would love it if every mom I came across could read this. I drive around and see so many children, who;s parents clearly love them so much, not buckled into their seats properly. some highlights from the blog...

Rule #1: Make Sure Shoulder Straps Are in Proper Position

Rule #2: Rear-Facing Is the Responsible Choice Unless your child has serious medical problems, they have to rear-face until they literally cannot anymore. With all the new, cheaper seats with 40-pound or higher rear-facing limits, it's possible for anyone to have a seat that will keep their child rear-facing until the bare minimum of 2 years old and 30 pounds, as per the AAP's improved guidelines. But as they state, 2 years is the bare minimum -- your child is still significantly safer rear-facing until you cannot fit them that way any longer. After all, it's 500 percent safer.
(I include this whole rule because parent's seem to have trouble with it)

Rule #3: No Gaps Allowed Between Baby's Crotch/Groin Area and Harness

Rule #4: Be Sure the Chest Clip Is Positioned Properly on the Chest

Rule #5: Know the Proper Guidelines for Outgrowing a Seat

Rule #6: Straps Need to Pass "The Pinch Test"
(updated from the 2 fingers under the strap)

Rule #7: Coats Are Not Allowed

please jump over there and read the whole thing. :)
]]>Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:13:27 -0600http://www.supportingmom.com/2/post/2010/08/how-do-i-choose-a-birth-doula.htmlYou are pregnant and you are looking to hire a birth doula. You might be asking yourself a lot of questions, like...
Where do you start?
What questions do you ask?
What kind of services should you expect?
How far along in your pregnancy should you be before you start to look for one?
Do Doulas go to hospitals? Homebirth? Birthing Centers?
What should I expect to pay?

:)  First things first....Breathe.

where to start...
I always recommend that people start by asking around to friends, family and co-workers. Find out if anyone you know has used any of the local doulas. What was their experience like. Would they recommend their doula?
Another approach is to go to the local doula association site www.centxdoulas.org
here they have listings with bios for many of the Austin doulas.
I always recommend that clients meet with at least two doulas.
Pick the one who makes you feel safe and comfortable.

what should I expect....
Most doulas offer similar service packages. most will do 1-3 prenatal meetings (these include get to know you time, practice positioning and coping techniques, some will even do a mini childbirth class). whether they are doing enough or no is a matter of you getting what you need. a doula will meet you while you are in labor, when you get to the point that you feel you need her. sometimes this is in your home sometimes it is meeting at the hospital. all doula are trained to provide support throughout labor. they do not change shifts or leave to deal with their own lives while you need them. some will call in help if labor runs over 24 hrs. they are there until the baby is born. most stay for a few hours after baby arrives, making sure that you are setup in postpartum and feeding baby is underway. there is usually a postpartum follow up a few days to a week after the baby is born. doulas are trained to assist with newborn breastfeeding as well as to watch for issues like postpartum depression.
when to hire a doula....
People often hire a doula during their third trimester but I tell people
that starting early is a good thing. a doula does not charge more if you
hire her early but it does give you some benefits. you have time to look
around and pick who feels right to you. you have a good shot at securing
your spot on her calender (most doulas only take a small number of clients on each month). it gives you a longer time to tap into her resources (asking questions about pregnancy or birth as they come up, getting referrals for other services, etc). you can space your prenatal meetings out a bit. it gives you even more time to form a relationship with her.

where doulas work....
Most of the doulas in Austin work in all of the local hospitals, birthing centers. Most would love the opportunity to support you in a home birth.

the cost...
the price of birth doula service here in central Texas is a wide range. there are volunteer doulas through an organization called Giving Austin Labor Support. Most doula service ranges from a small fee of the doula's cost (child care, parking, etc) for a new or less experienced doula to a much larger fee for doulas who incorporate more than one service into what they offer (such as a doula who is also a massage therapist). The middle range for an experienced doula is around $600. this usually includes all prenatal visits, uninterrupted labor and birth support and the postpartum visit. ]]>Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:18:49 -0600http://www.supportingmom.com/2/post/2010/08/first-post.html