Creativity

For me, being a doula is a calling, a passion even. Helping other women on their journey of motherhood, it’s also an honor and blessing!
But when I’m not doing that…. I like to make jewelry! It’s calming, allows me a creative outlet, and it’s just fun! I’m thankful to have the opportunity to create and share my designs with the world!
Here’s a representation of my designs from the very beginning to present day.

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Brandi Monson

Certified Doula

Serving Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma

Including the cities of: Independence & Coffeyville Kansas and surrounding areas.

 

Experience and Statistics

Part of interviewing a doula is to ask about her training, her work experience, and her philosophy about birth. I encourage everyone looking at hiring a doula to examine her training & education provider. Doulas do not have to be certified, however, the training that they receive is very important.

Training

I enrolled in and attended DONA‘s labor doula training program in the fall of 2005.

Doula Training Seminar

I was granted certification in 2007 after successfully completing DONA’s requirements,  listed here.

DONA Certified Doula, CD

I re-certified in 2010 as inactive status (which means that in previous years, I did not have the minimum number of clients in which to certify as active).  DONA’s requirements for re-certification as inactive include in part:

Obtain a minimum of 15 contact hours of continuing education approved by a recognized organization in a birth and/or parenting related field. Alternatives to recognized continuing education may be acceptable.

Work Experience

Since my initial doula training I have had 8 contracted clients for 9 labor and births. I have attended 7 of those 9 labor/births. I transferred one client who risked out of a local delivery to a doula colleague in Wichita. I missed one precipitous birth (a precipitous labor is defined as one that is very short and fast, total labor from first contraction to birth in under 3 hours, the one in question gave birth in less than an hour from calling me). I have had two successful VBAC labors, and two labors ended with a cesarean birth. I have attended 6 hospital births and one home-birth professionally.

I average 1.5 clients per year. Which means some years I have had one client, and other years I’ve had up to three! Doulas are not well-known in our rural area. I usually do not take more than one client per month, although special circumstances may allow some overlap.

Percentage wise these numbers equate to…

Contracted births attended: 78%
Vaginal Birth: 71%
Cesarean Birth: 28%
VBAC: 28%
Home birth:  14% (midwife attended)
Repeat Client: 14%
Transferred Clients: 14%

I have also offered free resources, referrals and references to numerous women who were not my contracted clients. I firmly believe in serving women, and the concept of “if you don’t know your options, you don’t have any“.

Philosophy

My core philosophy is that women were created to give birth, and that if given the right information and support, women find their way in labor and birth. I believe that pregnancy and birth are a journey, not a ‘means to an end’ of having a baby. Mothers & Fathers are birthed in labor rooms along with babies.

I believe in women and their abilities to bring forth life.
I believe in men supporting their wives & partners.
I believe that families can make wise choices for themselves given factual and full information.
Ultimately, I believe in the birthing process.

I also strongly believe in healing for women whose birthing experiences were traumatic, or experienced adverse outcomes. Women are strong but they still need their feelings validated and support in the healing process. That’s why I’m listed on Stillbirthday for women and families suffering miscarriage, still birth, or early infant loss.

Stillbirthday

I agree with and adhere to a basic Code of Ethics for Doulas, found here and Standards of Practice, found here.

Brandi Monson

Certified Doula

Serving Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma

Including the cities of: Independence & Coffeyville Kansas and surrounding areas.

 

Pain is in the eye of the beholder…

That’s not exactly how that saying goes!
Almost every single person I know has a different definition and threshold for pain. You probably have noticed this as well. There are those that reach for the ibuprofen at the first hint of a headache or muscle pain. Then there are those on the opposite end of the spectrum that “tough it out” when they clearly need something to help them cope. (not necessarily pain meds, but coping techniques!)

I’ve found that in labor and birth that women discover something new relating to pain. Some women discover that they can take a lot more than they thought, previously classifying themselves as one of those reaching for the ibuprofen the fastest! Others find that they need a lot more help coping than they thought they would. And that’s okay!

Birth and labor aren’t simply the means to an end=baby. It is a journey, a process of discovering one’s self, discovering one’s limits, boundaries, or the lack thereof. This can be a very empowering event. Or it can be a very intimidating one. Having the information to make educated choices about pain and the management of it are crucial to a successful birthing experience.

The medical model of care acknowledges the basic concept that pain can be coped with via drugs, which are sometimes necessary. A wholistic (whole person) model acknowledges that there are many ways to deal and cope with pain. These include but are not limited to:

• water therapy
• distraction
• counter-pressure
• acupressure*
• comforting touch
• emotional support
• encouragement
• proper nutrition/hydration
• aromatherapy*
• soothing sounds/music
• dealing with fear(s) before labor

Pain is a normal response to stimulus. In labor that stimulus is the normal physiological action of the baby leaving the mother’s body. It is normal and to some degree necessary (although the perception of that pain can be lessened or removed altogether).The level of pain that mothers experience varies widely of course. Using the tools available to her, the doula employs as many of these alternative options as possible to help her clients cope.  My personal philosophy is to embrace the normalcy of this experience and equip yourself to cope in beneficial & positive ways.

 

*Some doulas are specialized in alternative healing modes such as acupressure or aroma therapy. Always consult with a professional if you want to try something that your doula isn’t specifically trained in. 

 

Brandi Monson

CD(DONA)

Serving Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma

Including the cities of: Independence & Coffeyville Kansas and surrounding areas.

 

Happy New Year!

Wishing you and yours a blessed and

Peace on Earth Begins with Birth

We know that real Peace on Earth began with the birth of the Messiah, as we are told about in the pages of Scripture. In that same vein, I look at each birth as an opportunity to bring about peace, a peaceful birth setting, a calm and joyful birthing experience. Peace for mother, father and child, through education, preparation and constant labor support.

Here’s hoping for a peaceful birth experience for you!

 

Custom Orders

I’ve had two custom order requests recently. I love custom orders. They open up new ideas for me to create and introduce me to new possibilities! You can easily request a custom item, just click the “Request Custom Item” link on the left side bar in my Etsy Shop.  Custom orders made from polymer clay usually take me about 2 weeks. Other mediums vary in time.

Black Sunflower Etched belly

Placenta, Pregnant Belly, Babywearing & Lactivist Charms

Oh and be sure to check out my Birth Basics treasury on Etsy! All sorts of birth supplies available on Etsy, by home/cottage industries! Support small businesses if you really want to make a difference in this country!

Brandi Monson

CD(DONA)

Serving Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma

Including the cities of: Independence & Coffeyville Kansas and surrounding areas.

 

Making Home Work

I’m a contributor on another blog: Making Home Work, which is about work from home mothers and how it is that we make that arrangement work! I have the privilege of featuring my birth art jewelry there today, check it out!

Over there you will read about my humble beginnings and the reason behind my designs.  Hope to see you over there, leave a comment and let me know you stopped by!

Brandi Monson

CD(DONA)

Serving Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma

Including the cities of: Independence & Coffeyville Kansas and surrounding areas.

 

What’s Your Style?

there’s a faint glimmer from a candle in the corner and soft music playing. You

are relaxing between contractions with your husband rubbing your back.

 There’s no rush, your body is working and knows what to do. You begin to feel the urge to push, so you follow your body’s lead. You push, then rest again, and then find yourself pushing again. It’s time, your baby is on it’s way.

Have you thought about what style of birth you’d like to have? How does the birth of your baby look in your mind? What are your dreams?
One of the best ways to do so is to contract a Doula to accompany you on your birthing journey. As a  Doula, I can work with your hopes and dreams for labor and birth and support you in your journey. I’d love to be of service to you.

Brandi Monson

CD(DONA)

Serving Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma

Including the cities of: Independence & Coffeyville Kansas and surrounding areas.

 

Dads and Doulas, Part 2

Last week I posted about a few of the reasons dads are reluctant to hire a doula. This week I’ll focus on the financial considerations. During this time of financial uncertainty, concerns over expenses are valid and we all have them. One must weigh the benefits and see if the expense is really worth it.

Some men do have sticker shock when it comes to the cost of hiring a doula (this is especially so if they are the “saver” in the family!) . Just remember that I only require a deposit up front, the remainder of my fee is due around the end of the pregnancy. So this allows for the fee to be budgeted or even payments to be scheduled. When considering the cost of a doula (the national average is $500-600) one must realize the benefits that come from her presence.
Having a doula:

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesarean delivery
• reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

You may think that these benefits only apply to the laboring woman, however the impact of interventions such as a cesarean delivery do affect the partner (and newborn child) when their spouse:

• experiences more pain
• has a longer recovery time
• could experience complications related to the surgery

The may be the need for an extended leave of absence from work, more vacation time used or the need to hire someone for postpartum care. This is not to say that hiring a doula will exclude the chance of a cesarean completely, however, studies do show that having a doula present significantly lowers the risk of cesarean and other interventions. The emotional benefits of having a doula extend to all styles of birth.

Parents who hire a doula also report these benefits:

• Feel more secure and cared for
• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
• Have greater success with breastfeeding
• Have greater self-confidence
• Have less postpartum depression
• Have lower incidence of abuse

It is also good to look at the total cost of birth and compare my fee ($275) to the cost of a vaginal birth and even the cost of a cesarean birth.  According to CostHelper.com:

For patients not covered by health insurance, the typical cost of a vaginal delivery without complications ranges from about $9,000 to $17,000 or more, depending on geographic location and whether there is a discount for uninsured patients. The typical cost for a C-section without complications or a vaginal delivery with complications ranges from about $14,000 to $25,000 or more.

A doula’s fee is a small fraction of the of the actual costs of serious intervention. It is money well invested when interventions are avoided or reduced.

Doulas make a difference by their mere presence: their comforting touch, encouraging words, knowledge and experience. The doula fills the gaps that often occurs due to hospital work load and labor constraints. Doulas also provide that cultural link to birth as a normal physiological event that is often missing in our society. All these things can be done with the father’s participation, and will indeed enhance the family bond. One could call it ‘peace of mind’, can you really put a price on that?

If you are a dad with questions about doula care, feel free to contact me for more information!

Pregnancy Blessings!

Brandi Monson

CD(DONA)

Serving Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma

Including the cities of: Independence & Coffeyville Kansas and surrounding areas.

 

U.S. Maternal Health Crisis Facts | Amnesty International USA

U.S. Maternal Health Crisis Facts | Amnesty International USA.

A powerful image of the state of maternal healthcare in this country.

” The total amount spent on health care in the USA is greater than in any other country in the world.1 Hospitalization related to pregnancy and childbirth costs some US$86 billion a year; the highest hospitalization costs of any area of medicine. 2 Despite this, women in the USA have a greater lifetime risk of dying of pregnancy-related complications than women in 40 other countries. For example, the likelihood of a woman dying in childbirth in the USA is five times greater than in Greece, four times greater than in Germany, and three times greater than in Spain.3 More than two women die every day in the USA from pregnancy-related causes.4 Maternal deaths are only the tip of the iceberg. Severe complications that result in a woman nearly dying, known as a “near miss”, increased by 25 per cent between 1998 and 2005. During 2004 and 2005, 68,433 women nearly died in childbirth in the USA. 5 More than a third of all women who give birth in the USA – 1.7 million women each year –experience some type of complication that has an adverse effect on their health.”

Read the entire report here.  This is not to scare women. On the contrary, women are able to make wise informed decisions in regards to their own healthcare if given the proper information.  It’s important for women to understand the state of maternal healthcare here in our own country so they can educate themselves and make informed healthcare decisions.

 

"If you don't know your options, you don't have any."
Diane Korte and Roberta Scaer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dads and Doulas

Part 1 of a 2 part series on Dads and Doulas.
Often times I hear that some dads can be reluctant about hiring a doula. They have many valid reasons: too expensive (during a time of extra expense and uncertainty), feels that the doula will interfere in the ‘intimacy’ of birth, some may feel like they will bet left out completely or the opposite that they may have to participate when they don’t want to.

Dads are wonderful creatures, I really mean that! They were designed to care for/about their spouses, be good providers and protectors. This same instinct can sometimes cast doubt on the presence of an ‘extra’ person in the birthing room. I’d like to reassure you that this (that’s me!) extra person has a beneficial presence!

Some dads want to be, and are, very active in the birthing experience. They want to be the one helping mom to focus, helping to facilitate her effective labor & birth, and I say “bravo”!! My job as a doula is to support mom and dad during labor and birth. If dad wants to participate in this capacity, then I am certainly there to help him do so. I can offer suggestions and provide assistance when needed to the dad who is very involved. Helping answer questions before hand and providing educational materials is a great way to help prepare dads for labor & birth. Remember that in our society, most women have little experience with labor and birth before they have their own children, and that is doubly so for men.

Other dads want to be there for their wives/partners, but don’t really want to be too involved. This is perfectly fine as well (remember it’s not my job to tell you what is right or wrong, but to help educate you and prepare you for the role you wish to take!). I take special care to include dad in the role he is comfortable without making him feel out-of-place.

Whatever level of participation that the father wants to have is between he and his spouse, I am there to help facilitate that partnership. Sometimes just role playing and going through the motions during pre-natal meetings goes a long way in equipping partners for their staring roll during labor & birth.

It is important to consider fathers when looking forward to the labor and birthing experience. They may not be doing the work of  ”delivering” but they play a very important role and should be commended for their participation! I applaud dads for being a supportive partner in birth!

Check back next week for part 2 which will focus on the ‘expense’ part!
Pregnancy Blessings!

Brandi Monson

CD(DONA)

Serving Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma

Including the cities of: Independence & Coffeyville Kansas and surrounding areas.