Feature Friday: Kim Lane with Home Birth Midwifery Service

I am so excited to feature our first midwife on the blog today! Kim is an incredibly skilled midwife who recently moved to Utah. She blew in like a breath of fresh air and leaves a little magic in her step. I can't wait for you to get to know her. I know you'll fall in love!

Meet Kim

Q: Welcome Kim! Please tell us a

little bit about yourself.

A:I am a NARM Certified Professional Midwife with 22 years of out-of- hospital birth, midwifery training and experience. My practice is called, "Home Birth Midwifery

Service" which serves both SL & Utah Counties.

I recently have begun a collaboration with Angie Blackett and Maria Cranford to open a birth suite in Draper. We will be making an official announcement about that venture VERY

soon!

I am the mother of four grown children and just recently became a first time Grandmother. I had the privilege and blessing of catching my own Granddaughter on May 20th!

I am 53 years old (yes, really). Aquarius and born in the Chinese Year of the Tiger. I am an Army Brat, born in California and raised across the U.S. from coast to coast. I have lived in, visited, or traveled to 36 of the 50 states and have vacationed in Canada and the Bahamas as well.

I am a true "Girlie Girl" and a consummate Diva (if you cut me, I bleed red glitter). I have a pretty awesome collection of stiletto heels. I love EVERYTHING glitzy and glamorous.

I love Italian food, chocolate (which is its own food group), computer and smartphone technology, Lady Gaga (she is a genius!), and fashion. As a Midwife, I am an equal balance of holistic and evidence-based care provider. I am "crunchy" on the inside while conveying a professional approach on the outside.

Q: What are the benefits of a midwifery model of care?

A: By definition, The Midwives Model of Care™ is a fundamentally different approach to pregnancy and childbirth than contemporary obstetrics. Midwifery care is uniquely nurturing,

hands-on care before, during, and after birth.

Midwives are health care professionals specializing in pregnancy and childbirth, who develop a trusting relationship with their clients, which results in confident, supported labor and birth. While there are different types of midwives practicing in various settings, all midwives are trained to provide comprehensive prenatal care and education, guide labor and birth, address complications, and care for newborns.

The Midwives Model of Care™ is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. The Midwives Model of Care includes:

* monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle,

*providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support,

*minimizing technological interventions, and

*identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention.

The application of this model has been proven to reduce to incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.

Q:  What would you tell a newly pregnant mom who is searching for a care provider?

A: I would encourage her to do loads of research first on the type of care she desires and the modality of birth she wants. These two points will help her decide which model of care she should consider. Her risk factors, if any, also are key points in her consideration. If she desires a natural birth with a very personalized mode of care, wherein she and her partner play key roles in decision-making, then working with a midwife or group of midwives is in her best interest. Her desired PLACE of birth then factors in to WHICH midwife(ves) to hire.

I would explain to any woman thinking about a out-of-hospital birth, realize that home and birth suite/center birth are basically the SAME thing. There is no higher level of safety between the two places, except when considering WHERE your home or birth suite/center is in relation to the hospital in regards to a transfer due to complication or emergency. Women should ask and confirm that the midwife can legally carry and administer medications, is CPR and NRP (Neonatal resuscitation) certified (check to be sure her renewals are current), and brings a qualified (CPR & NPR certified) assistant or second midwife to the birth.

Training and experience are a key factor for women planning to have a baby, especially first time mothers who obviously don't have any of their own experience to turn to. Having the care and attendance of an experienced birth attendant is a valuable asset, particularly with out-of-hospital birth. Ask for both client and professional references and then actually check them out.  Find out if she is licensed and if so, is her license current/expired/suspended/revoked? Check as to whether there are any complaints or judgments on her record. If she is not licensed (legal to practice without a license in Utah), check her out on the internet, "GOOGLE" her and investigate her practice. What kinds of reviews does she/her practice have on Yelp, Merchant Circle, Yellow/Super Pages, etc...

And finally, consider VERY carefully how MONEY factors into your decision. Too many people are choosing their care provider solely based on "the bottom line" because finances are tight or the family is under or uninsured. I have never understood this rationale in relation to maternity/newborn care. Today, people spend much more time and decision-making effort on their cell phone plan or on the purchase of a car than they do on the selection of their midwife and the QUALITY of the health care for both mother and baby! While out-of-hospital midwifery care is relatively inexpensive compared to paying out-of-pocket for physician/hospital care, comparing midwife to midwife services can be like comparing Apples to Oranges. Women should be SURE to understand ALL the services, products, inclusions, and exclusions that each midwife is offering. Just because her fee is "cheaper" does NOT mean its the BEST offer. Remember that "You Get What You PAY For" so if you choose CHEAP, that

is exactly what you are getting. Be careful and do your own diligent search and investigation of each midwife your interview.

Q: Many people do not know that midwives are prepared for emergency situations. Would you please elaborate on the training, tools, and expertise that goes into managing those rare occasions?

A: While it is true that midwives are basically and generally "prepared for emergency situations" it is still important to understand that education, training, skills, and experience are key factors that come into play when having discussions about emergencies and safety. This is why women need to ASK questions about a midwife's training & skills! Being able to manage a hemorrhage or resuscitate a baby are essential skills. And her merely answering "Yes I can" to your question ISN'T an adequate answer! The midwife should be able to comprehensively answer the questions related to her training, skills, and experience with the management of obstetrical emergencies. She should carry the requisite equipment to monitor the mother and baby while in labor, to manage a hemorrhage, and to resuscitate a baby. Women need to KNOW that Unlicensed midwives are NOT ALLOWED to carry or administer emergency medications (prescription drugs) except oxygen, such as Pitocin, Methergine, or Misoprostol (for postpartum hemorrhage), antibiotics (for Group B Strep treatment in labor), I.V. (for dehydration, hemorrhage, or shock), etc. Thus having a Licensed Midwife (LDEM) in attendance is a overarching safety consideration for women planning an out-of-hospital birth. Consider that postpartum hemorrhage is the #ONE cause of maternal death around world and that is primarily because of three factors:

1) lack of access to anti-hemorrhagic medications;

2) birth attendant w/out adequate education, training, skills, experience;

3) distance to medical facility capable of handling obstetrical emergency

Thus, the education, training, skill, experience AND credentials of the midwife are ALL factors that should be considered when hiring a midwife.

Q: What do you want young girls to grow up knowing about their bodies?

A: Seek out great mentors, other strong and powerful women from which to gain words and pearls of wisdom & knowledge. Be PROUD of who you are and learn EVERYTHING you can about EVERYTHING! You are capable of SO MUCH more than just your own small space in which you stand. BE BOLD... EXPLORE! GO TO COLLEGE or TECH/TRADE SCHOOL!! BE YOUR OWN PERSON BEFORE YOU CREATE OTHER PEOPLE YOURSELF!!! Being a mother is wonderful and lovely, but to be the very best mother, you must BE YOURSELF FIRST!

You are divinely created to give birth! Your body is intrinsically designed to create, grow, birth, feed and nurture your babies! There is NOTHING to fear about birth. LEARN about the biology of the human body and especially the female body! It is an amazing design of bio mechanics, chemistry, and spirituality. There is indeed a mind-body-spirit connection which each young girl should foster and nurture in her own discovery of her self and her uniqueness!

Q: Favorite way to relax after a birth?

A: BUBBLE BATH... MASSAGE...SLEEP...

Thank you so much Kim! I especially enjoyed your message of empowerment to young girls. I do believe that if those were the words our girls were raised on, the women of this society would revolutionize the birthing industry. I look forward to working side by side to do just that!

www.homebirthmidwiferyservice.com

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Feature Friday: Manda Lynn's Postpartum Doula Service

It's lovely to be back on a another Feature Friday with you! I hope you've had a chance to read our past post about postpartum mental health problems in preparation for today's feature.  It's heartfelt and eye opening ~ just like the postpartum period itself.

Manda Lynn is a postpartum doula with a mission to improve the postpartum lives of all moms in Utah.  I love her sweet nature and really look forward to hearing more from her.

Meet Manda.

Photo Credit: Tammy Jarman Photography

Hi Manda! Please, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I'm happy to have this opportunity! My parents named me Amanda Lynn. When I was a kid, they gave me a mandolin (get it?) --a small one made of metal. Music is my talent. I started piano lessons when I was seven and am teaching our oldest daughter who is eight and a half. I enjoy singing with our kids and other kids. I took an organ class and a guitar class in college, but I haven't (yet) learned to play the mandolin.
When I was about 12, I had a friend who dropped the A and called me Manda. All of that, and a discussion with some women who attended CAPPA postpartum doula training with me, is how I came up with my business name, Manda Lynn's Postpartum Doula Service.
I live with my husband and 3 kids, who bring us joy! Besides music, I love to spend time with family and friends, talk with women at support groups, read (mostly "birth junkie" stuff and other nonfiction), make whole foods plant based meals, exercise (I ran a half-marathon just before finding out I was pregnant with our 3rd child), and take photographs.

Photo Credit: Tammy Jarman Photography

Some of our readers may not know what a postpartum doula is. How would you describe it?


If you are wondering what a postpartum doula is, here's how I am different from birth doulas. A birth doula is with a woman during her birthing time (a.k.a. labor), and usually leaves within a couple of hours after the baby is born. In the days and weeks after that, a postpartum doula can be very helpful. Many parents of multiples hire postpartum doulas. Birth is a small window of time compared to how long you will be responsible for that child--sort of like the contrast between a wedding day and a marriage. I would love to help you adjust to changes after your baby comes out, whether it is your first or not.
I love what the CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association) website says: "The postpartum doula is a trained professional that offers physical, emotional, and spiritual support to a new mom and the rest of the family. Postpartum doulas also offer breastfeeding support, light household maintenance, family nurturing and instruction to mom and/or other family members in the care of a newborn. The postpartum doula's job is to make the transition to parenthood easier for new parents, to help mom during her recovery period and to ascertain what the family needs help with and to provide the instruction. 
The main objective of a postpartum doula's role is not to take over complete care of the newborn, but to educate and support the family so that they will feel empowered to care for their newborn themselves.
Postpartum doulas do NOT offer any medical advice or perform any medical or clinical procedures, but instead can offer parents referrals to appropriate studies and published books.
Postpartum doulas should be good with children, patient, nonjudgmental, and knowledgeable about newborn care and breastfeeding."


What drew you to postpartum doula work?


My love for my own newborns was one thing that drew me to this work. I heard in 2014 or earlier that there was a need for more postpartum doulas, like there is for more lactation educators, and I want to certify in that through CAPPA as well(I am working on the postpartum doula certification). I like being able to set my schedule. It's wonderful to be able to do something rewarding -- helping other moms -- in short shifts. 


What do you think sets you apart from other postpartum doulas?


I feel I am unique because of 2 reasons: 1st, I can relate to recovery from a cesarean and "failed" VBAC attempts. I labored unmedicated for many hours to give birth to each baby the way I wanted to, and they ended up needing to be born by c-section. Of course, I also can help you if you are recovering from a vaginal birth, and I am available as a bedrest doula as well. I feel that pregnancy and birth are amazing!
The 2nd reason is that I have experience shopping for and preparing whole foods plant based meals and I understand veganism because I am a vegan-nutritarian myself.


What is the 1 thing you think that every mother should have in the postpartum period?


Besides hiring a doula, one thing I think every mother needs in the postpartum period is to journal about what she is feeling and thinking. It doesn't need to be much, or every day, but I haven't regretted times that I have written in a journal. 


How important an issue do you think maternal mental health is?


Maternal mental health is very important. Postpartum depression, OCD, psychosis, etc. often comes suddenly. I learned at a screening of the new documentary Dark Side of the Full Moon that depression during or after pregnancy is more common than gestational diabetes. More common than breast cancer. I can sit and listen and provide resources.


Lastly, please humor us with your favorite chick flick!

My favorite chick flick is Father of the Bride starring Steve Martin.




Wow! There was a lot of information there that I actually didn't know. I can think of a few women who would have loved to have had a bedrest doula. *mind blown*.  I am so grateful that she shared her beautiful self with us. 

Be sure to click on her links and send her some love.
website: http://saltlakepostpartumdoula.com/ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MandaLynnsPostpartumDoulaService twitter: https://twitter.com/MandaLynnDoula

The Mother-Centered Shower

There's a new type of celebration taking the birth world by storm.

It's been referred to as a Blessingway, the Mother's Shower, or a Mother's Blessing Circle.  In an effort to respect the Native American term and to avoid cultural appropriation, we are going to avoid "blessingway" for the purposes of this blogpost. 

Honestly, part of me feels wrong to say that it's a new trend.  Honoring mothers in one way or another has been a part of most every culture. However, I believe that the difference is that somewhere along the way, American culture lost sight of the women who birthed its children. 

The rise of the Mother's Blessing Circle is the answering call to this missing piece.

"But wait!", you say. "Don't we already shower the expectant mother with gifts at a baby shower?"

Yes, we do. May I draw your attention to one small detail?

baby shower

It's not about the mom. Yes, we provide her with financial support in the form of gifts to help care for her child. But what about the emotional support?

The mother-centered shower covers this gap.
There is no easy way to describe what happens there. Each is as unique as the mother they cater to. But there are two elements that all of them carry.

1. Sisterhood

There is a strength that comes from knowing that you are not alone. Some mother-centered showers are filled with loved ones and longtime friends, while others are virtually strangers.  It doesn't matter though, because once a woman crosses the threshold into the room, she is there to love and support the mother. 
That support takes the shape of emotional vulnerability. Birth is a huge life-changing event in a woman's life. It can bring both joy and fear. The mother will feel supported and safe to sit in a room where other women nod knowingly and whisper a gentle "me too".  The emotional bonds that form during such brave truth sharing mean that while some attendants may arrive as strangers, they are able to leave as lifelong friends. 

2. Gifts

The gifts that are brought to a mother-centered shower are completely different than those brought to a baby shower. For starters, the hostess contacts the women(minus the mother) beforehand and tells them what to bring. 
it's never a baby blanket.
It's not even a wrapped gift for mom.
The gifts are usually free or inexpensive, and overflowing with meaning.

Here are some examples:
-a written blessing for mom's postpartum period
-a birth affirmation to string up into a banner
-a bead for a necklace
-herbs or flowers for an epsom salt bath
-a natural element to add to her birth space
-a rock with a single word written on it for inspiration during labor

There are many more gifts and activities that can be used for a mother-centered shower, but pinterest should hold you over for a more comprehensive list.

I believe in the mother-centered shower.

"Birth is a sacred space which should be honored, respected, and nurtured. Since the emotional state of a mother during pregnancy and birth carries into her mothering years, caring for her should be society's primary goal." ~Graceful Birthing mission statement

Our mother's are not alone. They should not be alone. To be human is to need connection. 

"By giving ourselves the grace to be women, we help to give birth to not just children, but to mothers as well." ~Graceful Birthing mission statement

Running

Last weekend I had a dear friend invite me to run the Red Rock Relay with her team in Moab. I'm gonna be honest, I am not a runner. I was shocked that she even wanted me anywhere near her team! 

I agreed to go as a favor to her, but really, she did me the favor. 

Beautiful. Powerful. Spiritual. Painful. Freeing.

Those are the best words I can come up with to describe the entire trip. 

I threw my head back and laughed aloud along the run when I realized that those words had everything to do with birth.  

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I was SCARED out of my mind to run that relay. I didn't even sleep the night before. It's hard to wrap your mind around the unexpected when it seems like the only guarantee is pain and a finish line. 

Unfortunately, that's how the vast majority of women in our birthing culture feel about childbirth. 

TV, books, memes, and other people love hyping up the pain and drama of the experience. 

So our mothers, our beautiful mothers, are walking into these hospitals with the expectation of life altering pain and an eventual finish line that will put a baby in their arms. They are left running--running from every bad and good thing that could happen in that room. 

So let's stop again to look at the full spectrum of birth experiences. 

Beautiful. Powerful. Spiritual. Painful. Freeing.

Beautiful

Dr. Steve Maraboli said, "There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty."

The human body is incredible and I am left in awe at every opportunity I have to witness a woman in her element. 

Powerful 

Birth comes from deep inside your bones. It is a primal and powerful wave that crashes within the core of your being. 
If you are still, you will find yourself in this place of inbetween. This place in time holds a balance between the side of you that is pulled into  the swirling tides that open your body and the crashing waves that could flood your mind. To surf this balance is to both utilize and respect the power of birth. 

Spiritual

There is spirit in the birthing space. It is calling forth your child from the unknown. The magic in the very creation of the universe courses through a mother's veins. Be it God by any other name--the mother links herself with the divine in a solemn sacrament that ushers forth a new soul. 

Painful

Pain is the most recognized and least understood facet of childbirth. Pain and suffering are equated as the same thing--but I can assure you that they are not. Pain is a refiner. It brings us to our limits. And then, when paired with surrender, it propels us into a state of acceptance and strength. Suffering is agony, but pain is the teacher. It teaches us of the beauty in our flaws--our very humanity. Beauty seen through the lens of accepted pain is more brighter and more brilliant than ever before imagined. 

Freeing

There is freedom in the moment when you've scaled a mountain and turn to look back over the triumph you've claim for yourself. This is birth. 

It's an incredible experience to raise your child to your chest. The mother is free from pain. Her doubts are gone. Her faith in herself and her body is solidified. There is freedom in the triumph. 

Running the Red Rock Relay was one of the craziest things I have ever done. But I can't even begin to express my joy at having done it. 

I experienced beauty. The red rocks, snaking river, and vibrant green landscape now holds my heart. 

I experienced power. Who knew that my body could pull a run out of thin air?

I experienced spirit. There was no doubt in my mind that God had created this amazing world. 

I experienced pain. Oh man, did I ever. My muscles still aren't on speaking terms with me yet.

I experienced freedom. I laughed and fist pumped the air when I felt my body pushing through the pain. I was just around the bend from the next relay exchange and it was all I could do to keep from dancing along the river's side. 

But you know...there is one thing I experienced that I didn't list on here. A change of plans. 

For some moms, the birth they envision will not be the one they claim. It's disappointing and can be painful in a whole new way. But having to change plans doesn't negate everything I've just described. It's just a different way of experiencing it. And for you, and for me, that is enough. 

We are enough. 

Feature Friday: Anna Trout & Postpartum Depression

Good morning dear friends! I'm excited to be back with another featured blog post for you today. 

Anna Trout is my soul sister. 
Actually, she's more than that. If I could have a patronus, it would be her.

I could go on and on forever telling you about how wonderful she is and how epic of an opportunity it is for you to read her story, but because she really is that wonderful, I'd rather you just skip over me and go right to her.

Meet Anna Trout.

I am so honored to be a guest writer here on Graceful Birthing. The founder Kasaundra is my dearest friend, and the person who has taught me the most about graceful living and that I have a story that needs to be shared and that I am the only one who can share it.

My story is unique and my own. But it is not the only one and it is hardly the exception. 

1 in 7 women will get postpartum depression (PPD) or a related illness, that’s nearly a million women a year in the US alone. 

That means that it’s more likely that you’ll get PPD than it is that you’ll get breast cancer. 

While those may seem like scary odds we can do something about it. We can educate ourselves and the public about these illnesses, we can break down stigmas about mental health, we can help reform the medical system through which we receive treatment, we can advocate for better maternal health and we can support the other mothers around us who are suffering a postpartum illness.

I share my story to help other mothers and families. I share my story to help improve maternal mental health not just for today but for generations to come, for my daughter and her daughters, and my nieces, and my sisters, and my friends, and for all women.

This is my story.

All I could see was the matted beige carpet and all I felt was paralyzing fear. I was lying on my bedroom floor, hyperventilating, hysterically crying, my arms and legs numb, unable to speak or call out for help. I banged my fists as hard as I could against the floor, desperately hoping my husband would hear it and come check on me.

I heard his footsteps running up our stairs and as I looked toward the door and saw his face, all I saw was absolute fear. Neither one of us knew what was happening. We would later learn that I had experienced a severe panic attack, and while it had been my first it was certainly not my last. For the next 6 months those debilitating panic attacks would happen daily and would be a constant companion in my dark world.

That was on July 4, 2013 just 7 weeks after the birth of my second child, my daughter Katelyn. Both my husband and I assumed it was just exhaustion. Our daughter was very colicky, never slept, and we had moved across the country to start a new job just 3 weeks after she was born. It was the perfect storm. In hindsight what scares me most is how easy it was to mistake and dismiss my postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD as normal mommy stuff or symptoms caused only from all the other stressors going on around us.

As my symptoms grew worst, into paranoia, obsessive behaviors, weight loss, intrusive thoughts, and eventually self-harming, we eagerly sought treatment with doctors, OBGYNs, and therapists. However treatment was hard to find and in my very sick mind I started to believe that no one could help me and that my real challenge now was to figure out how to function and be a good mother in the state I was in.

I could write a whole book about my experience and still not have shared it all. I don’t know if I could ever find the words to be able to describe the darkness, fear, and sheer horror of that year after my daughter was born. However there are key-points from that experience that I want and need to share.

The first is that postpartum mood disorders are real and treatable. If you feel off, even just a little, GO SEE A DOCTOR. Better safe than sorry doesn’t even cover it. Schedule that appointment and go.

If gone untreated postpartum mood disorders can and will get worst and have long term effects on the health of the mother and her children.

PPD and other postpartum illnesses don’t just affect the mother, but the whole family. It was the hardest year in my husband’s life, not just mine.

Advocate for yourself. Be honest with your doctors and your support system around you.

Even if you don’t have PPD but are struggling with your transition into motherhood, talk to a friend or see a therapist. Your children will learn about self-care through you. Treat yourself the way you would want your children to treat themselves. That idea quite possibly saved my life.

Don’t be afraid. We can fight this fight and we 

can win. I am a warrior mom. I have won my 

battle.

For more information on PPD and other related illnesses visit postpartumprogress.com

Oh boy. I didn't make it through that without tearing up. Anna's story is so powerful and authentic. It's an honor to be invited into it. Her strength and resilience awe me and I'm so proud to say that this dear friend of mine is shining bright enough to stand as a beacon of hope for others.  

Anna is hosting the "Climb Out of the Darkness" climb for Postpartum Progress this year. She is drawing others to her in support and love. It is her dream that something beautiful come out of this harrowing experience. 

I believe that she is well on her way.  

Please consider donating to or joining a climb near you.  "Sunshine. Nature. Togetherness. Triumph."

Fight on warriors.