Posts in Doulas
I'm Scared I Won't Know When to Go to the Hospital
I'm Scared I Won't Know When to Go to the Hospital

Sixteen years ago, my husband was speeding down the interstate trying to get me to the birth center. I remember gripping his hand and and yelling at him to go faster and not stop for anything. We had run to get into the car because our daughter was coming SOON. I had my nightgown on and no underwear….I really thought this baby was going to be born in our car. Long story short, I did make it to the birth center and she was born 30 minutes later. But what I wished I had done was head in to the birth center a couple of hours before. I wished I had had someone to tell me that it was time to go. Here's how you can learn from my mistakes!

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Birth, Birth Doulas, Birthing Partner, Doulas, Hospital Birth, Labor, Pregnancy, PushingHeather Clementslabor, labor support, birth, birth partner, doula, birth center, hospital birth, Doula, prodromal labor, contractions
The Nighttime Dread
The Nighttime Dread

Everyone tells you you don’t get much sleep after you have a baby. You don’t really internalize that before your baby is here. Then it hits you like a ton of bricks. OH. You don’t get much sleep after you have a baby. You can deal with that fatigue fine during the day but when the sun sets…the nighttime dread sets in. Some might even call it anxiety.

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4th Trimester, Doulas, Infant Sleep, Newborn, Postpartum Recovery, Postpartum Doulas, Self-care, SleepHeather Clementspostpartum support, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, postpartum mood disorders, newborn, newborn sleep, postpartum recovery, postpartum, postpartum doula, sleep supportComment
I'm Exhausted and Overwhelmed
I'm Exhausted and Overwhelmed

There I was..maybe 5 days postpartum..sprawled across my bed. My eyes were tightly closed, I was balled up in a fetal position, desperately trying to get some sleep. My parents had come to stay with us for a few days and sent me off to take a much needed nap. Except, I couldn’t sleep.

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4th Trimester, Breastfeeding, Doulas, New Parents, Newborn, Postpartum Recovery, Relationships, SleepHeather Clementspostpartum support, postpartum anxiety, newborn, new baby, postpartum, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding
What to Know About Pre-Eclampsia
What to Know About Pre-Eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is diagnosed when you have high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy combined with protein in your urine. Pre-eclampsia is very serious and needs to be treated by your care provider. Read our latest blog to find out more about what to expect when you receive this diagnosis.

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Birth, Birth Doulas, Birthing Partner, Complications, Doulas, High RIsk Pregnancy, Hospital Birth, Inductions, Labor, Pregnancy, Prenatal CareHeather Clementslabor, pregnancy complications, pregnancy, induction, blood pressure, magnesium, labor and delivery
Things to Try When Labor is Stalled
Things to Try When Labor is Stalled

First, know that it is OK and sometimes perfectly normal for folks to hang out in the same place in labor for awhile. It’s also normal for you to want to get the show on the road. Here are a few things to try if your labor has stalled.

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Birth, Birth Doulas, Birthing Partner, Childbirth Education, Doulas, Epidurals, Food and Drink, Hospital Birth, Inductions, Labor, Labor Augmentation, PregnancyHeather Clementsaugmentation, labor, labor support, labor doula, labor and delivery, pumping, nipple stimulation, positioning, peanut ball, birth ball, birth, hospital birth
How Can I Use A Peanut Ball During Labor?
How Can I Use A Peanut Ball During Labor?

Doulas like to say that peanut balls add a bit of magic to your labor. A peanut ball is probably one of the best tools available for your use in your labor and delivery room. This tool can help you have a smoother, quicker labor. Take a look at a few ways you can use a peanut ball during labor.

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Birth, Birth Doulas, Birthing Partner, Comfort Measures, Childbirth Education, Doulas, Epidurals, Hospital Birth, Inductions, Labor, Pregnancy, PushingHeather Clementslabor, labor support, comfort measures, labor and delivery, early labor, active labor, Pushing, Pushing positions, epidural, epidural birth
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Have Two Doulas
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Have Two Doulas

It takes twooooo baby…it takes twoooo baby…..for me and you…..it takes two….two doulas that is! Doulas of Raleigh always pairs labor clients up with a team of two labor doulas. Read on to find out some of the reason why two doulas is better than one.

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Birth, Birth Doulas, Doulas, Hospital Birth, Inductions, Labor, Pregnancy, Prenatal CareHeather ClementsDoulas, labor, labor doula, labor support, pregnancy, early labor, active labor, hospital birth, epidural birth, unmedicated birth, shared call
What Happens if I Go Past My Due Date
What Happens if I Go Past My Due Date

You have anticipated meeting your baby for months and your due date arrives…and your baby has not. Most first time mothers go into labor, on average, around 41 weeks and 3 days. You may be OK with waiting until your baby decides on their birthday. Once you get to the 4o week mark, there may be some additional things you can do. Read our latest blog to find out what to expect.

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Birth, Birth Doulas, Doulas, Hospital Birth, Inductions, Labor, Pregnancy, Prenatal CareHeather Clementslabor, labor support, labor and delivery, labor doula, late term pregnancy, biophysical profile, fetal monitoring, pregnancy, induction
What Happens if I Have Preeclampsia
What Happens if I Have Preeclampsia

May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month. Symptoms include high blood pressure, swelling in the face or limbs, blurred vision, headaches, and sensitivity to light. Call your care provider immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. If you are diagnosed with preeclampsia you may have a different path to birth than you planned. Take a look at what you might expect if you receive this diagnosis.

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Birth, Birth Doulas, Doulas, Hospital Birth, Inductions, Labor, Pregnancy, Premature BabyHeather Clementslabor, labor support, labor and delivery, hospital birth, pregnancy, preeclampsia
Did My Water Break??
Did My Water Break??

You’ve seen the TV and movie scenes where a very pregnant woman has her water break in a spectacular fashion! It looks so obvious! While it does sometimes happen that way, most of the time it is a little more subtle and can be a ittle tricky to identify. Read our newest blog post to find out a few things to try to find out if you really are leaking amniotic fluid.

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Birth, Doulas, Hospital Birth, Labor, PregnancyHeather Clementswater, amniotic fluid, SROM, rupturre of membranes, leaking fluid, discharge, labor, labor and delivery, early labor, active labor, birth, pregnancy
Ways to Move During Labor
Ways to Move During Labor

Moving during labor can help decrease contraction pain, facilitate the labor process, and help your baby become more enganged into your pelvis. Read on to find out some ways to move throughout your labor (yes, even with an epidural!)

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Birth, Birth Doulas, Birthing Partner, Childbirth Education, Comfort Measures, Doulas, Epidurals, Hospital Birth, Labor, PregnancyHeather Clementslabor, labor support, active labor, early labor, comfort measures, movement, pregnancy, labor and delivery, labor doula
Breathing Techniques During Labor
Breathing Techniques During Labor

Breathing well is one of the best ways you can can help yourself cope with your labor contractions. There are many different ways to help you or your support team guide your breath. Take a look at our blog post for more details.

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Birth Doulas, Birthing Partner, Comfort Measures, Doulas, Labor, Pregnancy, PushingHeather Clementslabor, labor support, pregnancy, doula, birth partner, birth doula, breathing, guided relaxation, guided breathing, rainbow breathing, box breathing
Positions for Pushing With an Epidural
Positions for Pushing With an Epidural

You may have heard that you are totally numb if you have an epidural. You may have heard that you can only push on your back with an epidural. The good news is that is no longer the case! Most epidural placements now offer good pain control without confining you to being on your back. This means that you are able to push in different positions within your hospital bed. Take a look at some of your options!

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Birth Doulas, Doulas, Epidurals, Inductions, PushingHeather Clementsepidural, labor, labor support, labor doula, Pushing, Pushing positions, hospital birth
Give Yourself the Gift of Sleep
Give Yourself the Gift of Sleep

You need sleep after your baby is born. While we wish this was easy as telling you to “sleep when the baby sleeps”, we all know that there are some days and some nights where your baby just won’t sleep. Instead, we urge you to have a sleep plan in place for yourself before your baby arrives. Of course, if your baby has already been born you can still implement a new sleep plan. Read our newest blog to find out more.

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4th Trimester, Doulas, Infant Sleep, New Parents, Newborn, Postpartum Doulas, Postpartum Recovery, Self-care, SleepHeather Clementspostpartum support, postpartum doula, newborn, newborn sleep, self-care
The Welcoming Hour
The Welcoming Hour

The Welcoming Hour, sometimes called the Golden Hour, begins as soon as your baby is born. Read our newest blog post to find out what to expect and what you can do to get maxium benefits for you and your new baby during this first hour of your baby’s life.

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Birth Doulas, Birthing Partner, Breastfeeding, Cesarean Birth, Doulas, Formula Feeding, Labor, Inductions, Newborn, PregnancyHeather Clementslabor, labor and delivery, labor doula, labor support, golden hour, hospital birth, skin to skin, bresatfeeding, oxytocin, bonding, attachment, lactation
Do I Still Need A Doula If I Have A Midwife?
Do I Still Need A Doula If I Have A Midwife?

Postivie pregnancy test..check. Secured an amazing midwife…check. Hire an amazing doula? Ch..wait…now why do I need one if I already have a midwife? This is a common question and we answer it today in our blog!

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Birth Doulas, Birthing Partner, Doulas, Inductions, Labor, Pregnancy, Prenatal CareHeather Clementslabor, labor support, labor doula, labor and delivery, pregnancy, birth, birth doula, birth partner, hospital birth, midwife
Supporting Loss
Supporting Loss

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Unfortunately, there seems to be a stigma and maybe a shroud of secrecy surrounding loss. Everyone deserves support but it seems as though no one knows how to support others through their loss. This is unfortunate as 1 in 4 people experience this kind of loss at least once in their life time. We’ve gathered some ways to show support.

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Newborn, Relationships, Self-care, Pregnancy, Labor, Doulas, Birthing PartnerHeather Clementspregnancy, birth, loss, infant death, stillborn, miscarriage, fetal demise, postpartum support, emotional support, supporting loss
How to Prepare for Labor Day
How to Prepare for Labor Day

Labor Day weekend is here and some folks have been preparing to travel to squeeze in one last beach or lake trip, preparing to host a cookout for family and friends, or just preparing to have a nice long weekend at home. We thought Labor Day weekend was a great time to talk about preparing for your very own Labor and Birthing Day!

There are 4 main things to consider when preparing for labor and birth: think about the birth experience you’d like to have, choosing a care provider, educating yourself, and hiring a doula!

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Birth Doulas, Birthing Partner, Childbirth Education, Doulas, Labor, PregnancyHeather Clementspregnancy, labor, labor doula, doula, birth, birth partner, birth center, hospital birth
Supporting Dads in Labor
Supporting Dads in Labor

Father’s Day is just around the corner so we thought it was a great time to talk about how labor doulas support Dads/birth partners during labor. Doulas are not just for the laboring person! Check out all the ways a labor doula can support the dad-to-be!

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Birth Doulas, Cesarean Birth, Doulas, Labor, Inductions, Pregancy, PushingHeather Clementslabor support, labor and delivery, Doulas, birth partner, pregnancy, emotional support, epidural birth, cesarean birth
Emotional Support in Pregnancy and Labor
Emotional Support in Pregnancy and Labor

You might think that labor doulas are only there to support you during your labor. You might think labor doulas only support the physical aspects of labor. The good news is the labor doulas are so much more. Take a look at the ways you can get emotional support from labor doulas throughout your pregnancy, labor, and birth.

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Birth Doulas, Cesarean Birth, Doulas, Inductions, Labor, Pregnancy, PushingHeather Clementslabor, birth doula, pregnancy, birth, labor doula, emotional support