There’s just something about seeing a pregnant lady or a new baby that makes people completely lose their filter. For some reason people will sometimes make the most unwelcome comments. Read our blog to see if someone has said some of these same outrageous things to you!
Read MoreSixteen 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!
Read MoreI’ll never forget being in labor and in the car on the way to the hospital. I would have a contractiotn every few minutes and would have to focus all my attention on working through it. Believe it or not, that wasn’t even the hardest part. In between contractions, I had time to think. I started thinking, wow, this baby atually has to come out of me. That’s when the tears started rolling down my face.
Read MoreDid anyone prepare you for feeling so completely blindsided by how your birth went? Yeah, you’re not alone. It is hard to be happy with your experience when your birth plan gets thrown out the window. Read our latest blog for some empathy and validation.
Read MoreI’ve never shared this with anyone.
When my midwife placed my baby on my chest after each of my births, I felt….nothing. Well, I definitely felt relief that labor was over. But that moment of instantly falling head over heels in love with my new baby.. I didn’t have that... What was wrong with me???
Read MorePre-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.
Read MorePssst….we have a secret and we want to share it with you! You may have questions about how to best prepate yourself for labor and birth. While there are certainly books to read, podcasts to listen to, stretches to do, etc…we are going to tell you the top way to prepare for birth.
Read MoreFirst, 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.
Read MoreTired of hearing the same Christmas songs over and over? We took matters into our own hands and wrote a little “Joy to the World“ parody all about labor and birth. Sing the words to the tune of the original song!
Read MoreOctober is Pregnancy, Infant, and Child Loss Awareness Month. While no one likes to think about this, we know that 1 in 4 people experience loss during their pregnancy and about 1 in 160 pregnancies end in stillbirth. This means that it is very likely you or someone you know has experienced loss. Read more to find out how you can support others during and after their loss.
Read MoreClients often ask us how they can prepare for labor. While there are many ways to prepare for labor itself (take a childbirth class, practice good breathing, go on walks, practice relaxation techniques, etc), there are many things you can do to help your body to start to prepare for labor. Take a look at our newest blog to find out how!
Read MoreYour sister took a 12 week long childbirth class while your best friend didn’t take any class at all. Both of them tell you their way is the right way. Everyone from the hospital to Instagram influencers are telling you what they think is the right way to give birth while all you want to know is what will contractions feel like and when should you go the hospital. Good news….you can learn all that and more in one of our childbirth education classes. Take a look at our newest blog post to see why you should take a childbirth class with Doulas of Raleigh.
Read MoreDoulas 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.
Read MoreLabor can be a wild journey and that includes times when you may shake uncontrollably. Even if you are T-Swift’s biggest fan, you really can’t just shake it off. Take a look at our newest blog to find out common moments when you might shake during labor and a few tips to help.
Read MoreIt 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.
Read MoreMost care providers will want to keep an eye on your baby while you are in labor. There are several options available for fetal monitoring. Some fetal monitoring needs to be continous and some fetal monitoring can be intermittent. Check out our newest blog post for your potential options.
Read MoreJune is Cholestasis Awareness Month. Cholestasis, or ICP, is a complication of pregnancy that causes extreme itching on the hands and feet as one of the most common symptoms. While a diagnosis of ICP is serious, may people have positive birth outcomes if it is treated. Take a look at our newest blog to learn more.
Read MoreYou 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.
Read MoreMay 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.
Read MoreYou’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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