Chickadee Doula Services

09/05/2022

Listen to your body and your doula! There are so many ways to give birth.

Ask your doula for guidance!
“If you decide to use the bed in your birthing room, it doesn’t mean the only position you’re able to take is lying on your back.

If you give birth in hospital many units have beds that move about like this, and you can (sort of) recreate this with pillows and cushions at home.

Research tells us that if left to find their own best position, people giving birth will generally instinctively find a position that’s upright, forward leaning and allows the pelvis to open.”

04/22/2022

Parenting is hard! It's been 22 years since my youngest was born, and this video brings all of those feelings right back to the surface. New parents who have a support team to call on are fortunate. Let's all find ways to be that support for someone.

Postpartum pressures affect 7 out of 10 moms.*The emotional rollercoaster of motherhood puts incredible pressure on moms, and while awareness of issue is rel...

02/08/2022

Families helping families! There is a critical need for milk bank donations now, if you or anyone you know is in a position to help.

https://www.hmbana.org/news/blog.html/article/2022/01/19/hmbana-statement-on-urgent-need-for-milk-donors?fbclid=IwAR3j3L5IqZA3YW4BPh-0WpvTEfXJWkQVxaQwosPB5bHXxDs8rXApnQBM4U4

Check out the latest news and events across the nonprofit milk banking world in the United States and Canada.

01/25/2022

Every birth I attend teaches me something new, and I always feel privileged to incorporate each lesson into my practice. The community of birth support providers and birthing parents is a sacred one, and I am so fulfilled by my work. I love knowing that my work as a doula makes a difference for laboring families! This is part of a testimonial from a recent client.

"Having Kristen as a doula was truly a life-changing experience. She was the first one to show up when I started having signs of early labor, followed by my midwife and her assistant a few hours later. She was well-prepared for a long day of laboring and brought some helpful tools for pain-relief including a Peanut Ball (which she showed me how to use to ease my hip and back pain.) She is also well versed in different "exercises" or body positions to help baby get into the right position and help ease labor pains. I made the decisions to give birth at home and I am a first time mom so I had a lot of anxiety and feelings of uncertainty but Kristen stayed by my side all day long encouraging me and giving me strength. "

11/15/2021

Well child visits are so important! The pandemic has made navigating new parenthood even more difficult than it already is, and we are seeing the consequences of that now.

In 2019, 1,282 individual cases of the contagious virus were confirmed in 31 states, the greatest number of cases recorded since 1992.

09/23/2021

: Over 3 Million The Boppy Company Original Newborn Loungers, Boppy Preferred Newborn Loungers and Pottery Barn Kids Boppy Newborn Loungers After 8 Infant Deaths; Suffocation Risk. Get refund. Contact: 800-416-1355 or www.boppy.com. Full recall notice: https://bit.ly/3lVXlYf

09/07/2021

I’ve been a volunteer recreational league soccer coach for four different teams over the years, and I love it. The way I approach coaching is the same way I am as a doula; I work with athletes and birthing parents with knowledge, empathy, enthusiasm, and patience, with the aim of empowering each person to take on their endeavors with confidence and optimism, and to feel satisfied with a job well done. Whether you’re welcoming a new family member or celebrating with teammates, I’m here for you!

08/06/2021

One thing I really loved about breastfeeding my own three children was the practical ease of it. Stuck on a runway in a storm? No problem! Can't sterilize a bottle? Won't slow us down! In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, I channeled my appreciation into this little poem. Please enjoy, along with this magnificent painting shared with the generous permission of Lauren J. Turner, a wonderful artist and birthworker in Baltimore. Find her at Laurenjturnerfineart.com.

Babies breastfeed here and there
Under wraps or on a chair
Whip it out or be discreet--
Just so long as they can eat.

Infants nurse, and toddlers too
On the bus or at the zoo
You can feed them anywhere--
Smile and wave if people stare!

In a river, on a rock
At midnight or six o'clock
Working hard or having fun
Breastfeed babies on the run!

08/04/2021

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, I am sharing this gorgeous photo of Evelynne and her 18 month old son Ronan, with photo credit to the generous and talented Chelsea Erickson of Kentucky. Parents who choose to breastfeed or chestfeed can face challenges that they may feel unprepared for, but most often find that with time and support it is so very worth it!

03/11/2021

Here in Wisconsin we are having what is ruefully known as False Spring. Flowers are appearing and the sun feels warm, but we have to keep waiting patiently for a while until spring is ready to make its presence known. False spring has a purpose, though! It gives us a promise that good things are just around the corner, while the earth softens and opens in readiness.

If you are counting down the final days till your new baby appears, you may be experiencing some symptoms you interpret as imminent labor, including Braxton-Hicks contractions, some swelling or even drops of milk at your breasts, nesting urges, or a feeling of deep engagement in your pelvis. These are all signs that your body is preparing and practicing, and they can be frustrating because you might want that baby out now! Take heart in knowing that your body is readying itself and signaling you to be ready. Do you have everything in order for labor and for your first weeks with your newborn?

As a birth and postpartum doula, I help my clients prepare for and understand what they are feeling in these final weeks preceding labor and delivery. I give them tools to think through what they will need to care for themselves and their babies in the early weeks, provide hands-on assistance, and support birthing partners and new parents throughout this exciting and sometimes frustrating process. It takes patience and hope before you gather the rewards!

03/08/2021

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.purewow.com/wellness/organizations-that-support-black-women%3famphtml=true

03/05/2021

Last summer we got a little potted citrus tree and weren't sure whether it was a lemon tree or a lime tree. We didn't have any experience caring for such a tree, but did our research and did our best with it, moving it around with the seasons and giving it the nourishment it needed. The first buds were lovely, and the first beginnings of little green fruits were so exciting! Still, we didn't know whether they were little limes or little lemons, and have had to patiently wait for the fruits to mature and reveal what they were becoming. Now, nine months, later, it is clear that we have lemons! The work is not over, though. These little babies still need plenty of care before they are ready to reach their full potential. Ask a doula how we can help you with your journey with your little mystery fruit!

03/01/2021

Your birth journey is personal and will incorporate elements of your own values, needs, and desires. One of those values may be your religious faith, and you may prefer to use a doula who shares your beliefs or who is able to help you incorporate them throughout labor. When you interview doulas, you should feel comfortable asking any questions that are important to you, even about something as personal as your faith. I approach my doula work in a nonsectarian way and am very happy to support you in an informed, open-minded manner. Let's talk!

02/25/2021

I had a traumatic birth experience with my own first child, so with my second pregnancy my husband and I hired a doula. That decision turned what had been a negative process of labor into a joyful, empowering birth, and sowed the initial seeds for a career of my own. Our daughter Greta was born 23 years ago today, and I still recall the soothing, encouraging words and actions of my doula, and I work to emulate her powers of calm observation and positive implementation of strategies throughout my clients' labors. Doulas make a difference!

02/25/2021

This is food for thought. How do your cultural experiences play into your plans and expectations for your baby’s sleep? https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210222-the-unusual-ways-western-parents-raise-children

From sleeping in separate beds to their children to transporting them in prams, Western parents have some unusual ideas about how to raise them

02/23/2021

Spring is coming, but don’t wait till then to get outside! Whether you are waiting for your new baby to arrive, or are recovering from labor and delivery, putting on shoes and walking out your door is important whenever you can swing it. Bundle up your baby and their big siblings, or make a solo escape, and soak up that vitamin D. Even a short break can feel like a gift.

02/21/2021

My grandmother’s spirit animal was the black-capped chickadee. She had them embroidered on her clothing, depicted in art around her house, and surrounding her singing in the woods outside their little house in Wisconsin. One even came and sang in the tree above her as we said our goodbyes at her burial. Naming my doula practice after her was the obvious choice for me, as she was such a welcoming, warm, and nurturing person to anyone who ever entered her house, and she always made time to let each of us know were were loved. My pledge to you as your doula is to give you the same warmth, care, and attention that Ruth gave to me.

02/15/2021

My decision to become a doula was solidified when I learned more about the mortality crisis for Black birthing parents. In the United States Black women die at three to four times the rate of white women, which is completely unacceptable. We have the power to begin making changes to help mitigate this ongoing tragedy, and I urge you to learn about the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, legislation which has just been introduced in the US Senate. And if you want to see more shirts like mine, check out birthnerds.com and order from Lauren J. Turner. (She also has gorgeous art prints and postcards at laurenjturnerfineart.com!)