A doula is a non-medical professional who helps the birth to be a pleasant and productive event.

What Does Doula Mean?

Doula is a Greek word meaning woman servant.

Is a Doula a Midwife?

No, a doula is not a midwife. Doulas do receive formal training to assist in shortening and easing the labor.

Why Should I Hire a Doula?

Studies show that a doula can work to make your labor shorter by several hours, reduce the need for medication, and reduce the chances of needing a c-section! A doula is typically trained to assist with breastfeeding after the birth if you wish to explore this route. The doula also works to ease the stress and anxiety for the husband (or significant other) during the birthing process.
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Maternity leave is the time you take off of work to heal from your labor and delivery, and the time you take to care for your newborn, whether you are the natural mother or whether you adopted a baby. There are two types of maternity leave:

• A maternal disability, or medical leave, is the time that a woman takes off for a vaginal delivery (usually six weeks) or cesarean section (usually eight weeks).
• Family leave is the time spent caring for the baby and is available to the father and adoptive parents. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) grants everyone equal time of 12 weeks.

Are You Qualified for Maternity Leave?

You may think that after you give birth your company is required to provide you with paid maternity leave for several weeks while you stay at home and adjust to life with your new baby. Unfortunately, a good amount of companies do not offer paid maternity leave, and they are not required to.

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What is a Contraction Stress Test?

This test measures your baby’s heart rate during contractions in order to make sure that she is getting the necessary oxygen from the placenta during labor.

When is the Contraction Stress Test Administered?

This test is usually done at the very end of pregnancy, prior to an induction.

What is the Contraction Stress Test Procedure?

You will lie down on your left side and have two elastic belts with monitors placed on your belly.  One monitors the baby’s heartbeat and the other monitors your contractions.  If you are not having contractions on your own, an injection of Pitocin (Oxytocin) will be given and you will be monitored to see how your baby responds to the contractions via an electronic fetal monitor on your belly.  The test lasts until you’ve had three contractions, each lasting 45 seconds, within a ten-minute span.

Exercise is extremely important in promoting health and well-being during your pregnancy. Women who exercise during pregnancy have reduced weight gain, improved moods, improved sleep patterns and most experience a more rapid weight loss after pregnancy!  It also will help you to prepare for the physical stress of your labor and delivery.

There are some guidelines to follow when you choose to exercise during your pregnancy:

The following tests are routine prenatal tests for each visit to your obgyn or midwife:

Blood Pressure:

At each prenatal visit your blood pressure will be tested by armband. A spike in blood pressure can be an indication of preeclampsia - which can cause the placenta to separate from the wall of the uterus.

Urine:

At each prenatal visit your urine will be tested for protein, sugar, blood and bacteria.  Protein is another sign of preeclampsia, sugar can signal gestational diabetes and blood or bacteria can signal a urinary-tract infection. 

Weight:

A breech baby is one that is not in the head down position inside the womb.  Approximately 3.5% of babies are breech at 37 weeks gestation.

Breech Factors
Factors that increase the chance of having a breech baby include:

• Prematurity.
• Abnormalities or growths in the uterus.
• Abnormalities in the fetus.
• Multiple babies.
• Multiple births.
• Excessive amniotic fluid.

Types of Breech Positions
There are three types of breech positions:

• Flank Breech.  The hips are flexed and knees are extended (pike position).
• Complete Breech.  The hips and knees are both flexed (cannoball position).
• Footling or Incomplete Breech.  One or both hips are extended.

Ways to Get a Breech Baby to Turn
There are various ways to attempt to get a baby to turn head first.  These include:
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A birth plan is a non-confrontational way for you to make your labor and birth plans known to anyone involved with you on your special day.  You can hand a copy to your mother, your doctor or midwife, the nurses on call, your doula, and even your husband if he wasn’t involved in writing it!  Birth plans also help you to think of all possible labor and birth scenarios up front, so that you are not forced to make an important decision in the middle of a contraction or when you are unable to completely focus. 

You’ll want to take your birth plan to one of your appointments in the third trimester and get your doctor/midwife to sign off on it.  Have them make a copy of it and place it in your file so that if they do not end up delivering you, the doctor on call knows that your doctor signed off on it and is ok with it.  (It also helps in case you forgot your copy at home!)

Do keep in mind that you cannot predict everything and just because you want an ideal birth, does not mean you’ll get it!  You’ll want to remain flexible in case an emergency situation comes up or your labor is not progressing as planned.

Questions to be Addressed in Your Birth Plan:
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It’s one of those questions you’ll hear time and time again…  “so how far along are you?”  You have many options in explaining just how pregnant you are - and almost all of them will require some bit of explanation on your part!!

How Far Along - Weeks

One of the easiest ways to determine how far along you are is in “weeks”.  Typically you count from the week of your last menstrual period (lmp), so when you actually test positive (typically when your period is due) you are 4 weeks along.  Silly, I know!  If you follow this practice - your due date will be 40 weeks after your lmp.  Another way of counting weeks is from the date of conception (typically two weeks after your lmp) and your due date will be at 38 weeks. 

Just because you’re pregnancy, it doesn’t mean you can’t travel. When it comes to flying, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that it is okay to travel by airplane up until you are 36 weeks pregnant, as long as you are having a low-risk pregnancy.

When Shouldn’t I Fly When Pregnant?
Air travel is never recommended for women who have pregnancy complications - such as pregnancy-induced hypertension, placental abnormalities, sickle cell disease, or women at risk for premature labor. You should definitely speak to your physician if you are planning to travel in the third trimester.

What Are the Airline Rules For Flying When Pregnant?
Each airline is different, so it’s best to ask before you arrive at the airport. Most airlines have restrictions after 32-36 weeks of pregnancy.

Is There Anything I Should Do In Flight?
Keep hydrated! There is an increased risk of dehydration, so make sure to keep plenty of water at hand. You should also stretch and try to walk around a bit to avoid the increased risk of blood clots from prolonged periods of sitting. If you find that you need to use the rest room frequently, make sure to request an aisle seat!

Are There Any Risks to Flying While Pregnant?
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