Beat The Cheat - Holiday Eating Tips From A Picky Doula

I'm picky and particular and choosy, oh hell, I'm tough as nails sometimes.  And my clients respect me for this. When I bring someone to them for another modality related to birth such as Chiropractic or Acupuncture, they know that practitioner is terrific. Why? Because I'm PICKY! Haven't you been reading?

Things I look for in a complementary practitioner for myself as well as my clients are good character, trustworthiness, RELIABILITY, RELIABILITY RELIABILITY and their ability to listen and hear, as well as their competency in their modality.


Eating during the holidays is a tricky thing even for the non-pregnant crew. Lots of cakes and cookies and other tempting food calling out to you "eat me mommy, eat me, just one!"

 A mother of a four-year old who I had the unexpected privilege to catch at at a wonderful home-birth. She is an amazing mix of crunch and reality. Don't expect to see her (or me) with a hippy skirt on, long braids, and eating hemp. Not that there's anything wrong with that. ;)

Without further adieu today's guest post and sound advice from Eulix [YOU LICKS - totally true and pun intended. Get it? Food, nutrition, and YOU LICKS, you know you licks the foods. never mind. read on already, hurry up!]


"Healthy Holiday Eating Strategies to Stay Fit–and Still Have Fun"

Good, healthy holiday eating can make the difference between an enjoyable holiday season and a miserable one. The trick is to enjoy treats without overdoing them. Make a healthy holiday eating strategy and plan to enjoy the holiday celebrations without feeling bad the next day.

Pregnancy and Weight Gain

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issues an OPINION piece, called a Committee Opinion, this month on physical activity during pregnancy. This opinion replaces an earlier opinion published in 2002.

Their recommendations are that all healthy women with healthy fetus' have at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day, every day, from the earliest onset of their known pregnancy throughout the entire pregnancy until the birth of their child.

"Women with uncomplicated pregnancies should be encouraged to engage in aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises before, during, and after pregnancy."

As a Childbirth Educator and a Certified Doula I have always taught that it is important for pregnant women seeking a better birth, to have aerobic activity every day. I always suggest a brisk walk for one hour, every day of the week.  The proper diet and caloric intake coupled with a one-hour brisk walk will not only help maintain proper weight gain for the full 40-42 weeks of pregnancy, but it will strengthen a mother's endurance, her muscles and make her healthier over all.

The added benefits to this regimen is that it "reduces the risk of gestational diabetes in obese women, and enhances psychologic well-being", according to ACOG.

ACOG concludes there is no evidence of harm to mother or baby when not contraindicated (see chart) and observational studies of women who exercise during pregnancy have shown benefits such as decreased cesarean and operative vaginal delivery (vacuum and forceps), and postpartum recovery time.

To learn more about nutrition during pregnancy and other important topics for a better pregnancy and childbirth it is recommended that you take a childbirth education class between week 12-15 for optimal results. Although taking an education class at any point in your pregnancy is important, I highly recommend the sooner you take your classes the better. The earlier you begin learning the important information, the more time you will have to apply the topics to your life and receive the most benefits.

When The Birth Situation Leaves The Mother Unhappy With The Doula

Recently I have had the unfortunate knowledge that a mother was not happy with a colleagues doula services. While this is not the usual case it does happen and it will happen.

What I found most disturbing was that the mother decided not only not to speak to or with the doula after the birth to remedy any of the feelings and thoughts she had about the experience they shared, but that she went straight to a popular mom website and listed that doulas first and last name asking any other mother who was even considering using her to contact her first.

This is very worrisome for so many reasons. Even if I were not the passionate and dedicated doula that I am today I would take this stance.

Morally this is very very wrong to do.

Ethically this is very very wrong to do.

So what do you do if you find yourself as the mother in this situation?

First, understand that you just experienced the most dramatic and lifechanging moment in your entire life and with that brings a rush and flood of new feelings. Sometimes that is anger.

Second, write your thoughts and feelings down on paper and do not judge them as you write.

Third PUT THAT PAPER ASIDE.

Enjoy your new baby for a few weeks.

Fourth, pick up that paper after a few weeks and see if you still feel the same way about the experience you shared with that doula.

Now whether or not you feel the same or differently, make your post natal appointment with that doula to discuss the birth exprience.

As there are always two sides to every story and we cannot know what the doula was experiencing and processing and deflecting from the mother from the hospital staff, in effect shielding her from, so that it wouldn't further tramatize her experience, it is necessary to have that dialogue and chance for healing the process for both parties.

If you have found yourself in this position I ask that you consider the detrimental results you will impose upon another woman's life by listing your anger about her publically.

Words have a direct result on other people. Those words are in effect the same as taking a sword and cutting off the feet of another human being. Is that really what you want to do and the person you want to be?

Let me end this post by saying that doulas are human beings. We are not perfect. We cannot NOT make mistakes. But we offer nothing medical and those decisions must always be made between you and your medical staff.

What you can expect from your doula during a long labor is that at times she will sleep or hand off duties to your partner/husband. The doula will go for short breaks to replenish her body with food and water and go for bathroom breaks. It is imperitive that we are not exhausted and have the proper energy to help you through a long birth.

I have personally witnessed Midwives sitting in the corner reading books and this is completely normal and proper. Why? Because birth is normal and physiological and the calmness that this one act shows is very important. A doula sitting in the corner while the couple works together achieves the same goal and allows the doula to rest and have energy for when she must jump in and help her client.

There are so many variables we must be the peaceful force through. Speaking with your doula after you had an unhappy experience with her may allow the healing you both need to realize the truth for that day for both experiences.

Please do not publically commit L'oshon Hora.

YouTube Video of Calm Natural Birth With Medical Professional In Tub