Solace for Mothers - Birth Trauma Support Group

There is a new support group starting here for Southern Utah women that have suffered from birth trauma. This group is open to hospital birthers, birth center birthers, homebirthers - those who went natural, medicated or had a surgical delivery. The group meets the third Tuesday of every month (this coming Tuesday) at the St. George Library at 6 pm. Contact birthtraumarecovery@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Meet the Midwives

Last Thursday night, Vickie Sorensen hosted a Meet the Midwives event in Cedar City. I took a carload up of women from St. George and we had a great time. Since it was such a success, I am going to host one down here in St. George.

Come join us on November 10 from 7-9 pm at Red Cliffs Inn in Washington (912 Red Cliffs Drive) to learn about your childbirth option. Local midwives, doulas, childbirth educators and other natural practitioners will be there to answer your questions. There will be food, door prizes and many raffles too.

Hope to see you there!

Did you know?

Our six week childbirth preparation class ($200 value) is included in your birth package fee for all first time moms, first time natural birthing moms and VBAC mamas! Dy teaches these classes and they are awesome! New series starting soon. Contact me for more details.

Another Boy!

Sweet Zaden Ray made his appearance among the lightening, thunder and rain from yesterday. It was such a beautiful backdrop for his birth. He weighed 8 lbs 8 oz and was 20.5 inches long. Another waterbirth baby! Congrats "E" family on your newest addition!

3 New Babies

This past month has brought three new babies into our world. Josiah was born on 8/21, Bryant was born on 9/19 and Sophie was born on 9/25.

I haven't had a chance to get a picture with Josiah yet!

Here is Dy and I with Bryant's family. He is the first boy after three girls.




Sophie's parents drove over 1000 miles to birth with Dy and I. They wanted a natural, intervention free VBAC and was not able to do that at their hospital there. Here is a peak into Sophie's entrance!

Sophie's Birth

If you are local and interested in birth photography like this - email me at alternativebirthservices@gmail.com for contact info for Sarah Braun. She has the ability to capture priceless moments!

Utah's Most Popular Names - June 2010

Girls
Olivia
Elizabeth
Abigail
Evelyn
Sophia
Ava
Ella
Addison
Emma
Samantha

Boys
William
Samuel
Ethan
Isaac
Jacob
Joshua
Luke
Mason
Carter
James

Facebook

Seems like everyone is on Facebook these days. I love the network it provides. I seem to have a hard time keeping up my blog at times, but I can post of Facebook much faster. If you have an account, please "like" my business page. I post a lot of informative articles, pictures, etc.

Alternative Birth Services Facebook Page

Postpartum Visit

As promised here is a picture of Dy and I with Lil' Miss Avangeline at her one day postpartum visit.

Postpartum care is very important to me as a midwife. I typically see my clients at 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 3 weeks and 6 weeks postpartum. Sometimes more, if needed. The 1 day and 3 days are always back in their home. Depending on how mom is feeling, the 1 week can be as well.

During postpartum visits, we check both mom and baby's vitals, make sure breastfeeding is going well, that mom is feeling good emotionally and best of all, get to snuggle with the new little one.

I just love the time I am able to spend with the new moms and babies.

Treating tongue tie could help more babies breastfeed

This study just came out and confirms what most of us who are breastfeeding activists already knew. Clipping a tongue tied baby does help the breastfeeding relationship!

Two of my babies have been born tongue tied. My first was very severe and it prevented her from being able to nurse and get milk. We were in CA at the time and had a hard time finding a medical professional who believed that frenotomies were beneficial. Finally at a week old, we were able to get hers done. It was a short, simple procedure and she was able to nurse immediately afterward and my pain was greatly diminished.

My last baby was also born tongue tied. His was not as severe as my first's, but after two weeks of trying to ignore the pain and hope that his frenulum would stretch, we had his clipped as well. Once again, nursing was no longer painful.

Tongue ties tend to run in families (both my dad was and my husband is) and are more common among males.

Checking for tongue tie is one of the many things we check during the newborn exam, so if it is a problem, it can be taken care of quickly.

Another Birthday!

Avangeline Dixie joined the world this morning at 3:08 am. Her mom and dad labored for many hours, but stuck through it all to birth her peacefully into her daddy's waiting hands. She was 7 lbs on the dot and 18 inches long.
Dy and I didn't get a picture with the new little one. We were all exhausted after a long day and night up, but will get one at her 1 day postpartum visit.