06Sep 2017 by Full Circle Doulas No Comments

The Solution to Morning Sickness in Pregnancy

Advice, Home Birth, Hospital Birth, Information

Chances are, you are here because someone had mercy on you and shared this blog, after you posted in every possible mom group, asking how they dealt with everyone’s favorite typical side effect of pregnancy…. Morning sickness. Funny thing is (I know, there’s nothing funny about puking your guts out or all-day nausea). We talk about it as if it is a rite of passage in pregnancy, like it’s perfectly normal. Hell, even the Duchess of Cambridge Kate has been all over the news about it. Though it is quite common, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s “normal”. I really wonder what other cultures in other countries would have to say about it? -That’s research for another day…. At the risk of sounding “preachy”… the thing is, our SAD (Standard American…

02May 2017 by Full Circle Doulas No Comments

Free Postpartum Printables!!!

Advice, Doula, Home Birth, Hospital Birth, Postpartum

Everyone loves to visit a new baby but not everyone knows proper postpartum/newborn etiquette. These free printables serve as a gentle reminder to guests of what to do and what NOT to do while visiting a new mother and baby! We have also included a free printable to hang on your door when mom and baby need some MUCH needed guest-free rest time (or when you need an excuse for visitors to come at another time lol). Remember, to properly care for baby and give your full heart into this mom gig you must also care for yourself! You can,t pour from an empty cup, mommas!! Cherish and protect that "babymoon" time!! "Mom and Baby are Resting" Free PDF Postpartum Visitors Free PDF!

30Mar 2017 by Full Circle Doulas No Comments

How I Achieved My Empowering Hospital Birth Experience

Advice, Birth Story, Doula, Hospital Birth, Midwife, Musing, Stories

I am normally an out-of-hospital birthing momma that has a preference for birthing at home but in 2016 while being a surrogate for my lovely friends we decided that, for this particular birth, hospital was the route we wanted! Once you have birthed outside of the hospital and experience the freedom to listen to your own body instead of following "hospital policy" it's hard to go back to thinking about birthing the way I once did in a hospital setting. So we made the decision that we wouldn't. We wouldn't settle for the drive-through-window experience that is often birth in the US. I stayed upright and moved as my body wished, I ate and my nurses happily spoiled me with food,…

23Jan 2017 by Full Circle Doulas No Comments

Birth Story #7

Birth Story, Home Birth, Hospital Birth, Midwife, Stories

This is a very encouraging, upbeat, and fun story about a mother and father who had a home birth like experience, in the hospital, with the care of a midwife. She was educated and aware of her options, had a very optimistic mind set, and worked with her baby through labor. Read more here.

11Jan 2017 by Full Circle Doulas No Comments

Birth Story #5 – Baby Roderick’s Hasty Entrance

Birth Story, Hospital Birth, Stories

I have to start from the beginning: My first daughter, Aubree, was born 4 years ago, after 26 hours of labor in a local hospital, being induced, while witnessing the popular interventions of pitocin, pushing strong contractions and an epidural slowing them down. This labor was very slow, dull and frustrating, and at the time I wasn't aware of my rights, or of all the options I had. Shortly after her being born, I started researching pregnancy and birth, and deciding that my next pregnancy, I would do things very differently. Spring of 2016, I started out my second pregnancy under the same care of the obstetrics office that I went to with my first. I continued to stay with them for a while, even though I knew very well…

09Jan 2017 by Full Circle Doulas No Comments

Birth Story #4 – Baby Esplin!

Birth Story, Hospital Birth, Stories

This was for my second. Since I wasn't feeling the baby move as much as she was I got checked and decided to be induced. We called at 5am and was told we could come in in an hour. When we got there we got all set up and they started pitocin. After about 2 hours I started having contractions. They were subtle at first so I practiced my breathing and watched New Girl. Another hour went passed and they were getting stronger. I decided to get an epidural. They came in put the epidural and about 45 minutes later I was ready to push. I pushed for 15 minutes and out came Quinn. They laid her on me while they cleaned her off and the doctor delivered the placenta…

02Jan 2017 by Full Circle Doulas 4 Comments

Birth Story #2

Birth Story, Doula, Hospital Birth, Stories

While we were eating dinner on Monday 6pm 8/3 my water broke, small gush and a little pink so I called my midwife to see what I should do. She suggested I come in to make sure it's my water, etc. We got our things ready and my sister in law came to get the boys! At 730pm we arrived at the birthing center, I was 2cm dilated and we confirmed that it was my water that had broken. 9pm contractions picked up and we're 6 min. apart. We watched a funny movie, and hung out, resting when we were able to. At 4am contractions pretty much stopped. 6am 8/4 contractions started again but weren't consistent. Legally there is a 24 hr time frame that the birthing center could keep…

01Jan 2017 by Full Circle Doulas No Comments

Birth Story #1

Birth Story, Doula, Hospital Birth, Stories

While I was pregnant my husband, Judd, had suggested I look into having an unmedicated birth. I was never something I had considered before and wasn't sure how I felt about it but thought "What the heck". I read a few books and thought, if I can do it cool, if not oh well. Four days before my due date I started to get regular contractions. It was a Wednesday and I was supposed to be working. Contractions were far apart and not painful so I decided to go in and get my last day done. I cleaned out my desk and did some busy work to keep my mind occupied. I went home like regular at 5:00 and was surprised…

17Aug 2015 by Full Circle Doulas No Comments

My first Birth Experience – Lindsay

Birth Story, Doula, Hospital Birth

I considered blogging about my first birth experience just days after it had occurred. I later decided.... It was such a beautiful experience that I didn't think I had digested it enough to even begin to do it justice...This is my attempt at giving you a peek into what it is like on the other side of a birth. There's a lot of fear & unknown surrounding birth in this generation. Rightfully so. However, I hope to take some of that negativity out of the birth world and instead share with you the happiness, the intensity and the raw emotions that makes each birth unique. So whether you're a first time mom reading this, a future client, an aspiring Doula, or just here for the read; I hope I can…