Music Birth

Race ya!

2011-12-07T17:30:00.001-08:00

Doesn't this woman look WAY too pretty to be in labor?! :) I think so, too. But she was. I got my heads up call at 4:00 pm. Her contractions were about 10 to 15 minutes apart, and she had her membranes stripped earlier that afternoon. Since her first baby came quickly, I knew that once she got on a roll, it wouldn't be long. And by 5:30, she and her husband were heading to the hospital.

Upon arrival she was 4 cm dilated, so spent an hour walking the halls to see if she could kick herself into active labor. When that didn't work, she was quickly offered an array of interventions. Which was a little overwhelming. They asked for some time to think things over, and I met up with them at 7:30 pm.

Deciding on an intervention is extremely difficult, to say the least. Their midwife offered to break her water. One reason why I like this intervention is because it is going to happen naturally anyway. It really can get the hormones revved up enough to kick things into high gear and get the job done. It doesn't enter anything into the bloodstream, and almost always gives the outcome you want. But it is a huge decision because there is no turning back. If it doesn't work, you have no choice but to turn to pitocin. So after deliberating for another hour, mom decided to go ahead and have her water broken at 8:15.

Since it was her second baby, I knew she may quickly jump into strong contractions. So once the water was broken, we turned on the music and focused on relaxation. That way her mind would be caught up with her body, which makes labor alot less overwhelming. Instantly she commented that the music was very helpful. It only took about 15 minutes for the contractions to become powerful. She walked the halls a little and spent some time on the birth ball. To help the baby's heart rate, she spent most of her labor in bed, on her left side. She stayed so focused and vocalized through each contraction.

With my 3rd baby, I also had my water broken. And my son was born less than 2 1/2 hours later! I thought it was kind of a record, but I'm pretty sure this mom beat me!

Pushing began at 10:27, and at 10:37 mom reached down and delivered her own son.

Baby Escher. 7 pounds 13 ounces

Both dad and I noticed that this little guy had a big mouth. :) And he knew how to use it.

Started nursing all on his own after a few snuggles with mom.

Congratulations to such a sweet couple! Thank you for sharing your birth!

2011-09-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

My husband and I recently celebrated our 10 year anniversary by taking a trip to beautiful Belize. Once we booked our tickets, a past client of mine contacted me to let me know she was due the day after we left! I didn't think there was any hope of me attending her birth, but she politely waited until I had been home for several days. :)

Her last birth (http://musicbirth.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html) was about 25 months ago, and she was going for a VBAC. It was a long and tiring night. We spent about 12 hours together, that ended in a successful vaginal birth. I figured this VBAC would go smoother and quicker, but I had no idea it would be as fast as it was!

Mom texted me at 3:20 am saying her water had just broken! We met up at the hospital an hour later. She was coping wonderfully with her contractions. She was listening to Christian music and leaning on the counter. I could tell that her labor was progressing very quickly. She moved to the birth ball and vocalized a prayer during her contractions. Being a Christian as well, I was moved deeply by this beautiful moment.

The urge to push appeared well before the doctor did. And even though there was a floating OB just outside the door, she was told to wait. (Don't even get me started on this topic! RIDICULOUS!) When the correct OB finally appeared we barely got mom on the bed (in hands and knees position) just in time for this to happen...

One contraction and not a single tear later, this beautiful girl entered the world.

It was only 5:45 am!

7 pounds, 8 ounces

While it's nice for mom to not have to push a long time, it doesn't give the baby as much time to transition to breathing. And this little one was struggling a bit. After several minutes it was decided that she would be taken to the NICU. :( Not exactly what you expect with a flawless birth. Mom got to hold her for several seconds before they were separated.

Turns out, she does have an infection and will be spending over a week in the NICU. Poor little thing! So mom is busy pumping, and making it work!

Lullaby Contest

2011-07-13T08:46:00.001-07:00

Lullaby of Love Photo Contest!

Send us your favorite, most heart warming, most hilarious pictures of being a parent;

and your pic could be featured in our next slide show.

Also win discount codes and free lullabies!

Email your pictures to lullabyoflove@gmail.com.

Latest song from our Lullaby of Love songwriters and video slide show will premiere on

LABOR Day! Get it? :)

So what is LULLABY OF LOVE?

Just the only website in the world where parents can

write the lyrics to their baby's lullaby!

Watch our Facebook Page for special offers and discount codes! The perfect baby shower gift!

Welcome, Kaylee!

2011-03-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

I received a call at 6 pm last night from my clients, thinking that their labor was starting. Things settled down, so they called and told me it was a false alarm. So lucky me... I got a full night's sleep. Then as soon as I was showered and ready, and all my kids were ready for the day, I got the call that she really was in labor! When does that ever happen? I can't believe I got to go to a birth with a shower and full night of sleep under my belt. :)

I met up with this couple at 10:30 at the hospital. She was dilated 5 cm, and having alot of back labor. Luckily, the hip squeeze did the trick. So the dad and I switched off offering this support until she started pushing. To get through the pain she kept telling herself that the pain wasn't real, and it worked! She was totally relaxed, focused, and in control the entire time. Up until the last hour of labor, mom was all smiles and often talkative between contractions. Her attitude was so positive, and her mood so sunny. I loved it!

Mom's favorite way to labor was on the birth ball, but she also walked the halls and sat in the jacuzzi tub. Music was a constant supporter as well. At 1:25 she was dilated to a 7, and at 2:45 decided to have her water broken to speed things along. It worked. Her contractions intensified quickly, and she started pushing just an hour later.

And at 4:08 pm, Kaylee was born!

These love birds have been married for 9 months and 3 days! They are such a good team, you would think they have been married for years!

Mom and dad were both thrilled to tears to meet their little angel. It was such a beautiful moment, I couldn't help but drop a few tears myself. :)

Even though she was almost two weeks early, Kaylee weighed in at a whopping 8 pounds and almost 10 ounces.

I am afraid to jinx this, but it has been almost an entire year since I have had a client receive any type of intervention. It is just so awesome to see all these women take control of their births, and deliver naturally. I love my job!

These two were really looking forward to their first family dinner. I hope they had a great evening together. Thank you so much for sharing your birth!

One Tough, Little Cookie!

2011-02-10T09:02:00.000-08:00

Tuesday the 8th was the final night of my latest Music Birth class series. Our class was shrinking due to births, and I was wondering if this particular couple would make it or not. But they were there! Only hitch.... pretty sure she was in early labor. She was already dilated to 4, so we were hoping early labor wouldn't take long. Well, early labor had something else in mind. We didn't meet up at the hospital until Wednesday evening, around 7:30. Her contractions were regular, but her cervix had only gone from 4 to 4+. And she found out she was strep B positive, and was getting her IV when I arrived. Not the most encouraging way to start things out.

I never know what to expect when I arrive. I knew this mom had a strong desire for a natural birth, but every now and then I get a mom who changes her mind really early on. But this mom was A-MAZ-ING. She had her relaxation music on, and was breathing deeply. I could see right away that this mom really knew what she was doing.

This is not a typical contraction pattern! This mom had contractions like this all the time! She could go anywhere from 4 to 6 minutes without a complete release from her contractions. And she was so in control and relaxed, that she almost appeared to be sleeping through it. And this went on for quite some time. I could tell that this mom just got it. While most moms worry about what kind of massage or other comfort measure to use, this mom understood that tuning into the music and using deep abdominal breathing was key. The massage of course helped, but she knew it was her responsibility to stay relaxed, and our responsibility to support that however we could.

At 12:15 am mom was still only dilated to 5 1/2, so the decision was made to break her water. It definitely helped take the contractions to the next level. And by 3:25 mom was pushing. At 4:44 am, February 10th, Rayna was born!

I know! She is soooo adorable!

Tipping the scale at 8 pounds and 2.6 ounces. She looked like she was ready to crawl away!

There is no doubt in my mind this guy is going to be a great dad. He was a wonderful coach and support to his wife. He was in tune, supportive, and patient the entire time.

What a great couple to pull an all nighter with! :) Thanks for sharing your birth!

Baby "Wild"

2011-01-13T22:33:00.000-08:00

First time moms seem to worry about labor because it is unknown to them. They have no idea what it will be like. But a second time mom knows exactly what to worry about. And they always wonder if the hardest part of their first delivery will be as difficult as it was the first time around. This particular mom had an unusually long and exhausting first labor. I was supposed to be there, but was out of town. And boy did my back up doula have her work cut out for her! Needless to say, this mom really didn't a labor that spanned several days.

I don't think I have ever gotten a heads up call at 8:00 in the morning! Who gets to go into labor after a full night of sleep?! By 11:00 we were at the hospital, and at 11:40 we found out that mom was already dilated to 8 centimeters! (applause here) Both mom and dad were AMAZING. This mom was definitely one of the most relaxed and in control moms I have ever had the pleasure of serving. She let me sleep all night, and then she was easy! Her personality is so laid back and happy that it didn't surprise me at all , though. Dad was a major multitasker: supporting his wife and taking care of his 2 1/2 year old daughter (which included alot of potty trips).

12:40 pm, grandma arrived. Hurray! This took alot of stress off of dad. And good thing since mom started pushing at 1:15!

It took a couple contractions to figure out the best way for mom to push. But once we did, that baby just flew out! And I won't lie.... There was screaming involved. :) This serene mom who vocalized quitely through each labor contraction really let it all out during pushing! Pushing a baby out in less than 5 minutes can be pretty intense!

And at 1:26, Chayton Lamar was born.

Weighing in at 7 pounds, 15 ounces.

For those wondering, his name was "Wild" throughout her pregnancy

because he was so active in there!

I sure lucked out with this one! I got the second labor which was WAY shorter. I didn't lose any sleep. And most of all, I got to be a part of this amazing birth, and work with a great family. Thanks for sharing your birth with me!

Slideshow and lullaby created at www.lullabyoflove.com.

Latest Arrival

2011-01-05T11:55:00.001-08:00

Well, it has definitely been a while since I last posted! I took a much needed break from doula work. While there are few things I enjoy more than attending a birth, myself and my family needed to be free from me being on call. My time off is about to end, and I have several births in the next couple months. So keep checking back to read those stories!

During my "time off" (still pretty busy being a wife and mother!), my husband and I launched our new website: LULLABY OF LOVE. It has been so wonderful and exciting! We offer a site where parents can write the lyrics to their baby's lullaby. It is the only website out there (trust me, we've searched!) that gives anyone the ability to write beautiful and meaningful music. And the best part is, it's soooo easy.

First thing is choosing music. We have written, arranged, and recorded 4 beautiful songs to choose from. Choose the one you like best.

Next, write the lyrics. Tell your child what it is your heart. If writing the lyrics is too daunting, just tell us what you want the song to say and we will formulate it for you.

That's it!

Then we record and ship it to you in 2 weeks or less.

But I've saved the BEST part for last. Watch and see...

The world's most customizable birth announcement. One of a kind lullabies, written by loving parents. Is there a sweeter way to announce the birth of your little angel? (PS: Do you remember this mom? Read her birth story here.)

MUSIC BIRTH Mommies always gets discounts, too! Use the PROMO CODE: musicbirth to get 20% off any order. Use it yourself, and/or tell your friends!

For more information, watch the video below. It goes through step by step, how to create your one of kind lullaby.

The results are in...

2010-05-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

and MUSIC BIRTH still ROCKS! (But you already knew that, right?)

In the past 12 months:

67% of Music Birth moms delivered without any intervention
(The national epidural rate is between 80 and 90%)
(can't seem to find any reliable data on forcep/vacuum delivery rates...)

67% of moms going for VBACS were able to have vaginal deliveries
(vs. 12% nationally)

Only 17% of Music Birth Moms received pitocin
(vs. 47% nationally)

Only 1 Music Birth mom required a cesarean delivery.
(vs. 1 out of every 3 women)

This was a first for me, and it was rough. I have had class members need cesareans, but until last month, I had never had a doula client need one. I have never seen a mom so patient, determined, and long-suffering. I was moved by her strength, and impressed with her courage.
I wish it could have ended differently for her. But after being dilated to 7 cm (yes, I said SEVEN) for 35 hours (yes , said THIRTY-FIVE), we were running out of options. Hours of peaceful laboring quickly became chaotic and stressful.

As birthers, all we can do is prepare and do everything in our power to ensure a safe and healthy delivery. When that doesn't work, we know we need the intervention. There is a peace of mind that comes from knowing you did everything you could, and you did everything right. It's ok to get an intervention if you need it. Actually, it's a really good thing. But if you don't need it, it's not worth the risk. And I am thrilled to see that my clients continue to not receive interventions that they don't need.

How Long Will Pushing Take?

2010-04-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

This is a question I get from ALOT of women, and of course, I don't know what the answer is. But one thing almost all women can count on is it is usually easier and faster with each subsequent child you have. So this mom (who pushed for 3 1/2 hours with baby #1!) was REALLY hoping that pushing would go by much quicker this time around!

I received a call from mom at about 4:00 Friday morning, saying she was on her way to the hospital. I asked if she wanted to me to meet her there, or if she wanted to call once she was checked etc. She said she would call once they were all set up at the hospital.

5:25 am, Dad calls and mom is already 7 cm! I get up and out of the house in a whopping SIX minutes! A personal record. :) But even with my speed, mom is complete when I arrive shortly before 6:00. I felt SO bad that I had missed the entire labor. I was with mom and dad with baby #1, and we joked that #2 would surely feel ripped off because there were no pictures of his labor. So we quickly took this picture to at least have one of the labor! :)

6:15 mom begins pushing. So of course we are all thinking things are about finished, but we were pretty wrong. Mom opted for intrathecal pain meds, with is a lot like a spinal but not as strong. It works much quicker than an epidural, but doesn't last nearly as long. Moms like pain meds for obvious reasons, but they do inhibit pushing. Combine that with a posterior baby, and this mom was gearing up for a lot of pushing.

Goal #1: Rotate Baby.
This mom is always positive and willing to try anything. She was a great sport about changing position every three contractions. She pushed in almost every possible position: each side, hands and knees, squatting etc. 1 hour and 45 minutes later, baby was in the exact same spot. UG!

Goal #2: Push baby out. :)
But as the pain meds began to wear off, not only did mom's pushing get more effective, but the baby started to rotate too! So once that happened, baby was born in about 20 minutes!

Welcome to the world, Baby Preston! Born at 8:26 am, Friday April 23rd.

A big boy: 8 pounds 14 ounces.

The birth of baby #1 was not only long, but stressful and ended with a trip to the NICU. It definitely took it's toll on dad. But this time around I don't think dad got faint or queasy at all!

There's no lack of love for this little guy. Here he is being adored by both grandmas, and mom's best friend.

So mom still spend quite a long time pushing. But she did shave off about 30% of how long it took her to push out baby #1. That is actually really good progress!

Thanks for sharing your birth! You guys did great!

Billions $ vs. Breastfeeding

2010-04-05T20:32:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to see that people outside of the "birth world" are starting to notice the benefits of natural birth and breastfeeding! I am trying not to get ahead of myself, but I am hopeful that the pendulum is starting to head back the other direction, and that our country is headed in the right direction. Just today I was reading an article about breastfeeding; and how if more women breastfed... fewer babies would die, and it would save the US billions of dollars every year.

Breastmilk is hands down the most perfect food in the world, and is totally free! It is the most amazing natural resource, always keeps up with supply and demand, and is grossly under utilized. According to today's article, the government spends billions of dollars a year on formula. I am assuming this is due to the number of women utilizing WIC services, which provides free formula to low income families. Imagine the double bonus our country would experience if fewer babies were getting sick, and the billions of dollars going towards formula could actually go towards health issues?!

I so hope that health care reform will really focus on prevention instead of treatment. We could all benefit by starting at the beginning, instead of at the end. And it all starts with pregnancy and birth. Healthy birth is the start to a healthy life.

Lullaby of Love

2010-03-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

Writing lullabies is a highlight of my career, and hopefully a highlight to the couples who take my class. I recently had an article published in International Doula, a journal run by Doulas Of North America (DONA). Click here to read my article, The Lullaby of Love.

A Daily Miracle

2010-02-24T12:48:00.000-08:00

At 9:45 Tuesday morning I received a "heads-up" call from my clients, saying they thought mom was in early labor. I waited all day to be called to the birth, and finally almost 22 hours later we met at the hospital. They definitely get the award for giving me the most amount of time to get ready. :) They also get a patience award... not only was mom in early labor for an entire day, she was also several days past her due date. What a trooper.

In the early evening she wondered if her water had broken, and the car ride to the hospital confirmed that it had. But at 7:30 pm, she was still only dilated 2 cm. When I arrived shortly after midnight I found mom and dad laboring perfectly together. Meditation music was playing, and mom was using the birth ball to ease her discomfort. During contractions mom felt most of her pain in her back, and we suspected a posterior baby. The nurse checked her cervix at 1:45 am, and she was now dilated to a 4, and did indeed have a posterior situation.

Mom continued to really pump out the contractions, and spent her time walking the halls and leaning on the birth ball. She started to feel her baby moving, and suddenly most of the pain from her back was now on her right hip, meaning her baby was starting to find a better position. Her contractions were intensifying quickly, and at 2:50 am she was dilated to a 5 and headed to the jacuzzi. That water provided some much needed relief and rest until an overwhelming urge to push came over her during contractions. This is a wonderful sign of progress, but can make things pretty difficult for mom. After being in the tub for only an hour she was now dilated to 8!

Mom headed to the bed to prepare for delivery, and get through her final contractions. Like her entire labor, mom combined her knowledge with her instincts, and the result was a mom who labored like a pro! She was so in control and focused, and totally blew her husband away. At 4:20 am the doctor told her she could start pushing, and all mom could say was "really?".

Then just 35 minutes later, at 4:55 am on February 24th,
Mya (sp?) was born (without any intervention).
Isn't she a beauty?!

Baby girl appeared to be so content and
happy to be in her mommy's arms.

Weighing in at 7 pounds, 4 1/2 ounces.

And just like the lyrics to one of the songs we listened to during labor:

"It's just another, ordinary, miracle today."

While birth may be an everyday occurrence,
it truly is always a miracle.

2nd VBAC, for 1/3 of the time!

2010-02-05T12:44:00.000-08:00

Two years ago I attended the longest birth of my doula career. We were together for a whopping 21 hours, and after the baby was finally born, the first thing the mom said to me was "we're done having kids because there isn't any good way to get them out of me". And you know what, I believed her! Her first child was born via emergency cesarean, and her second child was vacuum delivered after an entire day of labor. So when she told me baby #3 was on the way I was pretty surprised, and very hopeful for a shorter delivery this time.

Mom had her membranes stripped on Thursday morning, and I got a call at 2:00 am Friday morning. Mom and dad were planning on a long, leisurely early labor like last time; and I was going to meet them at their home. But by 3:00 am they had changed their minds and were heading to the hospital where we all gathered by about 3:20. Mom was dilated 4 1/2 cm, and things were rolling. She vocalized low tones during her contractions, and was dilated to almost a 6 by 5:00 am. After enduring the never ending questions and monitoring, mom eagerly headed to the jacuzzi. She continued to labor amazingly well. Listening to music, vocalizing, and staying perfectly relaxed.

Around 7:00 the contractions had sadly slowed down, and it was time to get out of the water and start walking the halls to get things moving again. Mom was tired, but was a good sport. Once the contractions were strong again, and to avoid the chaos of shift change, we made our way back into the delivery room and mom labored on the birth ball. Dad was a great support, offering a hand to hold, and shoulder to lean on, words of encouragement, water, and anything else she asked for. :)
By 9:00 mom was complete, and pushing began. And at 9:21, a beautiful baby girl was born! It was quite the relief since mom pushed for over two hours to deliver baby #2. Here they are just seconds after delivery.... The moment that makes everything worth it! And thankfully this time around, not a single intervention was used.

Is anything sweeter than the first time your baby holds on to your finger?

Weighing in at 7 pounds, 6 oz; and 19 1/4 inches long.

Before I left, we sang through the lullaby my recent class wrote, and here are the lyrics:

Baby Mine, so excited to meet you
I will cherish you.
I can't wait to spend my life with you,
no matter what we go through.
Time to dream of your perfect day,
full of laughter and play.
I'll love you til the end of time,
Beautiful Baby of Mine.

Baby girl looks soooo cute in this picture, I just had to include it.
Mom kept commenting on her perfect, tiny nose. What a doll!

Thank you for sharing your birth, and for choosing MUSIC BIRTH.

Patience for Payton

2009-11-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

I am starting with the last picture because once you start reading this, you may not believe that the baby was ever born! I've just got to do this in a timeline so the readers truly appreciate how long this mom was in labor.

Thursday around 8:00 pm: Mom starts to notice contractions, but goes to bed that night.

Friday around 1:00 am: Mom wakes up with contractions that are keeping her from sleeping.

5:00 am: mom and dad go to the hospital and find that she is 3 cm dilated (big progress since her last OB appt.) Only problem is, once they arrive at the hospital, her contractions stop.

7:30 am: Since mom is scheduled for an induction in a few days, they decide to induce her since she is at the hospital, and her baby's heart-rate had a few decelerations. Pitocin is started. Mom spends the next several hours walking the halls and rocking in the rocking chair.

Noon: While walking the halls, many notice that mom is starting to get "the look". Meaning she gets the facial expression of many women in labor. For her it also became the look of a mom about to throw up. As if being in labor isn't enough, this mom had about 6 vomiting episodes.

1:30 pm: Mom is checked and has only progressed from 3 to 3 1/2. So the doctor breaks her water to hopefully get things moving quicker. Mom gets in the jacuzzi and labors amazingly! She was so relaxed and in control, she practically slept through her labor!

3:45 pm: Checked again and is a "stretchy 4".

4:45 pm: Still a 4! Things are starting to feel very discouraging. Mom is tired, starving, and has pretty much tried everything by this point. I also want to point out that pitocin contractions are longer, more painful, and less productive than contractions that aren't induced. And this mom had labor for 9 long hours that way. But by this time it was just too much, and an epidural was ordered to give mom some relief. By 5:00 she was feeling good, and her happy personality returned.

8:00 pm: Checked again and is now 5 cm. Progress, but still discouraging.

9:20 pm: Checked again and is still a 5. More throwing up.

9:45 pm: Doctor arrives to check and mom is a 6. Doctor is not pleased with the lack of progress and says "if you want to hold up a white flag I'll give you a cesarean". Hmm... Mom is feeling good with the epidural and baby is handling everything very well. Sure, it's been a long day, but is that really a reason to do a major abdominal surgery? NOOOOOO!!!! Thankfully, these parents were too smart to take that bait!

10:30 pm: Mom is checked again and is 9 cm! One more contraction and she is complete. Baby's heart-rate was starting to feel the effects of the long day, and it was decided that she should be delivered as quickly as possible. The doctor assisted with forceps.

10:49 pm: Payton Lily is finally born! PHEW!

Since there was meconium (baby's first poop) in the water, Payton had to be suctioned out as soon as she was born.

Weighing in at 6 pounds 8 ounces and 18 1/2 inches long.

Payton was such a champ! She went through a lot to get here, and proved that she is one tough little cookie. And upon further inspection we saw that she is gorgeous too. Big eyes and cute defined features already. She was grounded many times during the labor, but I'm guessing she'll bat her eyelashes and get out of it!

Several times during the labor mom would say, "I am not doing this again". Funny how quickly our moods can change once we are holding our little ones. From the smiles on their faces, you'd never guess what they had just been through!

Dad didn't feel like a natural, but he sure looked like one! Here he is holding his little girl for the first time. Totally worth the wait. Thanks for hanging in there so long, and for sharing!

Third time's a charm!

2009-10-12T16:04:00.000-07:00

Take a good look at this face. This is the face of a woman about to doubt herself. It is a wall that almost every woman hits during an unmedicated delivery. The "I can't do it anymore and I don't want to do it anymore!" wall. And having just delivered her last child a short 21 months ago, the pain and hard work of labor was still fresh in this mom's memory. I also had the honor of being there 21 months ago, and it was a fast and furious birth. So when I got the call at 5:11 this morning, I got ready without a minute to spare.

And sure enough, after only a few hours of hard labor (spent walking the halls, swaying, vocalizing, and a little anxiety here and there) this petite mommy delivered not-so-petite Baby Anna at 10:00 am! It only took a few hard pushes. No pain meds, no interventions, and no stitches. This mom sure proved herself wrong, and did such an amazing job!

Here mom is holding her 3rd child for the first time. It was a very emotional moment... celebrating the end of labor and the beginning of life outside the womb. I saw a couple tears slide out of mom's eyes, and being a young mother myself, I couldn' t help but get a little teary too!

Weighing in at 8 pounds and 7 ounces, 20 inches long.

Compare these smiles to the first picture... Priceless! What a difference a couple hours and a wonderful birth can make! Thank you for sharing your birth, and for allowing me to be a part of it again! Let me know how the vasectomy goes. :)

Sunny side up!

2009-09-15T17:12:00.000-07:00

I arrived at my latest clients' home at 10 pm, Sept. 14th. She was contracting every several minutes, but her contractions weren't lasting much longer than 20 or 30 seconds. I could tell they were increasing in intensity, but was worried that they wouldn't be doing much dilation wise because of their short duration. But after just an hour, she felt it was time to head over to the hospital. Here dad is braiding her hair to help her get ready to leave. So sweet!

Despite the short contractions, she was dilated to a 5 and 90% effaced with a very low baby. Here her mother massaged her back while her husband offered verbal an physical support. This mom did such a great job staying focused, relaxed, and in control! She got in the jacuzzi for an hour, and was then dilated to an 8! Her back was hurting, and we were guessing that her baby was posterior, meaning he was facing the wrong way.

Posterior babies often cause much back discomfort because the hard part of their head is hitting mom's lower back, instead of her abdomen. They are also more difficult to push, as their alignment is not optimal for descent through the birth canal. This proved true for this mom who started pushing at 1:35, but didn't deliver until 3:09 am Sept. 15th. She was SUCH a strong pusher! I think her next baby will slide right out, no problem!

Sure enough, this little cutie was born "sunny side up", looking right up at the ceiling! Here mom is holding him for the first time, with soft lullabies in the background. A magical moment for any parent.

Dad was an awesome labor coach, and was especially great during transition. He helped mom find and maintain her focus, and never left her side.

This little man weighed in at 8 pounds 2 ounces, and was 21 inches long! He must have inherited alot of strength from his mom- who was able to deliver without pain meds and no interventions. He handled the labor perfectly, even the hour and a half his head was stuck in the birth canal! As of now, he has three possible names, so you'll have to get the information directly from his parents. :)

Thanks for including me in your birth, and sharing it with us! Congratulations!

Two Quotes

2009-09-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the opportunity to do a postnatal appointment, and a prenatal appointment. I always look forward to visiting a family after I have supported them through their birth. It creates such a unique relationship, plus I get to see their tiny newborns! As my client and I were talking about her birth she said one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to/about me.

"At that moment" (during her labor) "I really felt like you were my best friend". I was so touched.

My next appointment was with a repeat client. Working with a repeat client is great. The relationship is already established, and you get to improve on what you did last time. As we were reviewing her previous birth she started recalling the moment that I arrived and turned on the music. She said something along the lines of...

"As soon as I heard the music I focused all of my attention on it, and I knew that it would get me through my contractions".

YAY! That is EXACTLY what it is supposed to do. Using the right music at the right time can really make all the difference. So can having a "best friend" to lean on. I'm only human, so of course the compliments I receive are great boosters for my self esteem. But the real pay off is knowing that I helped a family get off on the right foot.

Birth matters, and it does make a difference.

Successful VBAC, HURRAY!

2009-08-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

As the mother of three young children, I have had many reasons to pull an all nighter. But my favorite reason to do so is serving a couple as their labor support doula. It all started around 2 pm, when my client gave me a heads up, saying she was having consistent contractions. I met her and her husband shortly before 7 pm at St. Als, and she was dilated 5 cm and 80% effaced. I thought, "wow, this is going to be a fast delivery".

One thing that made this birth different is mom had the goal of a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). VBAC moms are different in that they don't just fear the cesarean like most moms do, but they have experienced one; and know exactly why they don't want to endure one again. VBAC moms have a different determination, and a greater understanding of why delivering vaginally is so important.

We spent the next 7 hours doing all sorts of comfort measures, and mom was AMAZING. She was very instinctual and in tune with her body. She entrained easily with her labor music, moving and swaying to the rhythm it provided. She never tried to fight against the contractions (many moms will do so to try and avoid the pain), and stayed in control. She walked, squatted, used the birth ball, labored in the jacuzzi, threw up, used deep breathing and imagery... everything imagineable. But by 2 in the morning, she was only dilated to a 6. This news was very discouraging, as mom was getting extremely worn out.

After much deliberation, the difficult decision to use pitocin and pain meds was made. I typically do not feel that a decision like this is the best choice, but in this case, it absolutely was. For unknown reasons, labors (VERY seldomly) just don't progress enough on their own. This leaves mom and dad worn out and disappointed. I teach in my classes that all interventions have their place. But when they are overused, moms and babies pay the price (as there is always a risk involved). But when they are used in the correct setting, moms and babies benefit.

After mom was comfortable (about 4 am), we all (mom, dad, grandma and I) tried to get some rest. Then around 6, mom woke up feeling more pressure. She began pushing at 7:20.

Once baby was about half way out of the birth canal, mom was able to reach down and pull her child onto her. I LOVE when care providers have moms do this. It is not only empowering, but a magical moment that really should be given to parents whenever possible. Imagine the difference from having a cesarean birth with your first child, to reaching down and pulling your second child towards you! Brings me to tears.

Weighing in at 8 pounds 2 oz, and 21 inches long!
Born at 8:21 am, after 61 minutes of pushing.

This little girl handled the long labor like a champ, and was nursing within minutes of being born.

Isn't she just adorable?!

And what little girl doesn't have daddy wrapped around her little finger? This dad has been fighting a cold all week, and even had a fever last night. But no matter what, his wife came first, and he was an awesome support to her.

Congratulations on your new baby girl, and THANK YOU for sharing your birth! I was honored to be a part of it!

Latest Lullaby

2009-07-16T22:21:00.000-07:00

Writing the MUSIC BIRTH class lullaby is always a highlight for me, and for my students. While some students may feel a little intimidated at first, they always rise to the occasion and have a great experience. This Tuesday my current class wrote their lullaby, and it turned out beautifully.

Welcome, little baby, we're so glad you're here.
We've waited so long, we'll hold you so near.

You bless us with joy, we'll always love you.
We'll hold you so close, may your dreams come true.

So sweet! There are many benefits to writing your baby's lullaby.
1: It promotes prenatal bonding for both mom and dad
2: It gets dad involved in the pregnancy
3: It creates oxytocin (the love hormone), and trains your body to create higher levels of oxytocin when the lullaby is used postpartum.
4: It comforts baby before and after birth
5: When used correctly, it trains baby to feel drowsy whenever he/she hears the lullaby.
6: It promotes self-soothing, so baby falls asleep on his/her own, typically leading to longer stretches of slumber.
7: As the child ages, he/she will feel special and loved by hearing his/her personal lullaby

Remember, children prefer the voices of their parents. So even if you are uncomfortable with your singing voice, your child will still love hearing it!

High-Risk Pregnancy, Natural Birth!

2009-07-03T23:09:00.001-07:00

My birthing experience is such a success story considering that my baby was diagnosed with spina bifida. Which, apart from altering our entire life, instantly changed how I was going to give birth. I was informed by the specialist that my baby would be delivered via c-section. My second opinion gave me a "shaky" wait and see. So I had pretty much given up hope that I could deliver naturally. I didn't go to any of the classes, read any of the books or pamphlets, and I didn't even want to think about it because everything in my life was turned upside down. When we finally reached the end of my pregnancy, my doctor decided that I could deliver naturally! My baby had to have an emergency spinal repair within 24 hours of his birth, so I was determined not to add to the list of drugs put into his system.

I called my best friend/doula, and gave her the amazing news. We made plans for her to come and teach me everything I needed to know, but I decided to go into labor instead. :) Dealing with hospital workers is not calming. I do no enjoy the incessant questions, or the constant monitoring. I understand the necessity of it, but it is not enjoyable. When I finally got admitted to my room, I was so grateful to see Marie waiting for me with the most relaxing music. It instantly changed my mood. When I was about to lose it, she taught me some breathing techniques, which I truly believe saved me from giving in and screaming for drugs! If you ask my husband, he will tell you that everything went perfectly until I decided to chomp down on his arm. :) The bruise lasted for weeks. It wasn't personal, just "business".

Once my little baby was delivered, he had to be rushed away with my husband, before I could even hold him. If it weren't for Marie, I would have been left in the delivery room all alone for over an hour. I don't know what I would have done without her. So to sum it all up: Doulas Rock!

A new baby girl!

2009-07-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

While most of you were still in bed, I received a phone call to alert me that my client's water had broken! Only about 10% of women will have their water break before they know they are in labor, and it is quite the rush (and sometimes quite the gush!) About an hour and a half later, we were all at the hospital. I found dad comforting mom with soft touch and encouraging words.

Things progressed VERY quickly. Mom was already almost 6 cm dilated when she arrived to the hospital, and an hour later she was ready to push! Short labors are intense, and hard to keep up with mentally and emotionally. Most moms with fast labors feel out of control, but this mom did a fabulous job of staying relaxed, breathing deeply, vocalizing, and staying energized (and maybe a swear word here or there). :)

Dad was a total sweetheart. He was always holding his little girl's hand, and stayed by her side whenever she was separated from her mom.

We knew she was big! Over 9 pounds! No wonder mom had to work SO hard to get her through the birth canal. Add in some shoulder dystocia, and you have some hard pushing to get through.

Here are the proud parents, less than 4 hours after the water had broken! Healthy mom, healthy baby, proud papa, no pain meds, no stitches no interventions... What a great way to start the day! Thanks so much for sharing your birth!

The Circle of Life and Love

2009-06-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

(Me with my doula, Ginger.)

No matter what role you play, birth brings people together. As a doula and childbirth educator, I am continually honored by playing a small role in this life changing event. As a mom who has used a doula at each of my own 3 births, I understand the closeness and the fondness women always feel towards their doulas. And as a doula, I know how doulas hold a special place in their heart for each and every family they have worked with. These mutual feelings create a circle that is continually feeding into itself, and often results in lasting relati0nships. I am always touched to get a surprise visit from a couple I have worked with and their new baby. I love the Christmas cards, emails, and communication on Facebook. But this year I had a new first. I was invited to my first birthday party!

Many of you know that in my MUSIC BIRTH childbirth education classes, each class writes a lullaby for their babies. It is always a highlight of the class. So for this birthday party, my husband and I decided to make a recording of the lullaby for this family. (I am SO lucky that I married a man who loves music as much as I do, and has his own recording equipment!)

So today in the mail I got a thank you note from the little birthday boy and his parents, and it totally made my day. Here is an excerpt:

"Thank you for the CD of the lullaby. It is very special to have that recording! You all hold a special place in our hearts for allowing Marie to be a part of our son's birth. Thank you!"

I really do have the best job in the world! A huge "Thank you" to all of my past clients. You have made a difference in my life. I have recently put my career on hold as I have welcomed my third child into the world, and have been focusing just on my own family. But my maternity leave is about to end, as I just got a phonecall this morning from a client in early labor. :) Off to create another circle of love from the circle of life!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-20T23:13:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like seeing your husband hold your baby for the very first time. You suddenly begin to love him in a way you never have before. And for those of you who are already parents, you already know that there is nothing sexier than a great dad who adores his kids.

In the Music Birth method, Dads play an integral role. Some are the main support givers. Others work side by side with their doula as equal partners in supporting their wives. Either way, they always rise to the ocassion.

Many dads get alone time with the baby before mom even does (since mom is often still busy with the afterbirth). This is a special time for all dads as the bonding process kicks into full gear. Many dads sing their lullaby to their baby at this time.

Some dads have to be brave and follow their newborns into the NICU. Providing for and protecting their families is not always an easy thing to do. But they do it, and they do it wonderfully.

A big "Thank You" to all you awesome dad's out there. I hope you have a great Father's Day because you truly deserve it!

What is Music Birth?

2009-05-28T22:58:00.000-07:00

This is a question I find myself answering all the time. It is a complicated one. There are the typical responses: Using music to relax, to bond with your baby, using music to fight and block pain during labor etc. etc. etc... But the best way to truly understand Music Birth is to see it in action. So this blog will be devoted to Music Birth success stories. I will share my personal experiences using Music Birth as I delivered each of my three children (without pain meds!). I will share stories from my perspective as a doula, and I will invite previous clients to share their own experiences. And hopefully together we can all answer the question "What the heck is Music Birth?!"