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educate ~ inspire

What do you do when your birth deviates from your birth plan?

28/8/2019

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A mother and father pose with their daughter. Happy clients of Elemental Beginnings Adelaide Doula services
I've worked with a couple of families who have traveled back to Adelaide specifically for the birth of their baby.  Navigating a health-care system you aren't familiar with can add another level of uncertainty to your situation and may mean you are away from your family, friends or usual support network.

Hiring me as your doula provides you with a level of continuity of care and a support person who is there just for you and your family.

Thanks to Kate, Craig and their delightful daughter for sharing this with me.
​We recently hired Kelly as a doula for the birth of our first baby and she was phenomenal! We moved to Adelaide just 6 weeks prior to the birth and we were in search of someone who could provide continuity of care and support with a public hospital birth. She gave us that... and so much more! Our initial meetings with Kelly helped to inform our approach to the birth, allowed us to work through answers to many questions and left us feeling empowered. During labour, when our birth deviated from some of our original preferences, Kelly supported us in the process of making confident and informed decisions that were best for us and our baby. She has a kind nature, a calming presence and an open heart. If you are looking for a doula, Kelly is a dream to work with and we can't imagine our birth experience without her!

Thank you again for everything you did for us and our birth experience, you are a gem! If we make it back to Adelaide for baby #2 someday we will be ringing you up ;)  

Kate, Craig & Baby S

​​
As you can see from my client's own words, birth is unpredictable.  Sometimes it doesn't matter if you've taken all the classes, read all the books and blogs and even hired a doula.  Mother nature can have her own plans.  But what can you do when your birth takes an unexpected turn?

6 Things You Can Do When Your Birth Isn't Going To Plan

Everyone has some kind of plan, hopes, preferences or wishes for how they want the birth of their baby to go.  Which is great.  Hopefully it means that you've thought about your options and your family's values and made a communication document for your care provider.

If you're a client of mine, we will also talk through your back-up plans while you are still pregnant.  This includes what your preferences might be if you change your mind about something, pain relief for example, or if your body or baby have their own plans and you need to consider an instrumental or surgical birth.

So what can you do if your birth is deviating from your original plan?
  1. Think about why you chose those options originally.  What was your motivation or goal?  Now, can you still achieve your "why" even if it looks a little bit different getting there?  Can you arrive at the same destination via a different journey?
  2. If you are feeling disappointed, then there were expectations.  Examine your expectations.  Are they realistic in your particular situation?  Perhaps there have been changes to your circumstances but your expectations haven't evolved along with them. Have you put in the work that might be reasonably expected to achieve your expectations?
  3. Ask the questions and get the information you need so that you feel comfortable with the new decisions you have to make.  What are the benefits and risks to you and your baby, now and in the future?  How will making this decision change how you are cared for?  For 10 great questions to ask during your pregnancy and labour, read this other post of mine.  You can also download and print a free copy to keep with you and refer to as needed.  
  4. Take time to discuss your options with your support team once you feel you have enough information.  Unless it is an emergency, there is always time to think things through with your partner, doula or birth support.  Don't be afraid to ask the midwives or doctors to give you privacy while this happens.  
  5. Ask for a second opinion if you want to.
  6. Hopefully you've gone into labour knowing that the unexpected can happen and are prepared to be flexible.  Sometimes the randomness of birth prevails. This doesn't mean that you have to compromise on your values or your rights to autonomy and informed consent.


If you are interested in a birth planning session that covers all this and more, you can work with me here.  You'll soon see that I do things a little differently when it comes to birth plans and expectations!  Birth planning and coaching sessions are available to anyone and can be done over Zoom or Skype.  They can be single sessions to help you prepare for your birth.
When your birth isn't going to plan: 6 things you can do in labour | Written by Adelaide Doula Elemental Beginnings
This post is not intended to cover what to do if your birth has left you feeling traumatised in any way.  If you need support and resources for a bad birth, please use this link or the resources on Pinterest board below.
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Why do women choose to encapsulate their placenta?

12/4/2019

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Every person's reasons for choosing to encapsulate their placenta are different.  

It might be that they've heard about it from a friend or in the media and think it sounds like something they're happy to try.
Perhaps they suffered from Postnatal Depression after their last pregnancy and are willing to try everything to avoid a repeat experience.
Some women wish to honour the placenta and complete a full circle journey.

Whatever the reason, they are all equally valid and unique, just as your placenta is.

​One of my clients, Kirsty, talks about her reasons and what she experienced from taking her placenta capsules.

Kirsty says
I had my first baby in a rural hospital, so I didn’t get to keep my placenta, it wasn’t even an option (or so I thought), and within days of delivery I was slipping into post natal depression. For my second, and last, baby I knew I had this opportunity. The idea of having another placenta literally thrown in the bin was heart breaking for me, and PND is the darkest place I’ve ever been, I would do anything to not experience that again. I can’t say that my capsules alone stopped post natal depression this time, but it helped me form a bond with my midwives who helped me basically smuggle my placenta out of the hospital in a bucket, it made me feel strong, proud, and powerful to be able to bring it home and decide what happened with the parts of mine and my baby’s body. It made me feel like a strong mama bear, using what my body had given me to aid my recovery.

It was so helpful that I was able to have my placenta picked up from home. I couldn’t trust the hospital staff to try and “dispose” of it without my permission, so my husband brought it home. I planned to be discharged within 4-6 hours, but ended up having an emergency caesarean and staying in the hospital for 5 days, not having to worry about dropping off my placenta was a load off my mind.

I loved that Kelly took photos of my placenta. Having a c section meant I didn’t get to see it, so having the photos are really important to me.

Even if you don’t use all the capsules, knowing that you have them, and that you know where your placenta is, is entirely worth it.

​Kirsty - Para Hills
Book your placenta encapsulation Here
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"Having Kelly there allowed me to fully disappear into myself"

3/3/2018

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Tammy's Birth At Home

After days of niggles and contractions coming and going, Tammy called me around 8:30 at night to let me know her waters had broken.  We had a chat on the phone and as things were still early, we agreed I would call her back in about an hour to see how things were moving.  After our second chat, we decided I would head up there as she has a history of quick births and her house was a 40 minute drive away.  I grabbed my doula bag and hopped in the car.
I was greeted at the door by her hubby and headed inside to find everyone casually chatting on the couch watching TV.  After a shower and nice long back massage, things were progressing quite nicely for Tammy so she headed into their spa bath where her precious baby girl arrived just after 1am.

The way Tammy inwardly focused herself and headed off into her "labour land" was amazing to be part of and reminded me a lot of myself. Interesting in itself as obviously you can't watch yourself give birth as a third party.  As always, I learnt a lot from the independent midwives she had hired to support her;  the way they encouraged her through the hard peaks, cheered her accomplishments and just let birth be.  

Things that will stay with me from this birth: Tammy rocking her birth like a boss, big sister's tears of happiness and watching a man become a father for the first time.  Thank you x
My biggest worry about birth was being able to fully relax and enter my birth space. Having a doula meant that I had someone to care for me in a professional manner and organise the little things that I couldn’t. Kelly knew my wishes and how to support me in the ways we had previously discussed. Having a doula there allowed me to fully disappear into myself, knowing things were being set up and put in place ready to go. If you're thinking about hiring Kelly, just do it! I wish I had 4 children ago!
If you are birthing around Adelaide and are interested in having me as your doula, find out more on my Doula Support Page by clicking the link.
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Is Placenta Encapsulation "Disgusting" ?

13/5/2017

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Picture
Hi Kelly! I haven't gotten around to messaging you yet to tell you how wonderful my placenta encapsulation is! 
I absolutely love the box and thank you so much for such a quick turn-around!
I definitely feel like my pills have helped me have that extra energy boost and my milk supply is plentiful! 
You do such a wonderful job and I can't help but sing my praises to those around me. 
What some once thought was "disgusting" have been impressed and intrigued on my journey and now don't think so badly of it. 
Keep being awesome and thankyou so much! 
I'll definately keep you in my contacts for if we decide to have another in the future.
Many blessings x
Book Your Placenta Encapsulation Here
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Placenta Capsules - The Top of Your List

27/1/2016

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I have used the capsules for my last two births and wish that I knew about it for my first two. The experience was so much more enjoyable because I felt better in myself using the capsules. I felt alive (so to speak) I wasn't tired and was able to function like a normal human being. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone, I wasn't lucky enough for it to have any impact on milk supply and I have struggled with all four with supply issues. I know that the initial outlay may seem like a lot when you have all of the other stuff you need for a baby but this should be on the top to make your time easier and feel better as they grow so quickly so you want to enjoy every single bit!
Jodi - Mum of Four 
Review of Elemental Beginnings Placenta Capsules Adelaide | www.elementalbeginnings.net
Jodi's feedback on her placenta capsules
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    Kelly Harper is the owner of Elemental Beginnings Doula & Placenta Services in Adelaide.  She provides sleep consultancy, placenta encapsulation and doula services to families during pregnancy, birth and in their fourth trimester.

    Kelly Harper is a doula working with families around Adelaide to achieve a positive birth
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  • Home
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    • Online Doula Services >
      • Birth Plan Review
    • Pregnancy & Birth Coaching
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    • Bereavement Support
    • Umbilical Cord Ties
    • Adelaide Birth Directory
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