AthensBorn Blog - AthensBorn Birth Services

Meet Emily!

2/17/2021

Oh, hello there! I’ve just been given the most exciting opportunity to pursue my dream of being a birth worker. Something you should know about me is that I’m a dreamer and a do-er. I hope to someday become a Certified Nurse-Midwife and deliver babies. Some may wonder, and many ask me, why is this something you’re passionate about? Do you really choose to do this? I get asked this question about why I’m a competitive long-distance runner, as well. No one just wakes up one day and decides they want to run a half marathon in their neighborhood, run 60+ miles a week, race Division 1 Cross Country for the University of Georgia, and train for marathons. Similarly, no one wakes up and randomly decides they want to help people have their babies.
Well, I can tell you this: everyone deserves to know what their own body is capable of achieving. I’m amazed and inspired by women and the entire birth process. I want everyone to see giving birth as the incredible, life-changing experience that it is. Women can come out of birth a stronger, more confident version of themselves, ready to take on parenting and a new chapter of life. The female body is a powerhouse, and labor is an opportunity to harness your power, your inner strength.
While women are independent and capable, we still need someone to help us tap into our strength, to minimize fear, and be there for us during our most vulnerable time. Here’s where I come in! First and foremost, I want you to feel safe. In order to have a positive attitude about your birth, I plan to help you trust your body. Minimizing fear will promote relaxation and smoother labor.
A little about me… I’m very compassionate, warm, and maternal by nature. Also, I have boatloads of energy, day and night, plenty to share with you. I’m 21 years old, and I’ve never given birth myself, but that doesn’t mean I cannot relate to you. In fact, I see it as a good thing because I have no biases. I’m not here to impose any of my own values or preferences. I’m open and excited to support you through whatever plan you envision for your birth.
I have been given the honor to commit my time and energy to magnificent, child-bearing women. I hope you hire a doula and have the opportunity to be a dreamer, as well, and have the birth that you envision!

Schedule a free consultation with Emily & Christine!

What does a doula do?

8/27/2019

We're often asked what it means to be a doula. It's such a wildly varying experience every day, it's hard to put into words. But, we've tried to express what life is like for us over here at AthensBorn.

We hold hands and rub shoulders.
We whisper in ears and cheer loudly for milestones.
We teach and we learn.
We give back to our community.
We’re activists, we listen, we support, we protest, we vote.
We’re small business owners. We work from home, from coffee shops, in waiting rooms, our cars, wherever we find the minutes.
We miss special occasions.
We leave our homes in the quiet of night.
We witness birth in awe. Every time.
We marvel at the strength of people.
We celebrate with our clients.
We grieve with them, too.
We make mistakes. We hate that. But, we’re learning to forgive ourselves.
We’re nerds. We love science and research and learning new things.
We talk loudly about placentas in public places. Oops.
We laugh together. Really hard. Like shushed in the library kind of hard.
We still get excited every time we're hired.
We meet the very best people and feel so grateful for it.

We know how lucky we are to be living this doula life. Thank you to our AthensBorn Families for making it possible. We love you all!

What to ask your potential doula...

6/26/2017

We've heard it so many times when sitting down to chat with potential clients.

"Umm...we're not really sure what to ask."

Many people first hear about doulas from their midwives or from friends who've had a great experience with a doula during a previous birth. But, they don't always understand what a doula does or what they should ask during an interview to help them figure out which doula is the best fit. In fact, we've heard this same sentiment from so many people that we actually made a list to help them out.

Here are our most frequently asked questions and some suggestions of our own. Of course, these aren't the only questions you can ask and you should always ask anything you like. More personalized questions based on your individual needs, wishes, and personalities are great! Take a look at our list to get started and let us know if you have any additions!

Do you have availability for my due date?

Where do you work/what area do you cover?

What's your guiding philosophy for supporting women in labor and birth?

What training or experience do you have?

Why did you become a doula?

Can you provide references from past clients?

What is your birth fee and what does that cover?

How many clients do you take per month?

How do you feel about the use of pain medication during labor?

How do you work with and involve partners?

Do you offer other birth-related services? (breastfeeding support, postpartum care, placenta encapsulation, etc)

Remember, these are just a starting point. Always feel free to ask anything that's on your mind!

Take care,
Kate & Becca

Rolfing...what is it and how can it help me?

6/1/2017

How many of you have come across a topic on a pregnancy or postpartum website and had absolutely no idea what in the world they were discussing? Maybe you didn’t know who their Breast Friend was, why someone’s bum would be described as either Fuzzi or Genius, and you always thought a Boppy was that game people played at parties that lights up when you whack it. Well, you’re not alone in wondering about the mysterious products and practices that present themselves to soon-to-be parents. Today we’re getting to the bottom of another topic that comes up frequently for our clients, who would like to know how it might be helpful to them during their pregnancy or after their baby has arrived. We’re talking about…

Rolfing!

We know and don’t worry, we’re going to get you the explanation from a local expert. Leah McKellop is a Certified Rolfer™ who works out of Thrive Integrative Medicine, right here in Athens. She was kind enough to answer some questions for us so that our clients could better understand whether her services might be a good match for them...

Ok, let’s start with a basic introduction to what Rolfing is...

Rolfing® Structural Integration is a form of manual therapy that realigns and retrains your posture. This is primarily achieved by working with the connective tissue in your body, known as fascia. Fascia runs throughout our bodies, like a flexible matrix, giving our cells, muscles, and organs their shape. When this fascia network becomes stuck or rotated, it pulls our bodies out of alignment. Rolfing sessions usually consist of long slow strokes that free up adhesions and balance tension in the fascia. Often Rolfing sessions will also involve movement training, in which the receiver learns to move in ways that continue to improve posture and comfort.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to this kind of work?

I have always been fascinated with human potential and that has taken me in some different directions. I studied psychology and art, worked in the social work non-profit sector, and practiced and taught yoga for years.

When I found Rolfing, I was really intrigued by the way it acknowledged people's adaptability and potential to change. I had injuries in my body that I thought would always be there, that I felt like I had no control over. Then like *that* they were gone and I understood what was happening in my body and why they were there. It was like a whole new line of communication opened up. I knew how to better listen and that has helped me live in my body with so much more ease and trust.

My underlying hope with Rolfing, especially through pregnancy, is to build that internal line of communication. Pregnancy is a time of such rapid transition and adjustment, so it can be that much more challenging to listen to your body and trust it. There is an ease that seems to come with being able to listen to your own rhythms and even your own pain. When things aren't just happening to you, but rather you have a sense that you know what is going on, things are a lot less scary.

What kinds of issues bring pregnant people to seek your services?

Common complaints during pregnancy that might bring you in:

Low Back/Hip discomfort
Sacro Iliac Joint Discomfort /sciatica
Upper back/ Neck discomfort
Forearm/wrist/thumb discomfort
Leg cramping
Rib pressure

During pregnancy, the work is very gentle. Our main focus is on allowing the body to open up and trying to direct that opening into a balanced direction. Looking at the ribs for example, we want to get lots of flexibility between the individual ribs so the organs (for breath, food...) have somewhere to expand into. However, if just the front of the ribs are open, your belly might fall forward, putting a lot of pressure on the low back (SI joint, uterine ligaments, recti abdominis, etc). So, we would have to look at ways to open the back rib muscles, train the center of gravity back towards your pelvic bowl and so on.

Are there issues that might arise during the postpartum weeks and months that could be helped by Rolfing?

Common complaints during postpartum that might bring you in:

Low Back/Hip discomfort
Sacro Iliac Joint Discomfort /sciatica
Upper back/ Neck discomfort
Forearm/wrist/thumb discomfort
Diastasis Recti/Umbilical Hernia
Scar tissue remediation (wait 6 weeks)
Retraining core stability/lift (usually looking at the abdomen and pelvic floor)
Pelvic Floor function

A lot of the postpartum period is about recentering and reawakening your system of support. It's a really rich time for work, because there is a big potential for change (with the hormone Relaxin flowing) and because on some level you are being reintroduced to your body. The work is still gentle, but we are able to work on more internal stabilizing structures.

Are there any potentially adverse affects from having a Rolfing session while pregnant or soon after giving birth?

Always check with your doctor as a rule of thumb, but especially if you are having (or have had) any complications with your pregnancy. Though the work is gentle, it still takes energy for your body to process changes.

After birth is a really wonderful window to receive work. Your body is pliable and open to change. It's a time when you are giving so much, that receiving is essential for balance. However, a certain amount of healing does need to take place. The main reason for waiting is if you have scars that are healing up. Rolfing does work on scar tissue and help with healing, but you will want to wait about six weeks for the scar to heal.

Are there any common myths or misconceptions about Rolfing that you'd like to address?

One reputation that seems to go along with Rolfing is that it's painful. While I will agree that there are times that it is uncomfortable, pain is not what we are looking for. Sessions are a constant dance of communication between the giver and receiver about the sensations being felt. We will definitely go to the source of troubles, and we won't ignore what needs to be looked at, but the work helps much more when the receiver is relaxed and receptive.

Is there anything else you'd like the Athens community to know about Rolfing or your services?

I'm just really grateful for the community I have found in Athens and for all the support I have received!

Thanks!
Leah McKellop
www.leahmckelloprolfing.com

Prodromal WHAT?!

2/11/2017

Prodromal labor.

If you’ve ever experienced it, it’s like I just said a really nasty cuss word. If you’ve never experienced it, please… allow me to enlighten you.

Don't you love the look on her face? That's the look of days of prodromal labor.

What is it?

Prodromal labor is a pattern of contractions that can begin anytime in the last few weeks of your pregnancy. It can hurt. It can feel like active labor. It can keep you up at night, it can last for days, it can totally exhaust you and your partner. Prodromal labor contractions may be far apart, close together, short, long, painful, or mild.

But here’s the kicker - these contractions are more annoying than they are productive. Prodromal labor contractions can start and stop at any time. It can be absolutely miserable, especially when you’re trying to plan your life around this labor that never seems to truly start, and worse… never seems to end. Active labor results in cervical change. That means your cervix (the opening of the uterus) gets soft (effacement) or open (dilation). Prodromal labor doesn’t cause any cervical change, though it can transition into active labor at any time - and only a cervical check can provide that particular information.

You may have heard the term “false labor,” which is a very bad, no-good term that we don’t use. I’m using it here so that you won’t have to. Just because prodromal labor contractions don’t immediately result in a baby doesn’t mean they’re false. Ask anyone who has experienced mind-numbing exhaustion from 3 solid days and nights of difficult contractions - that was not “false labor.” It’s very real and to call it “false” seems to imply that it wasn’t important or necessary. Prodromal labor does help with toning the muscles of the uterus and can lead to other physical preparation that your body goes through to have a baby. There is a meaning to all the madness.

Some other notable qualities of prodromal labor are that it can’t always be stopped, it is often painful, and sometimes occur at a particular time of day, like when you lay down to go to sleep at night. Prodromal labor contractions can seem like they’re occurring very quickly and for long periods of time, which is one reason it can feel like active labor is imminent.

So, how do I survive it?

We wrote a blog post a while back on ignoring early labor, and one of the big reasons we constantly urge our clients to ignore, distract, and rest during early labor is because of this… it may be prodromal. Seriously, people. If you think you’re in labor, that’s great! Contact your healthcare provider, contact your doula. But then… pull an Elsa and let it go. If you need to sit on your birth ball or relax in the bath, that’s ok - do what you need to do. But don’t jump in the car and head to the hospital just yet. You want to look for the sign that your contractions are getting longer, stronger, and closer together.

First, try drinking a big glass of water, changing your position (get up if you’ve been laying down, or vice versa), taking a nap, or laying in a relaxing bath. Sometimes, these minor changes can alter the trajectory of prodromal labor.

If you’re a do-er, find something to DO. Make food. Clean your house. Go shopping, go to a movie. Distract yourself. Don't time your contractions!

If you’re a worker, and you need to feel like you’re doing something to help yourself and your baby, check out The Miles Circuit. There has been some speculation in the birth world that prodromal labor may be related to a less-than-optimally positioned baby, and the Miles Circuit is a healthy, physical set of moves that gives you a job to do.

Otherwise...hang in there! Prodromal labor is tough, but it has a silver lining or two (I’m all about the silver lining!). It’s great practice for labor - you can test-drive positions that feel good, find comfortable places in your home to do contractions, work with your partner to find some massage techniques that feel good. It does bring baby closer through uterine muscle toning. And… it’s a time to truly find your strength and use the power within your body to do the work that needs to be done. And trust us… that’s also great training for parenthood <3

Love,
Becca

Counter Pressure: Why does it rock so hard?

10/11/2016

People who have given birth: If you’ve experienced contractions, you may have been one of the blessed ones who also received this magical thing we call counter pressure. That basically means that you have someone in your life who loves you enough to push on your lower back during each contraction. You may not remember (or care) who was doing it or exactly how, but you know it was one of the things that helped you survive that moment and conquer each contraction as it came.

The rest of this blog post is for everyone else: partners, doulas, friends, anyone who might be assisting someone as they give birth. If you have provided counter pressure to a laboring person, you are a saint. You will forever be remembered as part of their labor survival kit and they will refuse to do labor in the future without it.

There are a few things to note about it, though, especially for anyone who has never used counter pressure as a tool. So let’s go over some basics:

How does it work? See this picture below? Look in the middle of that person’s back - that’s their sacrum. Sometimes laboring women feel pain in that place as their baby’s head passes by it on the way down - and yes, it’s generally more uncomfortable when the baby’s head is in the posterior position, meaning the bony back of the baby’s head is pushing against the sacrum. However, even anterior-positioned babies can cause discomfort - so counter pressure helps by pressing back against the baby’s head and lessening the sensation of pain. It doesn’t necessarily fix the problem, but it can be a great coping strategy for the laboring woman in that moment. If it works, do it!

AthensBorn Birth Services - Counter Pressure Anatomy

Communicate. You have to communicate with the owner of the back you’re providing counter pressure to. If you don’t know exactly how to do that, here’s a little labor role play you can practice:

Partner: Can I try some counter pressure on your lower back during the next contraction?
Pregnant person: Uuuuuuggggghhhhhh. [Assume that’s a yes.]
<Attempt counter pressure throughout entire contraction.>
Partner: How did that feel?
Pregnant person: OMG, do that forever.

If they LOVED it, do it again! If they hated it or want you to try again, but in a different spot, try again but in a different spot. If they hated it and never want you to touch their lower back again, that’s ok! Try not to let your feelings get hurt. She’s not trying to make you feel bad, she’s just in an intense place in her life. Laboring women don’t always know what they want, so it’s important for her birth team to be flexible and not take thing personally.

Keep communicating. Sometimes as the baby’s head moves down, the perfect spot for counter pressure moves down, so keep communicating with your laboring person! What works in early labor might not work later, and that’s ok. Counter pressure might work against the lower part of the person’s spine, or further down towards their tailbone - you just have to try it and find out.

AthensBorn Birth Services - Counter Pressure Demo

The Method. As this person in the picture is doing, use the palm of your hand - it provides an even, steady pressure. You can even use both hands, one on top of the other, to provide MORE pressure and to lessen the physical impact to your arms. Aim for the center of her back, right on her sacrum.

Some laboring women like the pressure to be steady and unmoving. Some women find that they like to feel some movement, so you can try a firm circular or stroking pattern and see what she likes better. (Remember to communicate!)

Positions, anyone? The laboring woman can be in lots of different positions to receive counter pressure: on her hands and knees on the floor or bed or couch, sitting on a birth ball, laying on the birth ball, sitting on the toilet, leaning over a kitchen counter, laying on her side, standing up, in the tub, in the shower. Anywhere she is comfortable where you have access to her back is a good place.

Test drive during pregnancy. There’s no need to wait until the contractions get intense before you try counter pressure. It can provide relief throughout pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, and give pregnant women and their partners something to do while they wait for the big day. This kind of labor preparation also provides couples a sense of partnership and togetherness, which is always a positive thing as parenthood approaches.

So, what do you think? If you’ve had a baby, did you enjoy counter pressure? What made it work or not work for you? If you’ve assisted as someone had a baby, do you have any tips to give to other birth partners? Feel free to share your experience with us! We love your stories!

Take care,
Becca

Give the gift of a doula...

8/9/2016

Dear Friends and Family Members of Pregnant People,

Hello, and welcome to the AthensBorn blog! This post is for you, by virtue of whoever it is you know who is currently expecting a child. Did you know that it’s possible to gift someone a doula? Yes, it’s true! You can purchase our services as a gift!

“….but why, Becca, why would I do that??? And how, and what services? Tell me more!” you say? Well, let me tell you!

First, let’s start with which services you can gift: ALL THE SERVICES!

Gift ALL THE SERVICES!

From prenatal services to birth to placenta and postpartum services, we do it all, and it can all be given as a gift to a pregnant woman.

Why gift a Mother Blessing....
Because this is a beautiful way to honor a woman as she prepares for birth and motherhood. It’s not a baby shower… it’s a feminine, powerful, spiritual, and personal ushering into motherhood by an expectant mother’s own closest female friends and family.

Why gift a birth doula….
Because people benefit from having doulas by their side in labor. A woman with a doula feels supported and informed, which helps her have a more satisfying birth experience… regardless of the outcome of her birth.

Why gift placenta services…
Because placenta encapsulation is a great way to help a woman ease her transition from birth to having a newborn. Taking placenta pills can help ease her fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and give her back some of the nutrients she lost during birth.

Why gift a postpartum doula...
Because we don’t have the village around us - parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins - that generations past had to help care for a newborn and a mama recovering from birth. It’s less common in our society for a family to be surrounded by available, helping hands than it ever has been, but there’s more pressure to strive for “perfection” than ever, and that’s hard on a postpartum mama. A postpartum doula can help bring some of that back into the early postpartum days.

Visit our website for more information about how to make a gift of our services (electronic or on paper) for someone you know.

Whether you want to contribute a small amount toward a family’s services or purchase the whole shebang; whether it’s a surprise or something you’ve discussed with the parents, please consider this as an alternative to the traditional gifts. A family never forgets their pregnancy, birth, and early postpartum days - help them to cherish these moments by gifting them doula services to help them navigate resources, information, and options. We can answer any questions you have and even set up a consultation with you and/or the parents before you make your final choice.

Happy Gifting!
Becca

Early Labor: Don't Do It!

6/20/2016

TARDIS Belly

Exploding Time And Relative Dimension In Space.... On Belly

Hello friends!

If you’ve ever sat through one of our final prenatal appointments, you may remember one thing we tend to stress: When in early labor, thou shalt not freak out and get all excited. Instead, ignore/distract/rest! (And yes, we mean it.)

So, let’s address a few things here. What’s early labor? That basically means that you are showing signs of labor (regular contractions, back pain, bleeding, diarrhea, restlessness, or any combinations of those things). However, you can be distracted, you can talk, walk normally, and basically still do everything you normally would - you just sort of have this labor thing happening in the background. It’s not uncomfortable yet, but it’s starting to get your attention and it’s not going away.

Second, why shouldn’t you freak out? Why not be excited? I mean, you’re about to have a baby! There aren’t many more freak-out-worthy and exciting events in life, especially if it’s a first baby. However, this is a good time to remember that you’re in it for the long haul. It may take several more hours (or, sorry mama, days) for your labor to really get going, then who knows how long after that until your baby is born. Those are the hours you need to save your energy and attention for.

So what we want our clients to do in early labor are these things:

Call your healthcare provider! They may have particular recommendations for you based on their knowledge of your medical history, so please let them know what’s going on!
Ignore your labor - keep “doing life” as normal. Go grocery shopping if you need to. Pick up your older kids from school. Eat supper. Shower. Don’t focus on labor yet, because the time to focus will come. Just do life.
Distract yourself - go to the movies (it may be your last chance for a long time!). Go on a date with your partner* to your favorite restaurant. Put together nursery furniture. Prep some meals for your postpartum period. Let someone decorate your belly (hello, who wouldn’t want an exploding TARDIS to enjoy during labor?). Just try anything that will keep you from watching the clock.
REST. Please, please rest. If you can sleep, do it. If you can lay on the couch and watch a movie, do it. Don’t put a lot of work into your early labor! No curb walking, no fancy breathing, no stomping. You need to save your energy.

*Speaking of partners: It might be important for YOU to remember to remind her to ignore/distract/rest. If she acts like she’s jumping headfirst into Labor Land, gently call her back so she can get out of her head.

We hope this info is helpful to any of you who might be approaching the final weeks of your pregnancy. If you’ve been there before, what were some of your favorite ways to ignore labor and distract yourself? What are some things you’ll definitely do next time? For me, it’ll be watching Empire Records, letting my toddlers Sharpie my tummy, and taking a nap. <3

Lots of love,
Becca

How to communicate effectively with your care provider: (AKA, Becca fangirling over local midwife)

4/6/2016

AthensBorn - Medical Staff

We know a lot of parents wonder about how to talk with their care providers about their biggest birth/baby issues, such as interventions, policies,and procedures. The list of questions parents ask of their care providers is truly endless - and for good reason! This is your baby, your body, and your birth we’re talking about here. You deserve honest, full discussions of all the issues. But, let’s consider for a minute the perspective of your midwife or obstetrician: she or he is tasked with keeping your health and the health of your baby at the front of their minds, while also navigating each patient’s particular wishes for their baby’s birth (which can vary WILDLY from parent to parent). This can be tough for care providers, to say the least.

So, we went straight to the source. The marvelous Alexa Clay agreed to be our expert witness. She’s a Certified Nurse-Midwife at Women’s Healthcare Associates and was a doula for over a decade before deciding to go into midwifery, so to many of the doulas in town (yours truly included) she’s kind of a rock star. She’s also a busy mother of two, so we’re incredibly thankful that she took the time to work on this blog post with us.
Here’s what Alexa had to say to my probing questions:

How can patients best let their Healthcare Provider know their wishes for their birth? For example, do midwives and OBs prefer for a client to tell them their wishes during office visits, or is a printed-out birth plan better?

Alexa: I feel like the most effective way of learning about a patient's expectations is for the patient to write out what their biggest wishes/expectations are for their birth and to bring them into their prenatal visit sometime during the last month or two. I like to read over and discuss the plan with them. It's a great opportunity to talk in more depth about practice philosophy and which expectations are easily attainable or even standard, and which ones may need more discussion. In our practice we put notes in people's charts about things that we may need to be reminded of when they come in for labor.

What happens if a patient disagrees with the health care provider’s recommendation or point of view? What's the best way that a patient can handle a situation like that? Should the patient worry that the doctor or midwife will be offended?

Alexa: Do your research and learn what the latest evidence says. Ask about risks and benefits of specific procedures. Just as importantly- ask about what the risks and benefits are if you do not do a procedure. Your provider is your partner in health and decisions should feel like joint decisions, especially during a normal, healthy pregnancy and birth.

Is it possible for a patient to ask too many questions?

Alexa: Have your questions written down or type them into your phone. Asking questions is important and should be expected by providers. Do be mindful of your midwife or doctor's time. Some questions can wait until future appointments.

What can a patient/partner do to make their health care provider’s job easier?

Alexa: Be curious, read books, go to childbirth education classes, hire a doula! See your doctor or midwife as an advocate- a part of your team.

Does having a knowledge of medical terminology help patients understand what their doctors and midwives are saying in appointments?

Alexa: If you don't understand what your midwife or doctor is talking about, ask them. We should be able to explain everything in terms that you understand.

There you have it, friends! My very own, up-close-and-personal (via email, anyway) interview with Alexa Clay, CNM and all-around awesome person. Thanks for your time, Alexa!

So, dear readers, we pose these questions to YOU:

1. What were some effective ways you found of talking with your care provider and getting the answers you wanted and needed?
2. What would you do differently if you got to do it over again?
3. What advice would you give new parents?

Can’t wait to hear your responses!

Take care!
Becca