Lilly of the Valley Doula

06/15/2020

As things begin to open back up from the covid 19 restrictions I look forward to reaching out once again to moms who are pregnant , breastfeeding , and looking for support . Lilly of the Valley had only just been launched as a business here in Valley when things were shut down for safety reasons. I hope to get a new start and meet new friends and clients as a birth workerhere in East Alabama and Lagrange and West Point Georgia. There will be a time of transition for all if us, but birth is still a joyful , powerful and precious part of life. My hope and prayer is that we all come out of this stronger than ever with lots of stories of sweet births to share.🌸🌻🌸

04/01/2020

So, Covid-19 has really intrupted lives and changed how we are all doing things. For the first few days I heard and saw fear taking over. However, as time goes by I see that people are not only learning to cope with their own situation, but also finding creative ways to reach out to help others. I'm happy to report that among the birth workers there has been a huge outreach to meet needs and support pregnant women and moms in all areas of motherhood . I'm very proud of my co-workers .

Please know that I too am willing to meet in video chats and other forms of social media in order to answer questions, share information and get aquainted in order to prepare for what lies ahead. Doulas are still supporting moms and their partners throughout labor via video and texting. It's not the ideal way, but for now it is what we have and is working in many cases. None of us know when the restrictions will end and things will begin to get back to normal, but it will happen and we must be prepared. Since virtual relationships need time to develop , it is important to begin early in your pregnancy to look for your support team and find ways to be connected.

So, if your unsure about how to go forward feel free to contact me here or by text or phone call ( 770-885-8696 ) to get started gathering information and building your support and confidence for the birthday of your baby. Meanwhile, take care of yourselves and enjoy peace.

03/12/2020

Some good information from a reliable source to bring peace in this time. 🌸

THIS LIBRARY WAS CREATED in FEBRUARY 2020. The posts were crated using information published in The Lancet on February 12, 2020. Our understanding of COVID-19 continues to evolve. _________________

As our community prepares to face a new and novel virus we need to be prepared - not just for the virus but for people's anxieties and fears.

One of the most important things we can do as providers and advocates is to empower people with information. When we all have the facts it's easier for us to make informed decisions.

http://nationalperinatal.org/COVID-19/

DISCLAIMER: The global picture of COVID-19 is a fluid, evolving situation and although we will endeavor to stay as updated as possible, the information posted here may not reflect the latest news and practice guidance.

-19

02/27/2020

Today I am sharing one of my favorite videos about birth. It is cute, funny and such a true feeling that mom's should not have to experience. It is a great time to talk about the benefits and importance of skin to skin care (aka kangaroo care) . This is the practice that should come naturally after the birth of a child where the baby is placed on the bare belly of of the mom immediately after birth, preferably before the cord is cut. The baby and mom are covered with sheets and blankets as needed to keep warm and remains there with access to bare breasts for an hour or two. This time is crucial for the baby to adjust to the outside world with ease. The fragrance of the mom comforts him, as does the sound of her voice and heart beat which have been a constant throughout life in utero. With the breasts near, breastfeeding can be initiated by the baby as he discovers them using his sense of smell. There is an important time of bonding that goes on between mother and child that continues to affect their relationship for many months and years to come .

As a home birther, I experienced this without having to think about it or fight for it. In my opinion, no woman who has just gone through labor and delivery should have to fight for anything that she wants that is for her baby's well being. However, the sad truth is that many hospitals do not practice
skin to skin care. As a doula, as an advocate for the mom and baby at a birth, I would stand with you and for you on this issue. I hope that we don't have to use the tactics of 505 and hide your baby, but that hasn't been an issue yet. 😄

Enjoy the video. I always watch it a couple of times.🤩

02/02/2020

For those of you who are interested in the swings I had at the Bump+Baby Expo you can PM me to order yours. They come in gray or the white dot on blue that was on display. They are made from indoor/outdoor duck cloth and all the wood is protected with food grade walnut oil and bee's wax. I only have a few left so get yours soon for $65 each. Pick up is free, shipping is extra.

02/02/2020

I went to the Bump+Baby Expo today and met a lot of ladies preparing for their births. Over all I think it was a great success. I hope to hear from some of the moms I talked with in the near future.

01/28/2020

This is what doulas are all about. We care about the baby, so we care for the mother because they go together.

01/19/2020

Here's a little about my personal birth experiences. In order to have the natural birth we desired, we chose to have our first baby at home with the assistance of a midwife. It was a lovely experience where we were able to labor surrounded by friends. It was so good in fact, that we had 3 more home births before we left Georgia to move to Central America. I was pregnant when we arrived in Belize so we began looking for a midwife to attend the birth of our next child. However, midwives were not allowed to deliver at home any 5th baby because WHO had declared them a high risk situation and the midwives could lose the right to practice if they got involved in a home birth with a woman carrying her 5th child. Therefore, we went to a nearby clinic where we still had a birth without interventions, my husband cut the cord, and we returned home about 10 hours after we had our son in arms. Three years later, we were able to have our 6th child at home in Belize City.

I found that I felt very comfortable at home where I could make choices with my family. For me it was nice to not be under the pressure for labor to advance that I have seen as a doula in clinics or have heard of from friends who had hospital births.Also, when the birth was over, I was already home! 😊

Nevertheless, wherever the birth takes place, I love being a doula and helping moms get past the fears and become the powerful women they are as they birth their precious children. It is my joy!

01/12/2020

Hey Everyone , I'm excited to announce that Lilly of the Valley Doula will be taking part in an upcoming expo for expecting parents on February 1st . All the information is on the poster below. Tell your friends about this event where they can find services, products and support for their pregnancies , births and beginning months of parenthood . I'm looking forward to meeting new folks. I'll be there until 4:00pm CT.

12/28/2019

Hey Everyone, this is my new doula business now that we have settled in Valley , Alabama . I'm looking forward to meeting moms who are preparing for the births of their new babes in order to support them through this exciting experience . Please feel free to share this page with your friends. If you are looking for a doula in the East Alabama area of Valley , Lanett , Opelika , Auburn or surrounding areas, please message me and we can share information privately .

¡Hola todas! Este es mi negocio de doula. Ahora vivo en Valley Alabama y vine de Siguatepeque, Honduras donde fui doula . Soy animada para empezar de nueva ayudando madres con sus preparaciones para labor y para dar luz a los bebés . Si quiere una doula en la área de Valley , Lanett , Opelika or Auburn Alabama envía me una mensaje .