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Always a joy!

Even though I'm not updating the blog very much, I'm still working! As both a doula and as a full-time stay-at-home mall to my kids this summer.

My last birth included several firsts for me - including laboring in the water. My clients have usually progressed too fast to get into the tub, but my client was able to get into the water right away, and even start her pushing while in the tub. She progressed very quickly, with help from me and her husband to apply back pressure during contractions. The only minus was getting OUT of the water later so we could change positions to work on the final lip of the cervix to get out of the way so the baby could move down. Another first, is it was my first birth I attended where we didn't know the sex of the baby.

And being it was a birth of firsts, it was also my first to attend at the University of Iowa Hospitals with the midwives. I did have another birth with the midwife service, but she wasn't able to get to the hospital in time, so the resident caught the baby. Based on this experience, I have nothing but great things to say about this midwife in particular. I actually found myself wondering why she was so keen on letting my client take so much time to labor down (wow, guess what doula, it's not on your time table!) as well as participate in giving back pressure and massage when she was closer to my client than I was during position changes. I was wowed by her care!

Right after sunrise a beautiful baby girl was born! Again I was amazed by the quick recovery and quiet alertness of the mother and baby with an intervention-free birth. After getting to help establish nursing, I was on my way just 9 hours after I arrived. And helping with some postpartum care it has been a JOY to watch Baby E grow!

Great news!

I got the call a couple weeks ago that I passed my DONA birth doula certification! So now I get the spiffy Kristen Mead, Doula(DONA) behind my name.

To see what it takes to become a DONA certified doula, check out the requirements here.

Thanks again to all the families who let me helped me work on my certification with their births and all the great feedback they gave me!

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I will also be at the MAC Customer Appreciation Day on October 14 from 4-8. My friend Lauren, of Mama Bear Childbirth Care, and I will share a table to talk about and share information about my doula business as well as Lauren's Birthing from Within courses she offers.

You can find out more about Birthing from Within here and on Lauren's website.

Please stop by!

Updates

Hello there! The summer is wrapping up and I'm excited to take on new clients for the fall and winter!

I have added myself to the doula registry on the Birth, Baby and Beyond website for doulas in Eastern Iowa. Not only is BB&B a great place to find a doula, but your one-stop-shop for specialty baby items such as cloth diapers and accessories and baby slings and carriers. Please stop by and check them out!

Also - I should hear back from DONA any day now regarded my certification as a birth doula through their organization. This took two years for me to complete, with many components including a 3 day class, being the primary doula for at least 3 births, breastfeeding class, I took a one month Lamaze course as a non- pregnant mother (or so I thought, found out I was pregnant a few weeks after I finished the course!), as well as various essays and a large resource list. It was pretty intense! Once I pass, I will be officially: Kristen Mead, doula(DONA)

If you know of any pregnant friends, please pass along my card! I can't wait to hear from you!

Welcome Baby E!

On May 3, 2010 we welcomed Baby E! This birth was a very quick one. I'm lucky I listened to my 'doula instinct' and arrived as soon as I could to the hospital, as the first-time mom and dad insisted they would call me after getting 'checked'. After finding E's mother was full and complete during her initial check, we only had to wait a few minutes for the doctor to join us in birthing suite until it was time to push. I used a lot of back pressure, and E's mom and dad worked wonderfully together as a team to get her through each contraction. A dozen or so pushes later, sweet baby boy E was born, just a little over an hour after they arrived at the hospital!

Once again I'm blessed and overjoyed to share in a birth. Especially since E's Dad and I have been friends for nearly fifteen years. Happy Birthday, Baby E!

Welcome!

I thought a great way to start fresh in 2010 is a beautiful new blog layout!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Thank you, Dreamy Blog Designs for working with me in creating such a wonderful place to talk about my doula and birth work! I highly recommend Danny for any of your webdesign needs! She is a class act!

Prices and Availability

2012 Fees and information

Birth services:$500 -- Includes two prenatal visits, the birth, and one postpartum visit
***A nonrefundable retainer ($250) is required for me to put your due date on my calendar. I request the rest of the payment at our last postpartum meeting (or a month before your due date).

I do work on a sliding scale, and can also offer a payment plan. I am very flexible, so please discuss payment with me!

Postpartum services:
$20/hour -- Initially, at least four hours need to be scheduled, with payment in advance. ***10% discount on postpartum services if I was your birth doula.