Have you ever wondered what exactly a birth doula is and why people choose to have them as part of their birth team?

A birth doula serves as a trusted companion, offering physical, emotional, informational, and relational support throughout your pregnancy, labor, and postpartum period.

Physical Support
During labor, birth doulas offers techniques and guidance to help manage discomfort and promote optimal positioning. They may suggest comfort measures, provide massage, and use relaxation techniques to alleviate tension.

Emotional Support
Pregnancy and childbirth can bring up a range of emotions, and birth doulas understand this. They offer a nurturing presence, a listening ear, and words of encouragement to uplift and empower you.

Informational Support
Equipped with evidence-based knowledge, birth doulas share the information necessary to make informed decisions regarding your birth preferences. They provide resources, answer your questions, and help you understand the various options available, empowering you to actively participate in your birthing journey.

Relational Support
As a valuable member of your birth team, birth doulas work collaboratively with your healthcare providers, partner, and support network. They facilitate open communication, ensuring that your needs and preferences are respected and understood.

Would you like to hire a birth doula to experience all of these benefits? We have a team of three fabulous birth doulas serving Utah County and Salt Lake County. All of our doulas offer free consultations, so you can find the right fit for your unique personality, needs, and values.

We believe that everyone deserves a supported birth, so we also offer grants for families with financial constraints. If you would benefit from this, visit www.summitbirthutah.com/grants to fill out an application!

Share this post with others who may benefit from understanding the invaluable role of birth doulas. Together, let's spread awareness and support for positive and empowering birthing experiences! ​

One of the central concepts we explore in Navigating Your Unmedicated Hospital Birth is the Fear-Tension-Pain cycle. This cycle was first described in the 1920s by Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, author of Childbirth Without Fear. Simply put, the cycle describes the positive-feedback cycle that happens in your body when you feel fear: your body responds to feelings of fear by physically tensing your muscles, which increases the pain you feel in your body. Increased feelings of pain lead to increased sensations of fear (which leads to more tension, more pain, more fear....)

This is NOT a cycle you want going on in your body during labor and birth! So how do you break out of it to have a positive birth experience?

Focus on activities, skills, and practices that decrease fear, tension, and/or pain. You can start anywhere in the cycle, but let's first talk about decreasing fear.

From the time you get two lines on your pregnancy test, you're faced with so many decisions! Where will baby sleep? How will you feed your baby? What car seat should you buy? Strollers? Bassinet or crib?

Parents-to-be will spend hours scouring the internet to find the best choice for each of these decisions. Sometimes, though, the choice of your care provider and birth team isn't given as much attention, though this choice will make the most difference on your birthing day and how you feel as you bring your baby into the world.

Sometimes we assume that all doctors have our best interests as their top priority, and that anything a nurse or OB recommends is the best choice. This perspective doesn't consider, though, the broken system in which care providers and nurses work. Doctors are often stretched for time, exhausted when working on call, and concerned about liability. Hospital administrators, who spend no time in the labor and delivery rooms, set hospital policies that affect your experience. Nurses work twelve-hour shifts, often when everyone else in their life is sleeping, day after day and week after week. They're not often thanked for their work, and sometimes are treated poorly by their patients or other hospital personnel.

In the midst of all this hierarchical tangle, you arrive at the hospital to have your baby. For you, this day is momentous. You'll remember this day for the rest of your life, and the way you feel during the birth process will make a big impact in your story as a parent.

So, how can you have a positive birth experience, even when it seems so much is stacked against you?

Savvy Birth 101!

This one-hour workshop is specifically designed for parents to navigate the systems surrounding birth. You'll learn about evidence-based care--what that really means--and how to get it.

You'll learn about top-down care and how it contrasts with family-centered care. You'll learn what your "tickets out" of the top-down, hierarchical system of care are, and feel confident moving into your birth, knowing that you can be respected, your voice can be heard, and your birthing day will be one that you will fondly remember for the rest of your life.

Savvy Birth 101 is not a typical birth class. In fact, we won't be discussing the stages of labor, contraction timing, or comfort measures for your birth. (If you want all that and more--and I highly suggest you do--take a comprehensive birth class. Check out the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class or Navigating Your Unmedicated Hospital Birth!)

Brielle Bernards and I will be teaching this one-hour class on Wednesday, March 29 from 7:30-8:30 PM in Provo, and is only $20 if you sign up by March 22! (After that, the price increases to $35.) You can read more about Savvy Birth 101 and register here!

Questions? Drop them in the comments or send me an email ([email protected]) or text (385-309-0167). I hope to see you there!

Since the day I became a doula, I've intended to add on childbirth education to the birth services I offer. Over the years, I've offered limited childbirth class options: private three-hour in-home customized birth classes, and the three-hour Birth Class Date Night I teach with my backup doula colleagues. I packed as much info as possible into these three-hour class offerings, but there is SO much to learn and share about birth, and during these three-hour classes, we can barely scratch the surface!

So, in the fall of 2022, I finally added comprehensive, group birthing classes to the services I offer. I started with a class I specifically designed for those preparing to give birth in the hospital without pain medication, called Navigating Your Unmedicated Hospital Birth.

At my initial doula training, another doula told me about Evidence Based Birth®: Rebecca Dekker, a nurse with her PhD, reads all of the academic studies about common birth practices and synthesizes them in a way that's accessible for the general public. She hosts a podcasts and writes articles on everything from natural induction methods to Group B Strep. Along the way, she often highlights the fact that many common, undesirable practices in hospitals (like restricting eating and drinking during labor and inducing for a suspected "big baby") aren't necessarily supported by the research evidence.

I was quickly hooked on the Evidence Based Birth® Podcast. Much of the research felt validating, because I'd had a difficult first birth many interventions that I now saw as unnecessary. My second birth, in which I more carefully opted for a select few interventions that matched my birth circumstances, had felt entirely different. And I liked knowing the research was on my side.

More than just knowing that research was on "my side," though, listening to the Evidence Based Birth® (EBB for short!) podcast continually affirmed a theory I was formulating: that when parents are informed about best practices for pregnancy and birth and make truly informed decisions, they feel whole and often empowered by their births, even when they take unexpected twists and turns.

When Rebecca Dekker announced that Evidence Based Birth® was going to be hosting an in-person conference, I knew I wanted to be there. And when she send a call for workshop proposals to her birth professionals email list, I got brave and submitted a proposal. I was ecstatic when I heard back that my workshop, titled "Birth Words: Choosing Our Language to Positively Impact the Birth Space" was accepted as part of the conference! In this workshop, I drew on my background in applied linguistics and meshed it with my love of birth and created a memorable one-hour workshop for birth professionals about how to be intentional about using our words to make the birth experience the best it can be. (If you're interested in learning more about my work at the intersection of birth and linguistics, check out my podcast, Birth Words--you can find it on most major podcast platforms--and my website. You can even listen to the episode where I interviewed Rebecca Dekker on Birth Words!)
​
​Attending and presenting at the Evidence Based Birth® website was inspiring. I went out to dinner with Rebecca Dekker and the other conference presenters, she signed my copy of her book, Babies Are Not Pizzas (yes, this signed copy is the very one available in my lending library!), and I learned from many other wise birth workers.

So, now that I'm an Evidence Based Birth® instructor, what classes will I be teaching? I'm so glad you asked. ;)

Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class
The Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class is a comprehensive birth class in which you'll learn everything from the stages of labor, to your birthing rights and how to advocate for evidence-based care, to comfort measures, to lactation basics and newborn care. This class can be taught either fully online or with a hybrid model, where the first and last class are held in person. Either way, it consists of 4-6 (depending on length) meetings of everyone in the class, plus some videos you'll watch on your own in between classes. To start, I'll be offering the hybrid model, though I may open entirely virtual options in the future! Check out my current offerings here!

Whether you're preparing to give birth at home, a birth center, in the hospital, or need help deciding, this class will confidently prepare you for birth. You can also read more about the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class on the Evidence Based Birth website.

Savvy Birth Workshop for Parents
Unlike the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class, The Savvy Birth workshop for parents is not a comprehensive childbirth class. Rather than a multi-week series of classes, it's a one-night-three hour class focused on giving you the skills you need to communicate with your care provider to get evidence-based, family-centered care.

As EBB describes it, "The Savvy Birth Workshop for parents was developed by Evidence Based Birth® to give you and your partner the confidence and know-how you need to have a more positive, empowering experience in the birthing room." In the Savvy Birth Workshop, you'll learn what evidence-based care is, discuss local birth options and their pros and cons, learn communication skills for discussing your preferences with your care team, learn how to have optimal support from your labor team, and learn about your legal rights in birth. I don't currently have a Savvy Birth Workshop scheduled, but I plan to in the future, so check back here! And I AM currently offering the one-hour, condensed version of this workshop: Savvy Birth 101! Keep reading for details on that!

Savvy Birth 101 for Parents
​Like the Savvy Birth Workshop for Parents, Savvy Birth 101 is not a comprehensive birth class. We won't be learning about the stages of labor, how to push your baby out, or how to stay comfortable during labor (remember, you'll want to go to the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class for that!) We will be packing that hour full of info on how you can advocate for evidence-based care (and what that even means!) in a way that builds bridges, not walls. I'm teaching a Savvy Birth 101 workshop on March 29 with Brielle Bernards (The Calming Doula). Check out the details here!

Private Coaching
The last resource I'm able to offer parents as an EBB Instructor is private coaching. If you'd like a one-on-one session with me about how to best get evidence-based care, what your birthing rights are, how to build a great birth team, and more, please reach out on my Contact page, or send me an email ([email protected]) or a text (385-309-0167).


I'm thrilled to be offering this content to Utah! Which class are you most excited about?

I'm thrilled to welcome a guest author for this blog post, Dr. Betty DeLass. Betty is the founder, owner, and CEO of Reborn Pelvic Health and Wellness, and a phenomenal pelvic floor physical therapist. I'm also fortunate to be able to call her a friend and fellow change agent. You're going to want to give her a follow on Facebook and Instagram as well. :) Thank you, Betty, for writing this post!

Birth is a physically demanding activity. Period.

You need to mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically train for it. It is one of the most taxing athletic events of your life…and many  of us do it multiple times!

Personally, I have completed marathons and ironmans and let me tell you, giving birth is just as hard, if not harder, than doing these things! (This statement is not meant to scare or frighten, but rather put into perspective the demand that labor and delivery has on the body).

As a pelvic PT, I went into pregnancy and labor/delivery with an intentional mindset. I was training for another athletic event. I read up on all the books. I took childbirth education classes (actually every single one that was offered…yes, nerd alert!) I learned how to do a perineal massage on myself. I practiced deep squats and breathing. I exercised, stretched and did prenatal yoga. I practiced mindfulness and coping strategies. I was training for pregnancy, birth and postpartum recovery.

Let me tell you…whoa, that quite the event when it actually decided to happen! (With my first I was a week and a day overdue! And it felt like I was waiting forever to go into labor). 

I remember waking up in the middle of the night thinking…hmmm….pretty sure these are contractions, woke my husband up, got up and started laboring at home on my exercise ball and turned on my Jesus music. A few minutes later, I told my husband that I think we should go to the hospital, things were kinda getting intense… and then, I immediately threw up… 

Yep, definitely time to go!

We arrived at the hospital after the longest car ride of my life as contractions increased in intensity with shorter intervals in between. I was thrilled to find out that I was 7 cm dilated. Sweet! I can do this! So I thought…

Then another hour went by…

And another…

And another…

Until I was exhausted…

This is so hard. This is the hardest thing I have ever done. I am so tired. NO I AM BEYOND EXHAUSTED. I can’t do this anymore. I quit. 

Then….

Finally…

After 14.5 hours of laboring…SHE WAS HERE!! 

In the blink of an eye, all the sweat, tears, pain, perseverance and hard work…my exhausted body forgot it all the second she was placed on my chest. Similar to crossing the finish line of a marathon or ironman.

Joy, and sheer exhaustion raged through me.

Thankfully, my second daughter was a tad bit faster with a 3.5 hour labor. So, I wasn’t quite as exhausted, however my pelvic floor was not as happy the second time around with how fast she came out! Let’s just say my second left a bigger mark on my pelvic floor from a rehab perspective. 

Postpartum recovery was hard. Where is my body in space… Abs…what are those? Oh no..I have a mom-butt (pancake buns)… Did I just pee myself…??? Am I ever going to sleep again…???

I cannot believe we just let moms go home and tell them at 6 weeks they are “cleared.” I need to change the world…we can do so much better, we can prepare better, we can birth better, we can recover and rehab better.

I am going to change the world one vagina at a time. 

Going through two unmedicated vaginal deliveries myself was the catalyst to Reborn Pelvic Health & Wellness changing the standard of care before, during, after and beyond birth. 

A pelvic revolution has started.

Let’s dive in a little more…

We see our patients before, during and after pregnancy. We set you up for success from the get go. We teach you how to stay strong and mobile during pregnancy. We keep the common (but not normal) aches and pains away. We help you prepare for birth so that you can have the best chance of success at a smooth and safe labor and delivery. We teach you how to use your hips and pelvis to your advantage during labor. We teach you how to do perineal stretching. We teach you how to get your pelvic floor to lengthen and get out of the way. We optimize the pelvis to allow for a vaginal delivery or a VBAC (vaginal delivery after c-section) by addressing limitations in your body. Planning for a c-section, no worries, we help with that too!

Then postpartum, we help you get your rib cage and pelvis back into position. We get your core and pelvic floor back ‘on-line’ and activating properly to support your body’s movements. We retrain movement patterns so you can lift a car seat and give your kids a bath without low back pain. We make sure your pants stay dry even when you cough, sneeze, jump or run. We address any scar tissue sensitivity, pain, adhesions or restrictions. We make sure you can have intercourse without pain. We fundamentally and progressively load and exercise so that you can return to the activity that you love to do without pain, fear, or embarrassment. We provide true pre-hab, prep, and rehab during the biggest musculoskeletal change of your life.

This is the pelvic revolution. This is standard of care. This is becoming Reborn.

We love to set our patients up for success throughout this process by teaching them about their bodies. We want you to be the experts of your own body from the inside out. If you are interested in optimizing your pregnancy, birth and/or postpartum journey be sure to reach out. Remember it is never too late to start! There is always room to improve and optimize :)

You can find us and contact us at www.rebornphw.com or call us at 801-216-3117. ​

Want more Betty? Check out my interview of her in this podcast episode of Birth Words!

I first heard about doulas when I was pregnant with my third child. My husband was in graduate school and I was working random side-jobs. A friend who had just had a baby enthusiastically shared about her birth experience and the invaluable support she received from her doula. It sounded incredible, but it simply wasn't in the budget for us at that time.

Fortunately, we were able to invest in a high-quality comprehensive birth class and felt thoroughly prepared for my birth. We lucked out with a smooth, uncomplicated labor, and I had the incredible birth experience that fueled my desire to become a birth worker.

But the conversation with my friend and our inability to hire a doula sparked something in me. I feel strongly that financial barriers shouldn't stand in between you and the education and support that you need to have a positive, empowering pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience.

That's why I offer grants for families with financial constraints. Grants are available in a variety of sizes and can be applied towards birth classes, birth doula services, or postpartum doula services. Although grants are somewhat limited, I'm usually able to offer a grant of some size to those with a need! So if limited finances are stopping you from signing up for a birth class, hiring a birth doula, or moving forward with postpartum doula support, head on over to the grant application page to apply!

All of the pregnancy books recommend swimming as an excellent exercise during pregnancy. The water's buoyancy helps support your belly while minimizing swelling and supporting your joints. And it's a great workout! It always sounded so good in the pregnancy books, and I tried it out a few times... Only to remember why I've never loved lap swimming. Something about inhaling a face full of splashy water just erases the charm for me.

Enter prenatal water aerobics!

I first heard about this class when a doula client, who was taking the class, mentioned that she'd been attending it. It sounded like a great class and something I wanted to check out for myself and tell my clients about. I finally got around to attending class a couple of weeks ago, and really enjoyed myself.

The other class members were welcoming and friendly, even to me in my non-pregnant state. :) As we got into the water, we got to know each other a bit, and then we started with some gentle warm-up exercises in the water. I was surprised by how much difference water resistance made in doing simple exercises like kicks and steps. I could feel that my muscles were engaging, yet the workout was gentle on my joints. Later in the class, we used pool noodles for added resistance, and I was again surprised to find that a super-lightweight pool noodle acted like a light dumb bell in the water! They also made fun flotation devices for other exercises.

In pregnancy, water fitness classes have many benefits. It reduces swelling, is low-impact, carries little risk of falling, alleviates spinal and pelvic pressure, and helps to improve mobility and range of motion. It also encourages increased amniotic fluid production--so discuss this exercise option with your care provider if you have low fluid levels! This class is adaptable for people with all fitness levels and can be done throughout your entire pregnancy--from first trimester through the end of third trimester! Non-pregnant participants who are looking for a gentle workout are also welcome.

Information is at your fingertips. You can Google anything from round ligament pain to pushing positions. Your favorite pregnancy/birth influencers post mind-blowing new information daily. Many childbirth classes are offered online, and you can watch them from the comfort of your home on your own time. Why take an in-person childbirth class?

There's nothing like face-to-face connection with other people. Pregnancy is a unique time in life, and it feels good to connect with other expecting parents who get it. Yes, there are zillions of online pregnancy groups and forums you can join, but the familiarity and connection that happen in person exceed what a virtual group can offer.

Summit Birth Utah's Comprehensive Childbirth Class runs for 8 weeks, so there's ample time to form friendships. They say it takes a village to raise a child--maybe you'll meet your village in your birth class!

I've planned eight classes' worth of material about labor, birth, and postpartum, but it doesn't have to be set in stone! During the first class session, I will ask each class attendee what they're hoping to get out of the class, and will tailor the class series to meet the needs of the class participants. So start thinking about topics and tools that you want to learn, and come ready to share them. I can't wait to personalize the class to fit your needs!

There are so many ways to cope and optimize your comfort during labor and birth. In class, you'll have hands-on practice with a wide range of them. Fill your toolbox with comfort measures so that you know what you can draw on during labor and birth! We'll practice guided meditation, using a TENS unit, counter pressure, aromatherapy, breathing techniques, sounding out your labor, and more!

I have an always-expanding lending library of books about fertility, sexuality, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and baby care. I'll bring books from my lending library to each class, and you'll have the chance to check out or exchange books each week. If you're interested in getting a taste for some of the books in my library, give this blog post series a read!

Discussing hypothetical scenarios, though helpful, isn't quite as effective as participating in role plays. To really help prepare for birth and make concepts stick, we'll do some role playing. Think of it as a dress rehearsal for your birth! You'll feel more at ease during labor and birth if it doesn't feel like the first time you've encountered anything like this.

Watching birth videos can be a great way to prepare for your birth. They can help you visualize a variety of ways that birth can go. And watching an empowering birth helps your mind create that expectation for your own experience! I find that birth videos are most helpful if you watch them with a specific purpose in mind, so I'll be weaving them into the class curriculum with prompts to maximize your learning.

It can be tricky to get the hang of breastfeeding! We'll go over the basics of lactation and preparing to breastfeed, and we'll practice several different ways to hold Baby. I'll explain the benefits of each of the positions, and give you a doll to practice each position with. When you have a baby in your arms, you won't be experimenting with different holds and positions for the first time! This familiarity can ease some first-latch nerves.

Have I convinced you yet that in-person birth classes are the way to go? I hope you'll join me at an upcoming series of my Comprehensive Childbirth Class. The next series starts in just two days, on October 15! It runs through December 10, so this is a great class to take if your estimated due date is in early 2023. My next class series will begin in January 2023. I hope to see you in an upcoming class!