Doula Dana

Tina always has amazing advice and ideas to nurture children’s emotional health. I’m looking forward to this webinar. #Repost @tinapaynebryson with @get_repost Join me for a FREE parenting webinar on September 15th (at 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST). This talk is hosted by Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) and will focus on, "What Kids Really Need from their Parents During COVID-19". Click the link in my bio to learn more and sign up.... #ThePowerOfShowingUp #TinaBryson #FreeParentingWebinar #ParentingSupport #ParentingAdvice #ParentinginaPandemic See more

Hypnosis is a powerful tool to give you more comfort and confidence during your birth. This six-week series is a complete childbirth education course. You’ll learn powerful hypnotic tools, how to make informed and empowered decisions, nutrition, exercise, common interventions, postpartum care and breast-feeding basics. Best of all, your partner will develop confidence to support you in the birthing process. Visit the link in my bio to learn more.

Can we have a tough conversation? There are 4 hospitals in Los Angeles that are safely allowing doulas to support clients in labor. You have a choice! By transferring care, you are using your $$$ to let hospitals know that you expect evidence-based care. You should settle for nothing less than a compassionate, patient-centered model that views you as an individual. #Repost @ladoulavita with @get_repost This is something most of us who support birthing people are hearin...g right now - people torn between knowing the importance of and wishing for doula support but nervous to leave their current care provider. Your OB might seem like a nice person, might have a good bedside manor, and you might have even been with this OB for years... BUT if they are not currently advocating for you to have doula support in the hospital as part of your care team, the fact of the matter is that they really don't care about evidence based birthing practices or your birthing experience. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologist states the importance of doula support many times. One being: Evidence suggests that, in addition to regular nursing care, continuous one-to-one emotional support provided by support personnel, such as a doula, is associated with improved outcomes for women in labor. So if your doctor says you don't "need a doula" or whatever you are hearing, KNOW that they have ulterior motives for keeping doulas out of the hospital with you. And they are not for YOUR benefit... So who's benefit are they for? Thinking about it this way - do you still really trust your OBGYN to have your best interest at heart enough to stay in their care during one of the most vulnerable and important times of your life? Asking for a friend....

Reposted from @ladoulavita Are you in the Los Angeles area and thinking of getting pregnant or are currently pregnant? Do you have any friends, colleagues, family members who are pregnant? Do you have a heart? Do you like to have options? Then keep reading: Without going into any ranting about the importance of doula support, I wanted to share current information about the status of Los Angeles hospitals: who is accepting doulas as an essential part of the care team and ...who is not. Hospitals Accepting doulas: LCOM MLK Hospital Providence St. Joe's Hospitals not accepting doulas: UCLA Santa Monica OR Westwood Providence St. Johns Cedar Sinai Kaiser Permanente Group Good Samaritan California Hospital Medical Center etc. THIS NEXT PART IS VERY IMPORTANT: If you want doula support at your birth, you can. You can choose to not give birth at a hospital that will not allow doula support AND you can find a good care provider at a hospital that has your well-being at the forefront and knows the importance of having a doula as a part of your team. MLK hospital's L&D floor is midwife led. If you are currently with the UCLA Midwives and you want midwifery care (not med-wifery care) AND your doula, maybe consider switching to the midwives who work at MLK hospital. @Dareallelucca shared a list of LCOM providers who she recommends. Also good to know, LCOM has a doula on staff who participates in administrative decisions for the hospital. PMI Group: Dr. Ishimaru, Dr. Sanders, etc. Dr. Richey Dr. Carilyn Sparks Dr. Richard Frieder Dr. Jamie Liepeles (but not for a vBac) And I need to gather info on St. Joes. You are not stuck. You do not need to switch to a homebirth if that is not your jam. You can have a hospital birth AND a doula, you just need to choose a hospital that supports this choice. Please share far and wide. Get the message out. #ideservebirthsupport

Today a group of administrators from @providencecalifornia met with our Doula Task Force to discuss improving care for birthing people and steps to get doulas back in the hospital. We haven’t arrived, but it is great to know that they share our concerns. @uclahealth @uclaobgyn @cedarssinai @pihhealthgoodsamaritanhospital @pihhealth we’d love to hear a response to our letter!

Private birth story sessions allow a parent or birth worker to process difficult feelings about a personal birth experience or a birth they witnessed. Message me to set up a session.