| Tips for Doulas on their journey.

Doula vs. Birth Assistant

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

This is a question I am often asked, and while I cannot speak for all midwife assistants and doulas I can tell you about the difference in roles for me!

Birth/midwife Assistant:
* Hired by birth center.
* Meet you at the birth, but may run into you around town sometimes afterwards! 🙂
* Arrives generally when you are well into labor, sometimes transition if you're going fast.
* Remains with you at the birth center until you leave, and remains after to restock and clean.
* Assists midwife with medical care: blood pressure, heart tones, pulse & respiration, monitoring baby & momma postpartum. (This varies from one birth center to the next.)
* Assists with establishing nursing.
* Attends births only at specific birth center.
* Does NOT transport with you if moved to hospital.
* Takes a photo of you postpartum (with signed release) to be shared on the birth center FB page only.
* Is there primarily to assist the midwife in ensuring mom and baby are doing well, but also provides some emotional and physical support to mom as able.
* Works on 12 to 24 hours shifts, and while we try to keep the same birth assistant with you throughout labor and postpartum there are times a shift change is necessary.
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On Her Way to Be Weighed

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

Sometimes I capture images that aren't technically ideal, due to movement or lighting or timing. The midwife had just scooped up the baby from the bed and was turning and walking past me to take the little girl to the scale. I tried to snap a quick capture of her face as they turned, and it wasn't perfect - but her expression just made me laugh! Birth photography isn't portraiture - there's no posing, it's fast and candid and "lifestyle" pictures. But even when the image may not be exactly what we wanted, we still are able to tell such a fun story from the moments we do capture.

Posted in Babies!, Photos | Tagged Denton Texas birth photographer, Denton Texas labor support birth doula, Inanna Birth Center | Comments Off

Pediatric Options in Denton

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

I'm often asked in the childbirth class I teach about local options for primary care providers for their new babies. In our group class we have a pediatric nurse practitioner come speak and I'll include his link as well, but here are some local pediatricians I've heard wonderful things about. I have NOT met all of these doctors and cannot personally endorse them, but I'm sharing names for the ones I hear positive things about from friends, my doula clients, and childbirth class students:

Dr. Nuby & Dr. Erwin

Dr. Jones, Dr. Adams, and
Dr. Tran-Lee

Cook Children's Practice

Thomas Newell (NP)

Kelly Fox (NP)

Our family sees Dr. Erwin at Nuby Pediatrics so I can share that we've had only positive experiences with her, and have gotten good feedback from other parents seeing her. They also have a nurse practitioner on staff we really, really like and Dr. Nuby is also wonderful.

Posted in Babies!, Community Resources | Comments Off

Preparing Siblings for a New Baby – Book Ideas

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

Here is a post sharing some ideas for helping preparing siblings for a new baby, whether they are attending a birth or not.

Here are some fun projects you can do at home to prepare siblings.

And here are links to the books I have in my lending library for parents to share with their big kids:

My New Baby (New Baby Series)

Baby on the Way

What Baby Needs (Sears Children's Library)

How You Were Born

A Child Is Born

The New Baby

I don't own this one but have heard great things about it - Welcome With Love

Posted in Babies!, Birth, Links | Tagged Denton Texas labor support birth doula | Comments Off

I Love My Doula Babies

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

Here is my Facebook gallery with some of my doula babies in their shirts. This evening I made a much belated visit to drop off one of the last shirts I had for my 2012 babies, though thankfully the shirts are oversized so this cute girl hadn't outgrown it yet. I bought these shirts as thank you gifts for the families who welcomed me into their births during my first year as a doula. I far surpassed my goal of attending 2 births, which is humbling to consider. It's a privilege to be present for this sacred experience and I love being able to continue to see these babies grow and flourish. My initial reason for limiting my travel area as a doula is become I have a nursing baby, and I knew I didn't want to be too far from home and spend hours on the road. I hadn't anticipated how attending births in my town would connect me with my community in such a fantastic way. I run into my doula babies at the park, the library, the grocery store! Clients meet and connect with each other, and I am able to watch my doula babies grow up. I love it! I love so much that we can gather for reunions and celebrations and that after watching them enter the world I can watch these babies grow.

I love my work.

Posted in Babies!, Birth, Doulas | Comments Off

Mommy & Me Mixer – Breastfeeding Support Group

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

For local moms, I've been hearing rave reviews about the new lactation support group being hosted by the IBCLCs at Denton Presby hospital. This page has more details:

Mommy and Me Mixer
Meets each Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. (does not meet on holidays)
The Center for Women, Post-partum Family Waiting Room
Call 940-898-7142 for more information

Posted in Breastfeeding, Community Resources, Hospitals, Links | Tagged Denton Texas labor support birth doula | Comments Off

Gallery App! I Love It!!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

While not technically an app, that's what people are calling it. I'm so excited that my husband and wonder tech guy has created this handy dandy new tool for me. When I upload client galleries now they are bigger images, a nicer look (I think!) and better for viewing on mobile devices. Even better, if a client views the private gallery on their phone or tablet device they can click on the little "share" icon on the bottom. It will show an oh, so cute image of their baby with the option to save it to their home screen as a handy dandy button with gallery title. Anyone they share the link with can also save this, of course, and when the button is selected it will launch the gallery. I love it! We have two recent clients taking this for a test run with their family and friends and the feedback thus far is positive. Kit also created a portfolio page (separate from my photo page gallery) so I have my own app to share when I'm on the go. Want to check it out? Let me know what you think! Don't forget, from your mobile device you click the share icon at the bottom of your browser window then you'll see the button you can save to your home screen, should you feel so inclined. Isn't that fun??

*Many images are duplicate from my standard gallery, others are also prints taken at and hanging in the birth center where I work now as a birth assistant (and still work as a doula!) A combination of these will soon become a video slideshow on my photo website, a collection from the 25 births I photographed in 2011-2012!

Posted in Birth, Photos | Tagged Denton Texas birth photographer, Denton Texas labor support birth doula | Comments Off

Welcoming Babies

Posted on December 25, 2012 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

This last weekend I helped welcome three babies into the world three mornings in a row. It was a busy, beautiful, special weekend. All three births were attended by such caring birth professionals, both midwives and OBs. I was humbled to be part of the care team welcoming these sweet babies into the world, and inspired by the strength of the families.

I also thought of how blessed I am to work alongside such compassionate, dedicated professionals. I had a chance a couple weeks ago to attend a Christmas party of birth professionals - midwives, OBs, birth assistants, doulas, lactation consultants, birth photographers. It was a fascinating group with a lot of laughter and some fantastic stories! I'm honored to be part of this community of support.

This photo is two midwives I'm thankful to know and work with, and it was neat to see them working together through a new partnership. Especially as we celebrate Christmas this season - a birth that changed the world - I've pondered on the calling of supporting families through birth. It is a sacred calling, and one I treasure.

Merry Christmas!!

Posted in Birth, Doulas, Hospitals | Tagged Denton Texas birth photographer, Denton Texas labor support birth doula | Comments Off

Talk to Your Baby!

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Heidi Thaden-Pierce

While still in the womb babies can hear our voices, and become familiar with those they hear most. Of course their mother's voice is one we expect the to recognize immediately, and often we'll see infants stop crying or fussing to look up and stare at their mother's face when she greets them for the first time. Fathers don't always realize that their baby has also become familiar with their voice, and will often respond by being calmed and more alert when hearing him speak. There are situations in which a baby may need to be separated temporarily from their mother immediately postpartum, and in those situations dads usually accompany the baby to the nursery. I encourage dads to speak to their baby, as their voice may be the only familiar sound they hear. It's neat for the dads (and for me!) to see a baby soothed and calmed by the sound of their father's voice. This sweet baby girl was quiet and staring when her dad began talking with her - it was a precious moment to witness and I'm glad I was able to capture their meeting and little chat. 🙂