Blessed Bambini Doula Services

21/06/2022

Love this!

I think it's time for these births to receive some admiration too 💪

While we mostly focus on & admire all the "calm & gentle" births, I feel like it also sets the stage for your more aggressive & intense births to be disregarded or even frowned upon; it's like we're all silently saying "if you don't have a calm, gentle birth, then you didn't do it right."

Women work so hard at all of these breathing & relaxation techniques with hypnobirthing, meditation & endless practices on how to have a 'calm birth' but it can also lead a woman down a road of potential disappointment & subtle feelings of failure or weakness if this was not achieved. We NEED to embrace & acknowledge the beauty & power of aggressive births too so that women can feel confident going into the birth room regardless of the type of birth she has - whether she breathes her baby out or screams.

I love telling ladies to "be aggressive" during labour, especially towards the end of transitional phase & more so if that phase is taking long & she is beginning to feel exhausted, defeated or losing a bit of hope. Almost always, I find that once a woman releases tension through acts of aggression (growling, shouting, screaming & even swearing; whatever suits her, individually), there is a sudden shift in progression of the last stretch of labour which enables her to birth her baby more easily.

Not remaining calm does not make you a failure.
Being loud & frustrated does not make you weak.
Shouting at your baby to "GET OUT!!!" does not make you a horrible mother.
Growling, screaming or shouting instead of gently breathing does not make your birth any less beautiful!

Vocalization is IMPORTANT for the release of endorphins & more often than not, acts of aggression can be a more effective mode of tension release for some women than what we've been told otherwise with relaxation methods.

You CAN be aggressive & it should be more encouraged & invited in the birth room. As long as you're not hurting anyone, aggression can be a very useful tool for coping too.

Were you aggressive?

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To find out more about my Gauteng doula services or products, you can visit my website here:
www.yourdoula.co.za

Or follow me on Instagram where I post a lot more content on a wide range of topics:
www.instagram.com/yourdoulanatalie

14/06/2022

There are many different comfort measures one can use during labour – and some are better suited to certain stages than others are. Here's a quick reference guide I created for you to save and work through ✨
📸 Sam Schröder Photography

28/10/2020

Birth is birth. It is the welcoming of a new soul a new baby earthside, it is a woman becoming a mother and with her partner they become a family.

A belly birth also known as a ceaserian section is the natural option when a physiological birth is for whatever reason not possible.

I support, guide and witness women and their partners through pregnancy labour birth and into motherhood/parenthood. Having a belly birth is NOT a failure it is a birth.

So many elements are at play, the mother, her partner, the baby, great spirit or whatever greater power you believe in or not, it is at play. The planets, the moon and ultimately it is baby's Birthdate.

Rather than feeling like a failure, realise that there is a divine order and plan, and we can trust that to unfold in all its magnificence.

Birth is birth❤️

📷

21/10/2020

There’s nothing quite like that bond between mom and baby. Makes all the hard work worth it 🤍
(Throwback to 16 years ago with my first ‘baby’! - the experience that inspired me years later to become a doula)

20/10/2020

Let it EMPOWER you! 🤍💪

17/10/2020

~ Doubt : a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.

POWERFUL ways to help eliminate self-doubt:
1. Discover what you are afraid of
2. Educate yourself
3. Find your motivation
4. Ask for help from someone who supports your goal
5. Find a care provider you trust
6. Invest time in positive affirmations and confidence mantras
7. Don’t compare yourself to others
💕

15/10/2020

‘Do I need a doula if my partner will be there?’ Or ‘will a doula replace my partner’
Both common (and legitimate) questions! The short answers are YES and NO.
Check out the link below for a useful discussion about why you still need a doula, and the added value a doula can bring to both you AND your partner 💕
https://www.clebaby.com/clebaby-cleveland-doula-service-blog/doula/doulas-dont-replace-partners

13/10/2020

This is a wonderful and really important discussion about Birth options in South Africa - this is how we reshape the perceptions - by keeping the discussion alive and continuing to educate women about their options! Thanks Theoni! (And Theoni is amazing if you want to do a Hypnobirthing course in Gauteng while pregnant) 💕

If you missed Theoni on Real Health end of August talking about Birth Options in SA. Go to her you tube channel and watch 😀

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRdf8K2pdyM&ab_channel=TheoniPapoutsis

22/09/2020

❤

21/09/2020

Anyone relate??!!
Peeing all night long can be super frustrating, and isn’t limited to the third trimester! 🤰 💤 😴
A few tips for minimising your sleep disturbance:

* Lean forward every time you p*e to make sure you properly empty your bladder.
* Avoid drinking too much water late in the day (but make sure you stay well hydrated the rest of the day!)
* Avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine, which can make you need to p*e more often.