Blogs

So if you're reading this that means you read or have read my blog and I'm really happy.  I had an idea of posting some blogs from doulas or other birth workers that I enjoy to read in my spare time. I've been mainly focused on reading blogs by other postpartum doulas or doulas that consider themselves full spectrum. I've compiled a listing of the blogs that I try to read on a regulat basis that might be of use to you or possibly a friend or family member.

These blogs are funny, heartwarming and educational but they have one thing in common and they are the realness of them. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Happy reading.

1. A day at home with your postpartum doula
2. Beautiful is your Postpartum Body
3. I love tea!! Safe herbal teas for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
4. Maternal Child Connections
5. Radical Doula

Breast is BEST!!!

What is wrong with our society?? Why is breastfeeding a problem now, when breast is the best and the most natural thing that a woman's body produces? Why has our breast become so sexualized that people take offense to seeing a mother feeding her child? There has been so much negative information in the media regarding breast feeding in public, even if a woman covers herself and the baby up and goes off to a secluded area there will be a problem.  Recently Alyssa Milano was in the media speaking to t.v. talk show host Wendy Williams about breastfeeding in public. Wendy is against breastfeeding in public and Alyssa basically set the record straight.  Here is the link to the article. Let's celebrate a natural thing!!

I breastfed my oldest son for a year and there were so many benefits to it. Besides the bonding aspect,  breastfeeding helps your uterus shrink back to it's pre-pregnant state, it will often times stop ovulationso no period, breastmilk has all the essential vitamins and nutrients needed by baby and it's totally FREE! Yes the magic word... free!! It's not $20 or $30 for a can of artifical "milk" with a bunch of chemicals that we know  nothing about or how it will affect our children in the future. I've also read a few articles about studies that show children that were breastfed were in essence smarter than their non-breastfed counterparts. That information alone would make me want to chose to breastfed my child.

I often hear reasons why a mother chooses not to breastfeed her baby. The most common ones are:

1. It hurts 
2. I don't think the baby is getting any or enough milk
3. It feels weird when the baby nurses
4. I'm embarrassed about my breasts/nipples
5. I simply don't know how to

All of these issues or causes can be remedied by a postpartum doula or a lactation consultant,  if you don't have a doula. She will guide you in the correct positioning and placement of the nipple in the baby's mouth. She will also educate you on how much milk your baby should be getting at his age and stage of development. 

Welcome 2016

Happy New Year everyone! It's 2016 and crunch time basically for me.  May is Doula Appreciation month and I will be busy finally accepting clients and hopefully doing a large amount of education within the community and inner city Cleveland.  Educating the community as well as giving back to the community is what Ujima Doula services was founded upon.

The certification process in my opoinion is more stringent than other organizations but DONA International is one of the largest and well known doula organizations online and very reputable among the birthing community. That makes me happy as well as proud to be able to have those credentials behind my name and when I introduce myself I can say that I was certified by one of the premiere organizations for birth workers that boasts thousands of birth and postpartum doulas on an international level.

So from now until March I'll continue on with the required reading, continue to network and learn all the business and marketing skills necessary, so once  May rolls around I'll be able to take clients and  have a few lined up.  The first week in March I will be traveling to New York for the three day intensive training. I'm beyone  excited about traveling and getting back into a classroom setting and even more excited to be more than seventy five percent finshed with my journey.

February 2016 I will unveil my business website and start the marketing process. I'm very lucky and blessed to have an online educational outlet so to speak because if I didn't I would be lost so a big shout out to all the postpartum doula and full spectrum doula groups that I belong to. Stay tuned folks!!