Better Birth Blog

Information & Inspiration for Pregnancy, Birth & Parenting

Benefits of a Doula: Why Hire a Doula Printable Handout

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 Everyone needs a doula. Show 'em why. This printable is perfect for the doula interview packet.  Some people laminate it to show at the table or pass around a childbirth class. What do doulas provide? encouragement listening suggestions to ease or speed labor narration of events reassurance positive atmosphere a calming presence physical comforts a [...]

Uncontrollable Birth: A Checklist for Thinkers and Planners

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Having a baby is notoriously unpredictable. You don't know when he or she is coming. You don't know how long it will take. You don't know how you or the baby will respond to labor. You don't know when your water will break. You don't know how long you'll need to push. You don't even [...]

Fear-Tension-Pain Teaching Tool

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Inspired by the fear-tension-pain cycle, meditation, Brené Brown, and the concept of holding space, I plotted three aspects of labor experience. Everyone feels each cycle at some point in their labor. The goal, of course, is to spend as much time as possible in labor (and life!) feeling at peace. A high level of fear means more tension, which [...]

Scaffolding & A Shield: What We Need In Labor

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When someone we care for is working through something difficult, one of the best means of support is “holding space.” Effective labor companions know (from learning or experience) how to hold space for someone in labor. But what does that mean? Holding space is like holding the fort. You protect the people inside the space–that’s […]

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