The Essential Ingredient: Doula is a documentary produced by DONA International in 2010 featuring commentary by all of DONA International's esteemed founders and some of its celebrated past presidents speaking on the origin and rationale of doula support.
"If a woman doesn't look like a goddess during labor, then someone isn't treating her right"
-Ina May Gaskin
*Placenta services have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are not meant to prevent, treat, or diagnose any disease, illness or symptoms.
Doula
The word doula comes from the ancient Greek meaning
"a woman who serves". A birth doula provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth (DONA International).
The most important thing a woman needs in labor is continuous support. Nurses and other care providers have many patients to attend to, and their shifts change every 12 hours, but a doula never leaves your side.
A doula can help the partner experience this special time with confidence. Studies show that when doulas are present at birth, women have shorter labors, fewer medical interventions, fewer cesareans and healthier babies.
Recent evidence also suggests that when a doula provides labor support women are more satisfied with their experience and the mother-infant interaction is enhanced as long as two months after the birth. With doula support partners tend to stay more involved rather than pull away in times of stress (DONA International).
Placenta Encapsulation
Some of the things the placenta can help with-
*Preventing and lessening the risk of postpartum depression or baby blues
*Replenishing your iron from blood loss during birth and to prevent post birth anemia
*Providing the HPL hormone to help establish early and healthy milk supply
*To stabilize your ever changing hormones post birth
*To replenish your B vitamins and energy that were used during labor and birth
*Protection from infection and bleeding due to retained placenta tissue or membranes
*Offer natural pain relief from labor and birth of the baby
Placenta encapsulation is the act of taking a fresh, raw placenta then washing, dehydrating, grinding and putting the placenta powder into consumable capsules. I prepare capsules according to traditional Chinese medicine while adhering to strict OSHA guidelines and proper food safety standards to ensure everyones safety from blood borne illness.
Placenta capsules are meant for the first 6 weeks postpartum and have a maximum 2 year shelf life. I commit to preparing and returning your capsules within 48 hours of receiving your placenta, and upholding the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and quality of professional placenta services.
For 6 weeks postpartum and beyond, I offer 4oz placenta tinctures.
A tincture is a liquid that has been fermented in 100 proof alcohol to extract the nutritional benefits.
Placenta tinctures are the best way to preserve your placenta for long term use because they have an almost indefinite shelf life if stored properly.
The biological mother and daughter of the placenta owner can also benefit; the mother from menopausal symptoms, and the daughter can use the tincture when menstruation begins for cycle stabilization and hormonal balance
The mother may also give the tincture to the baby, 6 months+ for
teething, transitional periods, stress, and as an immune system
boost.