Pampered Pregnancy – Blissful Birth

On the last Saturday of the month, Get Babied! Doula Collective hosts its famous Meet the Doula Night. This is a great way to get introduced to the collective, meet some other moms, snack on some food and hear some great presentations. And, let’s not forget, it’s also a great way to meet all the fabulous Get Babied doulas and lactation consultants!

This month’s presenters are amazing. First we will hear Stephanie and Ben share the birth story of Oliver. You can read about Stephanie’s amazing calming superpower during labor here.

After the birth story, we will have guest Sarah Ricord Greisemer speaking about self-care during the mother-child bonding process.

Then, once the presentations are over, the speed dating begins! Here is how it breaks down:

• Upon arriving, you will receive a name tag with a number on it
• After the presentations, we will break for five minutes so guests can use the bathroom, get refreshments and the doulas can get set up in the speed dating station
• Find the appropriate number that corresponds with your name tag and then move up the numbers when it’s time to move onto the next doula

Super easy! You will get about 3-5 minutes with each doula and although it is brief, it’s a great way to get started as a Get Babied client. If you are already a client, we encourage you to return to MTDN! We treat it as a free prenatal session and a great way to check in and see how things are going.

We look forward to meeting you!

In exactly one week, you will have another chance to meet the doulas at our Meet the Doula Tea event! This MTDT is what I like to call our ‘no frills, informal’ meet and greet. It’s completely about meeting the doulas and deciding whether Get Babied! Doula Collective is a good fit for your birth and postpartum needs.

If you are already a client, this event is a perfect way to get to know the doulas a bit more before your big day. We like to view it as a free ‘prenatal session’ as well. We get to see how our clients are doing and if there is anything we can do to address concerns and cheer on any progress.

So, next Tuesday, September 13th, we would love to see you! We will have tea and snacks in the office and look forward to seeing you all there.

And this means the arrival of your little bundle of joy is also quickly approaching! Don’t be without professional birth and postpartum support when the big day comes. Doulas provide emotional, physical and informational support to the laboring mother/couple. Come and meet the lovely doulas of Get Babied! Doula Collective on Saturday August 27th. The last Saturday Meet the Doula Night is THE one to attend. There’s food, drinks, a guest speaker and a couple sharing their birth story. It’s an all around fun experience.

Here’s the breakdown to the big Meet the Doula Night:

7pm: The doulas are on. We talk about how Get Babied! Doula Collective works, why it works, etc…all the nitty gritty.

715pm: Dawn is walking proof on why you should sign up with Get Babied! as early in your pregnancy as you can. She attended almost all the MTDN she could when she was pregnant. When it came time for her big day, all the doulas were hoping to be hers. Hear her side of her son’s birth story.

730pm: Regan Danforth House, Sr. Sales Director with Mary Kay, will be speaking on the importance of self-care and pampering for mothes, prenatally and postpartum.

745pm: The fun begins. Our famous speed dating of the doulas! We will set up the room and for 3-5minutes you get to speak to as many doulas as you want. You can speak to only certified or apprentice doulas if you know the rotation you will be choosing. Or you can speak with everybody if you are still deciding. Here’s a link to some good questions to ask a doula in an interview: go here

So. Now that you’ve got the scoop on the next MTDN and have jotted it down on your calendar, we look forward to meeting/seeing you!

This upcoming Tuesday we will be hosting our 2nd Meet the Doula Tea Time. This Meet the Doula event is all about getting to know us. I like to call it our ‘no frills’ MTDN. The ‘speed dating’ part is more low key and at a slower pace, giving you more time to talk with each doula.

This is also a fantastic opportunity for moms who are already clients to come and get to know us even more. We view Meet the Doula events as free ‘prenatal’ check ins. It gives moms a chance to air any grievances, ask any questions, and get more face time with each doula.

So, come on out on Tuesday! We look forward to seeing you.

So, last night we hosted our first ever weekday, no-frills, informal Meet the Doula Night. It. Was. Awesome. There were several couples there, two of them were already clients, and we got to spend so much time talking to each couple. It truly was like a personal prenatal appointment with each couple.

But don’t fret! You don’t have to wait that long before the next Meet the Doula Night. The last Saturday Meet the Doula Night is THE one to attend. There’s food, drinks, a guest speaker and a couple sharing their birth story. It’s an all around fun experience.

Here’s the breakdown to the big Meet the Doula Night:

7pm: The doulas are on. We talk about how Get Babied! Doula Collective works, why it works, etc…all the nitty gritty.

715pm: Sarah will be sharing her birth story with the group.

730pm: Our special guest speaker for this month is Dr. Andrea Campaigne from Nurture OBGYN.  Dr. Campaigne’s topic: “Doulas: From a Doula-Friendly Obstetrician”.

745pm: The fun begins. Our famous speed dating of the doulas! We will set up the room and for 3-5minutes you get to speak to as many doulas as you want. You can speak to only certified or apprentice doulas if you know the rotation you will be choosing. Or you can speak with everybody if you are still deciding. Here’s a link to some good questions to ask a doula in an interview: http://www.dona.org/mothers/how_to_hire_a_doula.php

So. Now that you’ve got the scoop on the next MTDN and have jotted it down on your calendar, we look forward to meeting/seeing you!

That’s right! Get Babied! Doula Collective is proud to announce we are adding another Meet the Doula Night. Yes! Two Meet the Doula Nights per month! Now, you can have more chances to find out about our collective, meet and get to know the doulas.

The new event will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (excluding holidays). For our Tuesday MTDN, the event is all about getting to know the doulas. Guests will have more time with each doula to ask questions, visit, and catch up. We like to see these events as free prenatal sessions. So if you are already a client, the Tuesday night events are perfect for you. You can come and go, staying and chatting however long you would like.

This means the upcoming MTDN is July 12th at 7pm. Mark it on your calendars now. If you would like to RSVP, you can email me, michelle@getbabied.com. However, a RSVP is not required. If you decide at the last minute to attend, then please come on by. We would love to see you.

Meet the Doulas!!

May’s Meet the Doula night was a HIT. We had a packed house full of expecting couples, wonderful guest speakers and it was the first MTDN in our NEW office! Hooray!

Don’t be sad that you missed the May event. Instead, make plans to attend the one in June. MTDN will return to its regularly scheduled spot, the last Saturday of the month, on June 25th.

We are so hoping you will attend. Why? Well, not only is Meet the Doula Night a great way to meet all the doulas in our wonderful collective but there will be some amazing guest speakers! There will also be snacks and who doesn’t love snacks?

The schedule:

645pm – guests arrive and sign in. Snacks will be available as a movie about Get Babied will be playing.

7pm – fun begins! The doulas of Get Babied speak about what we do, why doulas rock, why Get Babied rocks and the cost saving benefits of hiring a doula.

720pm – a couple will share their birth story!

730pm – a special guest speaker will help educate and inform Meet the Doula Night attendees.

745pm – the office is set up for speed dating and the doula speed dating begins! This is where we chat with most couples for several minutes. This gives couples a chance to meet as many of us as possible, ask questions, get a feel for all of our personalities and styles, etc…

9pm – It’s over! Everyone goes home and sleeps!

If you are already a client, we encourage you to come to as many MTDNs as possible! You can come after the Get Babied presentation or just for the speed dating part at 745pm. This gives us a chance to get an update on you and your pregnancy. It’s kind of like a free prenatal session, with snacks and guest speakers!

So, as you can see, Meet the Doula Nights are awesome. You should come! No registration required and you can bring kids! (We have some books and toys available).

Hi Mamas (and Dads)! Just wanted to let you know we have our next group prenatal session coming up Sunday June 12 at 3:00-4:30 PM at our office. This session also includes a 1 hour private birth plan consult at 2:00 or 4:30 (before or after the group session).  The Get Babied! Centering prenatal appointment with Comfort Measures Class is free for mamas signed up for our Get Babied! or Get Pampered! doula care packages. For mamas going the Get Doula’d! route, or for mamas not signed up for any package it is available as an a la carte add-on ($50). You can also opt to do just the one hour privately and work on your birth plan ($30) or just the group class in the second hour and a half ($30).  Register online here: http://www.getbabied.com/classes/online-registration

Feedback from mamas who have done this appointment with us has been very positive. “Finally someone showed us what to do, not just what to expect!” That’s our mission with this appointment. It’s best for couples at or beyond 30 weeks gestation, so if you’d like to join us on Sunday, please let us know by registering online. This appointment recurs each month, so you’re welcome to join us next month as well. Here is a little info from our website (and also pasted below):

http://www.getbabied.com/classes/group-prenatal-appointments

The group class begins at 3:00 pm on the third Sunday of each month at our office, 1825 E 38 1/2 st. You can opt to come 1 hour before the group class or stay one hour after the group class for a private consult with your Get Babied! doula. We will review and discuss your needs assessment form, health history, and then will work together to create a birth plan. The second hour and a half is a group session including a review of breathing techniques, tutorial on positions for labor, a massage/counterpressure/comfort measures demonstration, and a labor rehearsal. It’s our job to educate you beyond what to expect; we want to show you what to do! The class time is followed by a circle discussion time and socializing and refreshments. We look forward to seeing you there!

Get Babied! is excited to be on the forefront of prenatal care advancement. We will be implementing a centering model for prenatal visits and look forward to providing you with the highest level of quality care. Register here for your group prenatal appointment. Centering is a model of group health care, which incorporates three major components: assessment, education, and support. Group participants meet with their care provider and other group participants according to a regular schedule for a much longer period of time (usually 90-120 minutes) than a usual check-up visit. Centering promotes individual health empowerment and community-building. For more information about the centering health care initiative, please visit www.centeringhealthcare.org

Please join Heart & Home Midwifery for our VBAC Preparation Class series, Wednesday nights in the Get Babied! Doula Collective classroom space.

The series will cover the basics of childbirth prep such as the stages of labor (in a very detailed way), positions for labor and birth, fetal positioning, coping techniques and natural pain management, common complications and natural remedies, and common interventions. Beyond the basics, we will have an opportunity for processing past birth experiences, discuss fears and expectations (of both partners), discuss VBAC safety, and work together to get ready for birth. The class is based on planning a natural birth so there will be very limited discussion of pharmaceutical pain management.

Taught by:
Brielle Epstein is a Licensed Midwife and has been a doula and childbirth educator for the past 8 years. She is also the Chapter Leader of ICAN of Austin.
Kari Sanders is a Licensed Midwife with over 20 years experience in birth. She has also experienced VBAC and VBA2C in her own pregnancies.

Classes are Wednesdays, May 18th, 25th, and June 1st from 6:30-8:30pm in Central Austin. Cost is $150 (sliding scale).

For more information or to sign up email brielle@moonstonebirth.com

Brielle Epstein, LM, CPM
cell: 512.203.6097
home: 512.382.9238
brielle@moonstonebirth.com
www.moonstonebirth.com