Approximately 8 out of every 10 car seats are used incorrectly.  Have you had your car seat checked lately?  Visit www.safekids.org for locations and dates of free car seat safety checks.

What exactly does a doula do?  Well, you'll have to ask your doula.  However, this video does a wonderful job explaining the role of a doula, and why're they're so important for families.
-Kristen Woudstra, CD(DONA), LCCE

Acupuncture:  Proven to shorten labor and decrease medical intervention. The ancient art of acupuncture has been put to the test when it comes to mamas-to-be.  Since 1974, numerous studies have tested acupuncture points to ripen the cervix, help position the baby in the best presentation for labor, and promote optimal energy and stamina for women to enter into labor. The results are as follows.

Benefits of Pre-Birth Acupuncture (weekly starting at week 36):

Shortens labor: Research has demonstrated that the mean duration of labor in a group of women giving birth for the first time was reduced from 8 hours and 2 minutes in the control group (70 women) to 6 hours and 36 minutes in the group of women (70) who had received pre-birth acupuncture.

Decreases medical intervention: Data on 169 women was gathered by 14 midwives as part of their midwifery practice in New Zealand.  It found that when comparing all caregivers (midwives, general practitioners, and specialists) to those women who received pre-birth acupuncture there was:

• An overall 35% reduction in the number of inductions (for women having their 1st baby there was a 43% reduction)
• 31% reduction in the epidural rate
• 32% reduction in cesarean delivery
• 9% increase in vaginal births

Turns breech/posterior babies: Breech babies are ideally treated between 33-36 weeks gestation. This generally includes an acupuncture treatment with women being shown how to continue treatment at home with a moxa stick (an herb that has been shaped into a cigar-like stick and held over acupuncture points).

Natural Induction: Acupuncture treatments can stimulate labor in a woman who is past her due date.  Research has shown that acupuncture takes from 3 to 60 hours to initiate contractions. At least two treatments are recommended.

Posted by Monica Mae Leibson of Acupuncture Healthcare Associates of Michigan. (West Bloomfield)

I'm a fan of the "Best for Babes Foundation" on Facebook.   One of their latest status updates is, "When I first started breastfeeding, what I needed most was _____?" 

After only three hours 94 women responded with several different needs.  The two that seemed to appear most (although I didn't take a formal tally) were WATER! and Support. 

Add that to a conversation about early parenthood at a family graduation party. 
The After Baby Lady says, "I'm a postpartum doula, which is basically someone who supports and helps new families after they have a baby.  Doesn't everyone want more support when they bring a new baby home?"

Family Friend responds, "HA! Support!  When I came home from the hospital no one had done much housework while I was gone and I ended up scrubbing the kitchen floor on my hands and knees."

I've heard these stories a lot from women who delivered in the 1970's and 1980's.  Some seem to wear their lack of support like a badge saying things like, "young women today have it so easy!  When I came home from the hospital I ..."

Then these amazing women go on to discuss the LACK of support they had and how they soldiered on through the hard times.  Most mothers know that if no one else does it (whatever it may be) then we have to. 

My goal in educating people about what postpartum doulas do is to gently suggest (or scream from the rooftops depending on my audience) that women don't NEED to do everything.  Women can be taken care of by doulas, friends, family, partners, and still be amazing mothers.  I want to give women permission to ask for and receive help knowing that they will enjoy and be better mothers for doing so.

Posted  by Jill Reiter on 6/26/2010 on her website The After Baby Lady (Shelby Twp).

In order to grow your doula business, it’s important to devote some time each week to marketing. An important component to any print media marketing is client testimonials. Doulas should be collecting these from all clients served. Capture those glowing words of praise and gratitude shared by new families served.

The easiest way to get a testimonial is to ask. If you have a mechanism, such as an evaluation form, that you currently use to obtain written feedback, then just incorporate your request for a testimonial and permission to publish it in the form. On the other hand, if a client gives you a verbal rave review, you can capture their words in writing and send it to them, requesting permission to publish it and inviting them to make any edits they care to make. In many cases, when given this opportunity, clients are likely to embellish their original words and will be much more extravagant in their praise than you would ever be in promoting yourself.

Consider video recording testimonials if you can and uploading these to your website. And don’t forget to include the dads and other partners in your solicitation! Hearing a dad share about how grateful he was for the doula’s presence and support may translate into overcoming the objections of another dad who is reluctant to hire a doula.

Overall, testimonials are a great marketing tool because what others say about us is at least ten times more believable than any claims we make about ourselves. Use them on your website, brochures, flyers, and print ads.

The Doula Business Advisor blog is designed to support the establishment and long-term sustainability of private doula businesses. Patty Brennan is the author of The Doula Business Guide: Creating a Successful MotherBaby Business.

Posted by Patty Brennan on January 18, 2011 on her website The Center for the Childbearing Year (Ann Arbor).

Welcome to the newest feature at www.metrodetroitdoulas.com our new blog!  We invite the doulas, childbirth educators, and other services showcased on our site to publish their blogs here.