So excited to share my podcast episode with David Arrell of Baby Talk on Bettering the Birth Space. We chatted about how working with a certified Body Ready Method Pro and using Body Ready Method… More
Events and Posts
Birth Fest 2022
Building community is in my blood. As an only child, I’ve spent a lifetime creating a sisterhood of friends who I’m strongly bonded to. This goes beyond my personal life and into my work as a doula. I’m proud to be a founding Board member of Birth Fest Milwaukee where we brought together nearly 30 birth workers, providers, and family oriented businesses to The Yard at Bayshore on a beautiful summer day in July to connect with families and the community.
I had the privilege of sharing a panel on the topic of “The Importance of Doula Support”. It was comforting (and affirming) to hear the OB and midwife on the panel express how delighted they are when their client has a doula to support them through labor. The medical team plays a major role in monitoring the health of the baby and mother and are not trained in providing comfort measures for the birthing person.
Birth Fest Milwaukee 2022
Bringing people together has many benefits of potential collaborations, learning about what other services are available, and strengthening relationships. It was a refreshing experience, especially after so much separation during the pandemic years. We are better together.
Everyone is entitled to a physiological birth
I am titilated to be invited to participate in the Better Birth Pro series panel on June 5th. Becoming certified in the Body Ready MethodTM has provided me a plethora of tools and knowledge on when to use them to stack the cards in your favor by optimizing the pregnant body for a more comfortable pregnancy, more efficient birth, and a smoother recovery.
Why did you, fellow birth worker, decide to work with pregnancy and/or birth?
For me, it was because I could impact a client’s birth experience with evidence based tools to help them have the birth they desired.
That’s why I didn’t even hesitate when Body Ready MethodTM asked me to join the Better Birth Pro series in a panel discussion about our responsibility of supporting physiological birth beyond comfort measures.
I get to participate in a conversation about what this responsibility means to me and why I am a huge advocate of support beyond comfort. Don’t get me wrong, comfort measures are huge and they should not be tossed aside, but there is so much more we can and should do to support our clients!
Join us, June 5, at 1p ET as we put it all out there. We can’t expect to change the norms unless we are ready to talk about ‘em… and we are ready!
This is just ONE of five information packed sessions of the Better Birth Pro Series.
Check out the rest of the events and sign up free
Hope to see you on Zoom!
PS – All who register will gain replay access to all BBP sessions! You have nothing to lose. Sign up FREE here.
DADS and (virtual) DOULAS
In honor of Father’s Day, read a recent testimonial posted by a client eloquently expressing the benefits of virtual doula support for him and his wife during labor and delivery:
“Doula support from a husband’s perspective “the short of it”: If you had no formal training and had to coach the Super Bowl in nine months you would hire the best coach with multiple Super Bowl titles to get you up to speed. That is what it’s like having Jo Ann’s support as a husband/partner through pregnancy, labor, and delivery (which, let’s be honest guys, we know nothing about, and it’s the last thing you want to be bragging to be an expert at…). She is extremely dedicated, knowledgeable, and caring about her craft and her clients which makes her the best choice. Guys, hiring a doula doesn’t get you off the hook for doing the work but you will have someone to support you as well with ideas and guidance as you do the work. Your wife is birthing your child, the least you could do is help in whatever way she needs during the process. Jo Ann will give you the tools necessary to do this through practice and repetition prior to labor and delivery.
We hired Jo Ann at 38 weeks knowing we wanted someone knowledgeable who could continuously support us with the goal of a VBAC through preparation, labor, and delivery. The way hospitals, OB’s, and nurses are set up there is very little coaching or support during the labor and even delivery until your wife/parter is ready to push. Then the whole team comes rushing in ready to catch the baby. Having a doula (especially Jo Ann) to support us through the whole process (even virtually) helped ensure a more positive outcome not only in physical health for mom and baby but in mental and emotional health as well. This is something every woman should strive for and be able to achieve. Being that JoAnn now has virtual options (thanks to the pandemic) no matter where you are located, she is able to support you, so give her a call and see if she is the right fit for you.
The long version (for those still reading):This whole pregnancy (2nd child) my wife talked about having a positive physical, emotional, and mental birth experience with as little intervention as possible along with a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). I watched as she put in multiple hours per day for months preparing her body and mind for labor and delivery after full days of caring for our 18 mo old daughter and working part time. We were two weeks away from our due date when it really hit me that I knew very little about how to support my wife in achieving her goal once the time came that she would be in labor. It was the moment when I was reading the first few chapters of “The Birth Partner” by Penny Simkin (a recommendation from my wife) when I realized how much a doula could benefit both of us during this process and we decided to start searching (better late than never). The other factor which played into our decision was the ongoing pandemic and policies where only one support person was allowed in the birthing room at a time. If we were going to achieve the birth plan we both wanted it was necessary to have someone that could provide continual guidance and help us weigh pros and cons of decisions prior to labor, during labor (at home or hospital), and delivery. This, I realized afterwards, would be extremely beneficial to any woman and in any circumstance, not just during a pandemic.
We are SO thankful to have found Jo Ann, she is an incredibly caring human being and there is not a doubt in my mind we should have hired her for our first child, earlier in this pregnancy, and would 1000% hire her again if we choose to have more children. She ended up supporting us through FaceTime nearly the whole labor and delivery since things were moving along quickly (4 hours of labor and 4 hours of pushing is fairly quick in this case). I was truly in awe of her ability to stay engaged with us and pick up on nuances in my wife’s face to let her know when things were happening during the entire 8 hours. This is not an easy task while virtual and just staring at a screen, but it is the mark of someone who is truly dedicated to their craft and their clients. I have no doubt that Jo Ann’s virtual support is just as beneficial as her in person support.
Through her virtual support I was able to confidently support my wife 100% while being able to “phone a friend” for guidance every step of the way. Her involvement also allowed me to fully immerse myself in the process of supporting my wife and not have to spend time away from my wife thinking or referencing materials about what and how I should be giving support to my wife next. Since we practiced the positions and methods she recommended that we would use during labor and delivery in the days leading up to it, we both knew our roles well when the time came and could execute without thinking or discussing, when that would have only distracted from the task at hand.
For those considering hiring a doula, Jo Ann is the right choice no matter you or your partners birth style preference. She will guide the conversation around what preferences your wife/partner has for the birth plan and then assist you in confidently supporting your wife/partner to meet as many preferences as is possible. Believe me, there will be things you will forget about when the time comes, and Jo Ann ensures that you have yet another person fully committed to how you and your wife/partner want this process to go.
Another way Jo Ann supported us so well was discussing the pros, cons, and the why behind some of the advice and feedback we received (or would receive) from our OB and medical staff. We were able to discuss scenarios that may come up prior to even being in labor and have a notion of the direction we would take so we wouldn’t have to try to discuss once we were at the hospital focused on delivering a baby. She was able to explain the options in a way that made decisions based on our birth plan clearer and was able to give insight into alternatives which could be pursued, including doing nothing and just waiting (which is sometimes the best option). Having this third party observer with the knowledge to understand the medical jargon and the articulation to explain helps make clear minded decisions during a time when your mind is otherwise preoccupied trying to support your wife/partner.
If you are considering hiring a doula, you need not look further, Jo Ann is one of the best. She is extremely knowledgeable through her training and experience but also attended additional trainings and researched additional topics including VBAC when there was additional information available to help us. She was always responsive and available whenever we had a concern. She is always calm and reassuring, collaborative with the hospital staff and OB, and always had a suggestion when it felt like nothing was working. After hiring her at 38 weeks, during a pandemic, with only virtual support options my wife was able to achieve an unmedicated VBAC delivery (my wife is also a warrior!) We could not speak more highly of Jo Ann’s support. If you are still on the fence, give her a call, it only took a few minutes for us to realize the value she could add during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.”
What can you control about your labor?
Labor and birth are unpredictable. Let’s start with that. However, there are things you can do to significantly affect your birth experience. Choosing your birth team is the first thing you can control. Many women think they should stay under the care of their gynecologist who they’ve had a relationship with for years. This may not be the best medical professional to care for you during your pregnancy and birth however. Once you develop a birth plan, a thoughtful guide to how you’d prefer your birth to go, you might find that your obstetrician is not in accord with your desires or regularly attends the type of birth you want. If that is the case, change! It is challenging to micro-manage a medical provider’s approach and makes for an uncomfortable relationship when that occurs. Consulting your doula for who in your area might be a better fit is a good place to start. It may be an obstetrician in a hospital, it could be a midwife in or out of hospital, or it could be in a stand alone birth center with a midwife. You have many choices and it is important to take the time to ask your medical provider questions during your visits to make sure they are the right person for you.
The next thing that you have control over is when to leave home for the hospital or birth center. Laboring at home for as long as possible is ideal. You will labor easier, faster, and more comfortably in your own home surrounded by your smells, food, pets, bed, etc. Feeling safe and secure is important for your body to open and release your baby and that feeling is best experienced in your own home. Typically, we suggest you leave for the hospital when you are 4-1-1. Your contractions are four minutes apart, lasting one minute long, and this has continued for one hour. This would put you in active labor and chances of the transition to the hospital slowing your labor at this point is less likely. You will avoid unnecessary interventions if you are closer to active labor when you arrive.
Lastly, know your options and what is normal. Work with your doula to learn skills that help labor progress and you be more comfortable. Your doula will provide some childbirth education during your prenatal visits. She’ll practice comfort measures and labor positions with you so you will be comfortable with these techniques when labor begins. She’ll offer you referrals to local bodyworkers including pelvic floor physical therapists, chiropractors, and acupuncturists if needed. She’ll support your partner, in addition, so s/he can give the birthing person effective comfort measures.
Take advantage of the things you can control to influence the type of birth you will experience. Birth is a transformational experience in your life unlike any other, take charge and use the tools available to you to have the best experience possible. Find your doula today to help you control what you can.
Labor and birth are unpredictable. Let’s start with that. However, there are several things you can do
Honoring Mother’s Day
Beyond the flowers and Hallmark cards, Mother’s Day offers an opportunity to pause and reflect on what mothering is and who wears that mantle. This beautiful prayer from Rev. Ongiri affirms all those who identify in those roles.
On Mother’s Day, let us mark how beautiful and complex it can be to mother and be mothered:
To those who have mothered, we thank you.
To those who rejoice in the work, the role, the presence of mothering and mothers, we celebrate with you.
To those who are in the thick of parenting children of any age, we appreciate you.
To those who experience loss through infertility, abortion, miscarriage, adoption or running away, we mourn with you.
To those who have lost their mothers, we grieve with you.
To those who have endured abuse at the hands of their mothers, we acknowledge you.
To those who experience pain at the marking of this day, we witness you.
To those who are single moms, grandmoms, stepmoms, foster moms, adoptive moms, mentor moms and spiritual moms, we need you.
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising, we anticipate with you.
May we reflect with gratitude on the wide spectrum of mothering that happens in our lives and in our communities.
Words by Rev. Leah Ongiri
To the mothers and children in my life – I am grateful for your teaching me what life is all about.
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1/3/20 Lianna + Eric & Aldo
World Doula Week 2021
World Doula Week has been productive!
*Porch meeting with new client to drop off my packet of information we’ll cover at our prenatal meetings. So nice to meet this couple in person as we’ll be conducting our prenatal visits virtually.
*Prenatal visit with client to review my childbirth education materials and begin to develop their birth plan.
*Driveway visit with past client who is moving out of state to bid farewell. I cherish the relationships I develop with clients and appreciate the honor of being welcomed into their lives at a sacred time.
*Attended a DONA International Mood Disorder workshop. Being aware and informed about postpartum depression and anxiety and knowing how I can better help clients is important to me.
*Met with the Milwaukee BOMB doulas to learn more about the valuable work they are doing to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in our city.
*Conducted two initial conversations with potential clients seeking virtual doula support.
*Supported a recent client to get them through some breastfeeding challenges of the early weeks. This is part of my standard birth doula service.
*Attended the DONA International Regional Meeting where I connected with other Wisconsin doulas and learned about what DONA is doing to shift to using inclusive language and lots more to lead the birth world in serving birthing families.
*Read Welcome To Fatherhood: The Modern Man’s Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Fatherhood by David Arrell.
*Awaiting call from client with expected due date of April 1st to support them through their labor and birth.
*Giving thanks for the opportunity to do the sacred work of supporting families during this special time of their lives. I love being a doula!!
*Celebrated an early Easter with my immediate family in person. The reason I adhere to the strictest protocols on safety with COVID-19 is so I can be with the people I love the most.
*Oh! and was filmed to be in a movie! Actually, my hand was filmed writing a paragraph in cursive Italian for a movie about Nuvolari, an Italian race car driver.
No two weeks are ever the same as a doula. That’s what I like about this work, there is always more to learn, more people to connect with, and more to do to make for better birth on earth. NOW THAT’S A PRETTY GOOD WEEK!
Delivering packet to client 
Prenatal visit materials 
Staying connected and in the room 
Celebrating with family 
My movie debut
The Growing Edge
As this difficult year comes to a close, we can only hope for better tomorrows as the calendar page turns for the final time in 2020. If we pause long enough to reflect, we find hope in history of overcoming hardships and creating better days. This poem by Howard Thurman, an American author, philosopher, theologian, educator, and civil rights leader, invites us to look to the “growing edge”. And in the birth world, there are so many beautiful metaphors for the growing edge: the joining of the sperm and egg to create new life, the surprise of previously unknown abounding love a baby brings to a family, the actualization of the power of woman to birth.
May you and yours experience the growing edge in the new year and may we enter days of good health and healing, equality and justice, balance in all things.
The Growing Edge
All around us worlds are dying and new worlds are being born; all around us life is dying and life is being born. The fruit ripens on the tree, the roots are silently at work in the darkness of the earth against a time when there shall be new lives, fresh blossoms, green fruit. Such is the growing edge! It is the extra breath from the exhausted lung, the one more thing to try when all else has failed, the upward reach of life when weariness closes in upon all endeavor. This is the basis of hope in moments of despair, the incentive to carry on when times are out of joint and men have lost their reason, the source of confidence when worlds crash and dreams whiten into ash. The birth of a child — life’s most dramatic answer to death — this is the growing edge incarnate. Look well to the growing edge!
—Howard Thurman
What does a virtual prenatal appointment look like?
In the days of COVID-19, doula support has morphed into a new way of providing services to clients. Since March with the Safer at Home orders, I’ve been conducting all prenatal visits via Zoom. We’re fortunate to live in an era when we have access to excellent technology to allow us to meet “face-to-face” yet be safe.
Here is what my living room looks like after a visit. Prior to the visit, I’ve delivered a packet to the client with all the handouts that we are going to review. All the information is also available in my online Resource Library for those who prefer to see it that way. The client is in their living room and I’m in mine and together we review the packet of childbirth education materials, practice comfort measures and laboring positions and answer questions. Some clients are actually preferring the virtual support as they don’t have to get childcare, and, it gives the supporting partner or husband a greater hands on role.
As a bonus, my Birth Plans now include much of the Postpartum Preparation that I offered as a separate contract prior to the pandemic. That makes the Birth Plans a great value and more comprehensive. Since many parents are not having the previously expected support of family and friends coming into the home once baby arrives, intentionally and carefully creating a postpartum plan is even more essential now. We review preparedness for baby’ care and mom’s recovery, discuss plans for sleeping, feeding, diapering, and household needs.
“The way hospitals, OB’s, and nurses are set up there is very little coaching or support during the labor and even delivery until your wife/parter is ready to push. Then the whole team comes rushing in ready to catch the baby. Having a doula (especially Jo Ann) to support us through the whole process (even virtually) helped ensure a more positive outcome not only in physical health for mom and baby but in mental and emotional health as well. This is something every woman should strive for and be able to achieve. Being that JoAnn now has virtual options (thanks to the pandemic) no matter where you are located, she is able to support you, so give her a call and see if she is the right fit for you. “
Testimonial from virtual support father 2020
If you are wondering if virtual birth doula support is for you, please give a call and we can see if it (and I) are the right fit to support you during this very important time of your life (414) 301-7729. Because doulas are part of the non-medical support team of your pregnancy, we are not issued PPE as are medical staff in the hospital and minimizing the number of people in a delivery room is strongly recommended to keep everyone safe, virtual doula support is an excellent option for those who still want the expertise of an experienced, certified doula but not the added risk and contagian of in-person contact.
Italian Immigrant Women in Milwaukee
Today I ‘saw”, or heard, myself in a new podcast I listened to. I’ve always been a podcast listener but with the pandemic, have found even more interesting podcasts to be my adult friends who talk to me during the day since my in-person interaction has greatly diminished.
This ImagineMKE Podcast about Historic Milwaukee touched me in a special way. Julia Griffith, Program Director for Historic Milwaukee, shared a story about Milwaukee’s impact in shaping the world. Did you know there would be no Panama Canal without Milwaukee? It also included a story about how important Wisconsin was in licensing midwives. I’m a doula, not a midwife, but I am Italian and do live in the Lower East Side (not far from the Third Ward), so close enough.
Julia says “Wisconsin was an early pioneer in licensing midwives. Because Italian immigrant women who lived in the Third Ward were vital to their communities, well trained in Italy, and wanted to be licensed in America. So the state of Wisconsin said ‘great, we can handle that’. ..Thank you immigrant Italian women who give us prenatal care.”
So maybe I come to this work not only through a lifelong desire to walk the sacred journey of pregnancy and labor and help women achieve the birth they desire but empowered on a cellular level by my Italian ancestors to be a part of the birth experience.
Maternal and newborn separation in the time of COVID-19
Birthing families are facing additional stresses during the time of COVID-19. The health concerns of how the virus could affect them or the baby, the loneliness of physical distancing, working from home with older children, and much more complicate each day. Many parents are without the expected anticipated support postpartum of their friends and families upon returning home from the hospital.
A major worry of some is if they would be separated from their newborn immediately after birth should parents have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 or mother has a fever or cough. Fever in labor can occur due to something called chorioamnionitis, which is inflammation of the membranes. Fever can also be a common side effect of an epidural or meconium. There is conflicting research and advice on this topic of maternal newborn separtion. As a birth doula, it is one of the topics my clients are most concerned about. And to make it even more confusing is that the information continues to change.
The newest recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC currently recommend separation. The AAP states “While difficult temporary separation of mother and newborn will minimize the risk of postnatal infant infection from maternal respiratory secretions.” The exact wording in their report is, “The likely benefits of temporary maternal and new born separation at birth for decreasing the risk of newborn infection should be discussed with the mother optimally prior to delivery.” Disappointingly, what is not mentioned is the harms of mother newborn separation. Know that parents are free to accept or decline this recommendation after an informed consent discussion. They do state that an alternative to separation includes keeping the newborn at least 6′ from the mother at all times with a physical barrier and to not breastfeed. This is in keeping with the CDC’s recommendations also.
However, in contrast all around the world, including the World Health Organization, the United Kingdom’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, UNICEF, and guidelines from Canada and Italy state the contrary. Their recommendation is to keep mother and newborn together unless the mother is too sick to care for baby.
You as parents have the final word. Evidence Based Birth has created a sample Informed Consent Form for Refusal to Separate Birthing Parent and Infant. You can link to the form on my Resource Library. Please reach out to your doula to discuss this topic prior to birthing.