Owl Manor Birth Services

Two different hospitals in two days. Busy busy busy. 🥰

Good morning!

And that’s a wrap! Healthy baby boy. Healthy Mama. All is well and I’m headed home! Been a long night!

It’s been a while, but back to work.

I came to my office today to start removing my poor neglected plants to move them home for two reasons.

1) I’m going through a divorce right now and in this transitional period of my life, it’s made it so that any extra expenditures aren’t feasible right now, so I’m saying goodbye to my office come July.

2) Even on the in between, unless I’ve had clients, I haven’t been able to get out here enough to take care of my plants and they mean a lot to me. Seeing my monstera wilted in this way makes me quite sad. They need to come home where they can be cared for properly.

I am living out in Tooele now, and am still at this point planning to be covering the areas I have been before unless I start to feel like it’s become to much. But for now, I don’t feel over extended. I am just adjusting.

If you happen to need me, I’m still here for the time being. :) I’ve toyed with possibly transitioning out of birth work but I’m giving myself a time period of adjustment before I make any rushed and emotionally fueled decisions.

I love birth work. It is a fire in me that burns quite bright, but it may not be my final destination and that’s okay. We will see where this next little while takes me.

Advocating for yourself can be a hard thing especially when you’re in the throes of labor, and with TWINS!! This is such a neat story. I hope it brings someone some birth inspiration today.

I cannot WAIT to share this story with you. A twin hospital birth, where babies were delivered right on this very floor. My sweet client had to advocate HARD for herself. Even at 8cm, through transition and through pushing she had to tell people “no” repeatedly.

So so so proud of her and so excited to share this amazing story! ❤️❤️

Did you know?

Doulas are statistically found to make your birth outcome better.

The facts don't lie.

Do you know how crucial it is to drink enough water during pregnancy?

Here's a couple facts that might surprise you!

- Not drinking enough water can make it so that the body has hard time regulating heat which can lead to overheating. Overheating can cause neural tube defects in infants.

- Can lead to decreased levels of amniotic fluid levels that protect baby and helps them grow.

- Can lead to worsened body aches, sciatica pain, joint pain, and muscle soreness.

- Can contribute to constipation, and slow moving bowels.

- Can cause headaches and migraines.

- Can cause dizzy spells and disorientation.

It's always a good idea to make sure to keep some kind of container that you can keep water in. You're more likely to drink water if you have something with you at all times. I've found that with my clients, buying a new water bottle JUST for their pregnancy was fun and allowed them to be a bit more excited about drinking water.

What's one way that you found helps you drink enough water while pregnant? Do you have any tips or tricks to help you remember?

Happy Monday! Back to work after a sick filled weekend. Luckily not covid, but definitely not fun either.

How is everyone else feeling today?

In being a doula that provides bereavement support, I spend a lot of time reading. I am slowly getting through a book called "Companioning at a time of Perinatal Loss". It's one of those texts that really reinforces the fact that Perinatal Loss care is all about standing beside the family and not trying to fix the situation at hand, and rather doing everything you can to support the family in their grief and providing positive reinforcement and healing through their journey. Not doing it for them, but rather just being something to hold on to that is steady in a rather rocky time of life. A hand to hold as they climb the stairs of grief.

In the introduction of this book it says "The roots of the word companioning are the basis to the philosophy: "com" means "with, and "pan" means "bread". A companion is someone you would share a meal with. A friend. An equal."

A companion is someone to walk with you in all phases of life, the good, the bad, the hard, the emotional, the things that literally build our foundation and make us who we are. Without companions, I know I personally would be lost. It's such a humbling thought to know that we get to stand beside people in their times of deepest heartbreak and walk with them as they heal and get to help them celebrate the little life that they created, no matter how brief the little life lived, they still did. They were still their little loved one.

I'd like to introduce you to City Birth and Newborn Photography - Rowan is one of two photographers that personally attended my own birth in February of 2020. I honestly had no clue the kind of impact having photography of my birth would have after the fact. When you are in the throes of labor there is so much that is happening around you and you are so focused that you miss a lot. Having photos of everything not only captured all of it to look at for years to come, but also gave clarity to the moments that felt fuzzy during my birth. I call that incredible labor focus "labor tunnel vision" because you can still hear and see what's going on around you but everything is so intense that you put your head down and just focus to get that baby earthside.

If I had the ability to include photography for free for all of my clients I absolutely would because it's THAT worth it. Birth is something that only happens a few times in your lifetime, and each time it changes you, your family dynamic, and shows you your strength. It clearly shows the amount of support you have around you, the tender moments with loved ones and providers during, and between contractions, any help from older children, etc. Capturing these moments is a beautiful thing and can be so powerful to look at when all the intensity has past, you've had time to rest, and your head is much clearer.

The photos that are included in this post are a few from my birth, and a few that are chosen by Rowan because they are a few of her favorites. If you are interested in having a birth photographer for your birth, definitely reach out to her. You won't be disappointed.