11. Birthing with a doula - Shelly Langford

Shelly Langford has been supporting women in various ways for 23yrs (running mother’s groups, president for playgroup, running home education parent support group & supporting foster families) & has been a professional birth doula since 2014. She supports women with whatever their choices are & wherever they choose to birth. She has experienced supporting women in hospitals, home births & free births (unassisted birth).  Shelly has also travelled to PNG once a year for the last few years to support women in remote villages, educating & assisting their traditional births in the bush, as well as providing clean drinking water. www.shellylangford.com.au Facebook: Birthing Doula Shelly Key notes: - What is a doula? - How does safety & trust impact the birthing process? - Nutrition & lifestyle factors impact the position of the pelvis - Encouraging a woman to deeply trust their inner knowing through education & building trust - Our bodies are designed to birth, as women. It is natural. It is not a medical procedure. - A woman needs to be in her primal brain to birth. This helps reduce or eliminate pain due to being present & not taken out to enter her logical brain. - Post birth requires some timetabling to enable a new mum to prioritise sleep, amongst other basic needs. A doula helps to support this new phase, post birth. - Creating the best birthing place & space is a part of a doula’s role based on personal experiences & needs. - Home birth is legal. - A doula observes, guides & makes suggestions for a birthing mother during the birthing process. But the mother knows what her body needs. - What is normal for labour is progress. Irrespective of time, if there is progress we are on the right track. - Sleep is key for post-natal depression recovery. As well as key nutrients & support. They are all key to keeping a new mama sane. - Sleep is key after birthing in general, because it gives the body a chance to heal, deeply.