The Doulaverse

Unbelievably for Ireland studies show that about ¾ mothers interviewed antenatally actually want and plan to breastfeed their babies, but somewhere along that continuum from antenatal visit to coming home from hospital with their newborn baby things change, and we know that only about 35% of women actually do breastfeed their baby exclusively after giving birth. What influences this decline in breastfeeding and how can we as doulas and other birth workers and health care specialists reverse it and support mothers in their feeding journeys to achieve their own goals rather than those set by a medicalised birthing culture? If you want to find out listen in. If you genuinely want to be part of the change and offer support to breastfeeding families then maybe my Lactation Doula Training is for you?Next in person training is 25th to 26th April in DublinBut of course the training is also offered live on zoom and by playback!More details here:https://www.dublindoula.com/breastfeeding-support-training-for-doulasPS this is a unique training offered by an IBCLC specifically to suit doulas and other postnatal care givers. It is not a generic breastfeeding course you will find anywhere else. It is entirely bespoke founded on the 20 years of experience I have in working with postnatal mothers. It specifically focuses on solving problems and identifying solutions to the most common issues you will encounter. It also offers a Lactation Doula Certification if you choose.

Baroness Amos spoke to over 8,000 people in the UK about maternity care. Many of the aspects that she highlighted as gaps also feature in the Irish Maternity Services. Listen in to hear Niamh Griffin Health Correspondent with the Irish Examiner and myself discuss some of these in more detail including institutional racism, lack of choice in care options, poor communication, maternal death, coercion, over medicalisation of labour and birth, poor working conditions and understaffing

With the closure of PMI there has been an increased spotlight on Freebirth. There are a a lot of rumours surrounding freebirth; for example that it is illegal(it is not), that it is reckless (it is not), that it is not a real choice (it is). On this episode of the Doulaverse I speak with Claire Kerin about her decision to freebirth and also about her freebirth experience - what it felt like, what they had to do to prepare and how they interacted with midwives and the hospital . Listen in to find out more.If you are interested in supporting women in their choices, then maybe doula training is for you. Find out about the next doula training here There are two fabulous bonuses worth 600 Euros available if you sign up before the 31st August

Private Midwives Ireland were the sister company of Private Midwives UK In Ireland they were the only care provider offering a HBAC service (Home Birth After Caesarean Section). Prior to their inception in 2015, women who were looking for a home birth following a c section remained unable to access this choice in the Republic of Ireland. Choices in home births and what midwives could deliver in terms of home birth services became severely restricted in 2011 following the Nurses and Midwives Act. This Act set out that it was illegal to attend a birth without insurance. Meanwhile insurance could only be provided to midwives practicing in the community in Ireland by the state. So the State indemnity authority drew up a list of things they would not insure midwives for; attending someone with a previous caesarean section was one of these things . So we had a situation where women could not access individual assessment, instead a blanket assessment (dictated by insurance brokers) was imposed unilaterally on all women and on all midwives. This appalling situation continued for four years until the emergence of PMI. PMI was a game changer for so many women and their demise will leave a big hole to be filled in Ireland.Listen in to myself and Claire Kerin talk about the loss of PMI and what it will mean in terms of birth choices in Ireland and also what people who were booked in with them could do.If you would like to know more about choices and supporting women in maternity services in Ireland, then maybe my doula training is for you. Find out more here There are two fabulous bonuses available until 31st August 2025 worth 600 Euro!

The postpartum is still treated as a sacred time in many cultures. The full 42 days are honoured and special food and care are provided to the mother and the baby.Aine from @ostara_and_co discusses some of these approaches with me in this podcast which was originally recorded as a n Instal Live in May 2025.Aine is a guest speaker at my Lactation Doula Training Course this year. If you would like to find out more about this training and join us see link in bio or see https://www.dublindoula.com/breastfeeding-support-training-for-doulasAvailable:Live in person in DublinLive by zoom all over the worldOn demand by playbackCost €395You get16 hours of instruction75 page manualLifetime access to recordingsGuest speaker session on Ayurveda and the postnatal with Aine O SullivanMembership of peer support groupLactation Doula CertificateThe confidence to support people in their breastfeeding journeyPayment plan available. Email me at [email protected] to join or for more info

My Breastfeeding Training is coming up on the 17th and 18th May 2025 at Insight Matters in Capel St in the heart of Dubli as well as live online by zoom and by playback for whenever you want and need it, so I am sharing this podcast again! To find out more head over to Breastfeeding Training for Doulas Midwives and Complementary TherapistsIf you haven’t signed up yet, then the time is now! If you have been sitting on the fence then the time is now! This training will not be repeated this year and is a must for all people who are working with postnatal mothers but who have had no formal breastfeeding training, or limited breastfeeding training.Here are six things this training will enable you to do1. Feel confident in supporting your breastfeeding clients2. Understand and know how to respond to common breastfeeding questions3. Have a range of tools to prepare your clients for breastfeeding4. Understand the importance of the baby and giving the baby autonomy in successful breastfeeding5. Gain a holistic view and perception of breastfeeding as a process of biological value to mother and baby in addition to the nutritive properties in breastmilk6. Know when and where to refer your clients for more supportAnd this training doesn’t stop at those six! Lots more beyond that!Looking forward so much to giving this training and also to meeting youTwo month payment plan availabeFour month payment plan availableEmail me at [email protected] for more details

Obstetric Violence contributes to birth trauma, and difficult birth experiences which in turn contribute to difficult early parenting experiences.Some of the categories of obstetric violence include:Physical abuseNon consensual careNon Confidential careNon dignified careAbandoned or neglected careDiscriminationDetention against the person’s willLack of privacyPostnatal Doulas can help new mothers by listening and validating their birth story and experiences and offering much need physical and emotional support in the early parenting days.If you would like to join this year's postnatal doula training then read on.

Routine induction of labour is peddled as a maternity must to pretty much everyone who receives late antenatal care in the Irish maternity services. Its as though the medics have shares in a global syntocinon factory.But jesting aside – is there any harm in being induced at 39 weeks just for the sake of it? You know – you don’t want to be pregnant forever now do you? Conversely is there any benefit to staying pregnant?And what of those statistics that are fired at will about inductions at 39 weeks reducing c section rates and limiting the chances of a still birth?Are they real? Or have they since been shown to be less than reliable?With our induction rates rocking over 60% for first time mothers in some units and the normalisation of c sections in society today coupled with a c section rate knocking at 50% for first time parents in some units, really understanding the potential harms of induction in otherwise healthy pregnancy is vital. Listen in to find out more.

Its Christmas season! That means that the trucks of syntocinon are rolling up to the entrances of our maternity units. We are approaching peak season for induction “for dates”.What are the risks of induction that are rarely, if ever, discussed?Listen in to find out more about the risks induction of labour bring to your labour, birth, birth experience, breastfeeding, early parenting and also the risks to your baby, toddler, child and teenager. The studies referred to in this podcast are the following:Grobman WA, Rice MM, Reddy UM, Tita ATN, Silver RM, Mallett G, Hill K, Thom EA, El-Sayed YY, Perez-Delboy A, Rouse DJ, Saade GR, Boggess KA, Chauhan SP, Iams JD, Chien EK, Casey BM, Gibbs RS, Srinivas SK, Swamy GK, Simhan HN, Macones GA; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units Network. Labor Induction versus Expectant Management in Low-Risk Nulliparous Women. N Engl J Med. 2018 Aug 9;379(6):513-523. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1800566. PMID: 30089070; PMCID: PMC6186292.Dahlen HG, Thornton C, Downe S, de Jonge A, Seijmonsbergen-Schermers A, Tracy S, Tracy M, Bisits A, Peters L. Intrapartum interventions and outcomes for women and children following induction of labour at term in uncomplicated pregnancies: a 16-year population-based linked data study. BMJ Open. 2021 May 31;11(6):e047040. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047040. PMID: 34059509; PMCID: PMC8169493.

One of the key issues that receives little attention and yet has a huge affect on the initiation of breastfeeding is the way a mother has given birth.Pregnancy Birth to Breastfeeding is a continuum.The way we birth will affect the early days.The national first-time mother c section rate is now 41%, and we also know that the routine induction of healthy mothers and babies at 38/39 weeks is being actively pursued.Of the 59% of first time mothers that have had vaginal births, about half of them have had an operative vaginal birth with vacuum cup or forceps, and the majority will have taken an epidural.We know from reams of research that these procedures will affect the early days and exclusive breastfeeding.It should not be kept a secret. For some it will affect their birth choices and for others it will inform them how to best prepare for the early hours and days. The majority of mothers want to exclusively feed their babies, and currently we are selling them short.Achieving exclusive breastfeeding is a result of a complex interplay of factors, information, efficacy, belief, information, support, societal and cultural impacts as well as a compliant body and baby. Wherever we can offer support and increase services we should.If you want to join my doula training this year and support mothers in their breastfeeding journey find out more hereCurrently there are THREE sponsorships for the Comprehensive doula training course of €250 each. To find out more on how to claim one of these please follow this link https://www.instagram.com/p/DA_p_8vNsfu/?img_index=1#krysialynch #dublindoula #doula#doulatraining #doulatrainer #birthdoula #postnataldoula #birthmentor #birthkeeper #doulaverse #doulapodcast #naturalbirth #doulasupport #freebirth #birthpreparation#givingbirth #autonomy #informedconsent #birthchoices #birthpreferences #breastfeeding#birthplan #waterbirth #homebirth #csection #hbac #birthrights #vbac #due2025 #due2024

Listen in to find out how doulas can support women and pregnant people during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postpartum.Find out what skills doulas need, and how they can obtain those skills.Hear how people realise they want to be doulas and what their journey is like.To be part of this year’s amazing cohort of doulas training with me see link here. To find out more email me at [email protected] options include an 8 month payment plan of €250 a month and access to some fabulous bonuses with Pregnancy Yoga teacher Melissa of Tummy Love, Psychotherapist Anne Marie Toole, Nutritionist Kadi King, Ayurvedic postpartum doula Aine O Sullivan, loss doula Jane Xavier, baby wearing expert Justyna of Free Little Birds and Communication Expert Roisi Phelan amongst others!#krysialynch #dublindoula #doula#doulatraining #doulatrainer #birthdoula #postnataldoula #birthmentor #birthkeeper #doulaverse #doulapodcast #naturalbirth #doulasupport #freebirth #birthpreparation#givingbirth #autonomy #informedconsent #birthchoices #birthpreferences #breastfeeding#birthplan #waterbirth #homebirth #csection #hbac #birthrights #vbac #due2025 #due2025

In this episode of the DoulaVerse I speak with Pregnancy Yoga Trainer and Doula Melissa Curtis of Tummy Love.Both of us have just had children go through the Leaving Certificate exams, who were born about 18 – 19 years ago.What has changed in the Irish maternity system in those 18 years? Listen in to find out.If you are interested in becoming a doula and working with me for a year then my Comprehensive Doula Training which starts in October 2024 is registering NOW. More details here If you have questions or want to talk the training through drop me an email at [email protected] – don’t delay only 5 spots left!Find out more about Melissa’s Pregnancy Yoga training on her Instagram site 

People often talk about different aspects of doula training – what they learnt along the way, the knowledge, the information, the skills.What is not often mentioned, is that for most people who undertake doula training, it changes their life in some way.Training is not just about learning information – in fact its the opposite of that. Its about your innate knowledge being revealed. Training also about being present with a group of women, forming a circle of trust, learning together, supporting each other, hearing each others stories and more.In this episode I talk with Claire about exactly these things.If you are interested in joining this year’s Comprehensive Doula Training, the Early Bird ends this weekend (31st August 2024). Find out more and sign up here Become a Doula#doula #doulatraining #krysialynch

In this episode of the DoulaVerse I talk about becoming a doula with new doula Anke Roth. Anke talks about her journey to making the decision to become a doula and also about the process itself. Anke took my Comprehensive Doula Training Course, to find out what it is like listen up!If you are thinking of making the step to become a doula, then registrations for this year’s doula training are open. There are currently over €950 worth of discounts if you register by 31st August 2024. See here for more information Become a DoulaWhat you get (Available with the Early Bird until 31st August 2024)1. 10 month payment plan for my Comprehensive Doula Training Course 2024 – 20252. Access to Advanced Doula Training Course Breastfeeding for Doulas worth €3953. Plus the usual bonuses with Melissa of Tummy Love worth €300, Anne Maire Toole worth €300 and others.. .That’s over €950 of bonuses.But these are ONLY available until the end of August. They will NOT be here in September or OctoberIf you want in sign up now – if you have questions then email me on [email protected] available live online, in person in Dublin or by playback in your own time#krysialynch #dublindoula #doula

Listen in to this episode of the Doulaverse to find out!If you hear a call and you think you’d like to bring your passion for birth, women and babies to the next level, if you d like to spend time with me and other maternity care supporters and professionals and be part of the amazing group of people that will train with me this year, then registrations are currently open for my Comprehensive Doula Training.People come to train with me fuelled by a calling, a desire to make things better and a need to bring their wisdom into fruition. Don’t think you have to be an experienced birther to have wisdom!There is the wisdom of the wise woman, the grandmother and the wisdom of the initiated who have experienced pregnancy labour and birth, but there is also the wisdom within all of us, just dying to be accessed.Or maybe this just feels right for you and you are someone who wants to be in the company of other like minded women and talk all things birth for a year!Or maybe you have a plan. Maybe you are already an alternative therapist and you want to expand on your knowledge and offerings. For example, many yoga teachers and antenatal instructors come to do my training.Whatever floats your boat the Early Bird is available until 31st August 2024What you get1. 10 month payment plan for my Comprehensive Doula Training Course 2024 – 20252. Access to Advanced Doula Training Course Breastfeeding for Doulas worth €3953. Plus the usual bonuses with Melissa of Tummy Love worth €300, Anne Maire Toole worth €300 and others.. .That’s over €950 of bonuses!If you want to do one of Ireland’s most amazing birth courses with a practicing doula and a maternity care advocate of 23 years standing – sign up now. Places are limited. If you have questions DM me – always happy to chat!More info and sign up here: Become a Doula#krysialynch #dublindoula #doula#doulatraining #doulatrainer #birthdoula #postnataldoula #birthmentor #birthkeeper #doulaverse #doulapodcast #naturalbirth #doulasupport #freebirth #birthpreparation#givingbirth #autonomy #informedconsent #birthchoices

In this episode of the Doulaverse I gave people the option to “ask me anything”. I answer three questions in this episode:Being labelled in pregnancy and labour and how that might affect your options in labour and birth. Specifically, the label of Gestational Diabetes, but I discuss labels in general, and how these are primarily physical, when in reality we give birth uniquely and differently to individual wonderful babies, with our bodies, our hearts our souls, our minds and our feelings.Freebirth and whether doulas can attend themIs there any pre requisites for becoming a doulaListen in to find the answers!If you are interested in doula training then registration is now open. Find out more hereOr if you have more questions drop me an email at [email protected]#doula #krysialynch #doulatraining #gestationaldiabetes #freebirth

The level of pain we encounter in labour is a combination of life experience and genetics!We can’t do much about genetics, but we can certainly influence our perceptions, our coping strategies our social support network and the way we approach fear and anxiety.In this podcast I discuss the physical, emotional mental and environmental approaches we can use to help us view the discomfort and pain of labour as being purposeful, productive empowering, and something we can cope with, rather than viewing pain as frightening and terrifying leaving us feeling vulnerable, distraught and unsupported in need of  need help and rescuing.If you would like to learn some great pain coping skills come along on the 25th February 2024 to my birth preparation, relaxation and nourishment day retreat. Pregnancy Day Retreat: Prepare, Nourish, Relax, RejuvenateIf you would like to support people in labour birth and the postnatal as a doula then registrations for my doula training 2024 are open:Become a Postnatal DoulaBecome a Doula#paininlabour #krysialynch #doula #doulatraining

The level of pain we encounter in labour is a combination of life experience and genetics!We can’t do much about genetics, but we can certainly influence our perceptions, our coping strategies our social support network and the way we approach fear and anxiety.In this podcast I discuss the physical, emotional mental and environmental approaches we can use to help us view the discomfort and pain of labour as being purposeful, productive empowering, and something we can cope with, rather than viewing pain as frightening and terrifying leaving us feeling vulnerable, distraught and unsupported in need of  need help and rescuing.If you would like to learn some great pain coping skills come along on the 25th February 2024 to my birth preparation, relaxation and nourishment day retreat. Pregnancy Day Retreat: Prepare, Nourish, Relax, RejuvenateIf you would like to support people in labour birth and the postnatal as a doula then registrations for my doula training 2024 are open:Become a Postnatal DoulaBecome a Doula#paininlabour #krysialynch #doula #doulatraining

Do I need an epidural if I get an induction? I often get asked this question. The short answer is no. The majority of my doula clients do not take an epidural if they opt for an induction, or if their labour is being augmented..The longer answer has a lot more nuance.It depends on what kind of induction you are getting and how favourable or ready you and your baby are. It also depends on what kind of support you have what pain coping strategies you have invested in, and the belief those around you have in your capacity to manage without an epidural.In a busy labour ward, if the epidural is the only support offered, you are probably going to end up taking it. If on the other hand you have a doula or a highly supportive hands-on midwife who has the time trust and desire to support you with other pain relief measures you are probably not going to end up needing it.In the case of an augmented labour, it also depends on how long you have been in labour already. Sometimes an epidural can be helpful in relaxing the soft tissues or in giving a mother a rest in a labour that had a long early or prodromal phase of labour.Also, once syntocinon is started, many inductions can be quite quick, even for first time mothers. So evaluate all these things. Induction doesn’t automatically mean epidural.For doula support from me see Birth Doula Services with Krysia LynchTo join my up coming postnatal doula training course starting in March 2024 see Become a Postnatal DoulaTo sign up for my February Pregnancy Preparation Retreat Day on 25th February 2024 see Pregnancy Day Retreat: Nourish, Prepare, Relax, Rejuvenate

Our ancient birthing knowledge lives within us in the form of timeless wisdom, cultural traditions, and the collective experiences of women throughout history.It enables us to look beyond just the medical or technical aspects of childbirth. We can tap into the deep well of human wisdom surrounding birth by drawing on myths, stories, rituals, and cultural practices that have been passed down through generations. By exploring our own ancient maps, pregnant people can gain insights into the emotional, spiritual, and psychological dimensions of birthing, helping them navigate the modern childbirth experience in a more holistic way.In essence, my goal is to enable expectant parents to connect with the timeless and universal aspects of childbirth while also ensuring they are informed about contemporary medical practices. It’s about integrating the wisdom of the past with the realities of the present to create a more comprehensive and meaningful birthing experience.How will I do this on the retreat?Listen to the podcast to find out! This podcast was originally broadcast as an INSTA live in January 2024.

Why am I running a pregnancy retreat?I feel that pregnant women and people need to be nourished during their pregnancy, not just informed. Preparation via nourishment is a very different concept to preparation through the dissemination of information. Nourishment for body, mind and soul is in short supply in the Irish Maternity Services. What we have instead is the treatment of birth as a clinically managed event in a woman’s fertility and life cycle. The focus is on safety risk and avoiding legal proceedings. Sometimes the woman as a holistic being seems lost along the way.If we want to prepare, and I mean really prepare for labour and birth as the life changing event it really can be, we can only ever prepare from the inside, and that means laying solid foundations of connection, strength and understanding our coping skills, as well as understanding how our particular bodies are going to cope and how we can support ourselves. Learning birth positions and all about interventions isn’t enough to prepare us.If you are pregnant and want to join me on this retreat then see link in bio or follow the linkhttps://dublindoula.com/pregnancy-day-retreat-nourish-prepare-rejuvenate/#pregnancydayretreat #pregnancyyoga #prenatalcalss #birthinfromwithinThis episode was originally recorded as an INSTA live in January 2024

People become doulas for all sorts of reasons and everyone has a different journey that brought them to the point of starting their doula training. Everyone will also have a different journey as a doula. In this podcast I chat with Michelle who has just been certified from my doula training and she talks about the highs and the lows and what she learnt and how she is going forwards in her doula career.  Michelle can be found on Instagram here.If you are interested in doula training the next doula training course is about to start in October. Sign up here  https://dublindoula.com/doula-training-course-with-krysia-lynch/

I have learnt so much about myself, my capacities, my weaknesses, my strengths and about life in general from my doula work.In this episode I share just three things; staying the course, boundaries and going beyond what you ever thought was possible. Listen in to find out more.If you would like to engage in this magical incredible journey of doula work, then my doula training starts in 8 days – sign up now https://dublindoula.com/doula-training-course-with-krysia-lynch/

There are of course many things a doula does, so don’t be going thinking that these are the only five!This podcast came about as a result of five Insta reels I did during the last week on five of the ten things a doula “does”.Of course in the little reels you are limited to just 90 seconds, so you don’t get the opportunity to go into things in more depth; enter this podcast. So for a juicy version of the five things that feature; Continuity of Care, Communication, Trust, Wisdom and Listening have a listen in!And if you are listening to your heart right now and realise that doula training is for you then Registrations are now open for my Comprehensive Doula Training starting October 21st 2023 and running through until May 2024. More information here. If you would like to have a discovery call or attend the online information session on 9h September at 2pm (or get a recording of it), then please drop me an email at [email protected].#krysialynch #dublindoula

In this episode I discuss who might be interested in becoming a doula, and I talk about my Comprehensive Doula Training Course in general and then with Emma Fitzsimons who did the Doula Training with me this year about her experiences doing the course as a pregnant person and effectively doula ing her self through it! Come and listen to the great chat!For more information on this year’s comprehensive doula training with me click hereIf you have further questions, I’d love to chat – drop me an email at [email protected]

If you’ve been booked for a routine induction (or if you have requested one), consider why you are doing this. Is it because you want to ensure that your baby stays healthy and well, or is it because you want to reduce your risk of c section or is it because you are simply tired of being pregnant and you just want to meet your baby!Research shows routine induction of labour at 39 weeks offers no improved health benefits to you or your baby (ARRIVE study).Routine induction of labour at 41 weeks may offer more benefits to your baby than induction of labour at 42 weeks.In their guidelines, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists suggest  induction of labour should be offered at 42 – 42.6 weeks if mother and baby are well and at 41.4 weeks for a planned VBACAfter the ARRIVE study was published they stated it was reasonable to offer elective induction to low risk first time mothers at 39 weeks provided the following considerations were adhered to:1. The woman’s wishes were considered as a primary driver of how care would unfold.2. That there was adequate staffing and resources to ensure full support for an induction and labour  that might take up to 3 days.3. That there was a clear protocol for the definition of FAILED induction which included a 24 hour plus allocation for early labour, and that syntocinon can be given for 12 to 18 hours after breaking the mothers waters.If you are facing a medically necessary induction, then the benefits of birth outweigh the possible risks. Go into your induction prepared with a support system in place.For the majority of people the safest way to give birth is waiting for it to begin spontaneously and trusting the process will unfold at its own pace. If complications arise then we can make use of modern obstetrics to provide medical support.Listen in to find out all of the risks of routine inductionWould you like to support women at the end of pregnancy when the pressure of routine induction becomes extreme? Would you like to offer women continuity of support in their pregnancy, labour birth and beyond? If so then maybe my doula training is for you. Find out more here or email me at [email protected]

In this episode of the Doula Verse I look at the thoughts feeling and options when we have had a previous c section and then find ourselves pregnant again. It can be a tricky time and support is needed from the start to enable people to follow their hearts and make the best decision for them.Listen in to discover your options and what to do to find the best caregiver and experience for you on this pregnancy and birth.Safety is a key issue for parents and caregivers. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recently stated that VBAC was safer than repeat c section for most women.In Ireland when considering VBAC people just get told about the risk of uterine rupture. Unsurprisingly, our rates of VBAC have dropped from around 50% in the 1990s to 27% now.The risk of uterine rupture are extremely low, much lower than the chance of bleeding with a c section or getting placenta accretia on a subsequent pregnancy having blood clots or having a  baby with respiratory issues following c section.Rate of uterine rupture for first VBAC 0.22 % for second VBAC 0.11%, for third VBAC 0.06%The rate of uterine rupture having never had a prior c section is  0.02%The rate of rupture of VBAC after TWO previous c sections (VBA2C) is1.16%Success rates of VBAC are the same after one previous section as after two (71%)Don’t be fear mongered by those trying to manoeuvre you into a repeat c section. Be informed. Then make a decision from your heart. The biggest concern most people face is what if it’s another c section? What if I have “failed” at “trial” of labour? What does this say about me? These are normal concerns, but a supportive team, usually including a doula will help you overcome them and focus on your strengths and courage.If you want to be that support person then maybe doula training is for you? Registration now open and payment plan available see https://dublindoula.com/doula-training-course-with-krysia-lynch/For more information on VBAC see my previous podcast here

​Interpersonal racism shows up in biases for and against others based on race or ethnicity minority .status In contrast, institutional racism is embedded into the structures of our maternity care system. Institutional racism leads people of different races to have different outcomes from the majority.Listen in to find out why and how and what we can do to change thingsIf you would like to support people in the maternity care journey, especially people from migrant and different ethnic minorities, maybe my doula training is for you? See the link here for more information: Become a DoulaIf you want to find out more about maternal mortality here are some links to start you off:Maternal death in IrelandBlack babies and stillbirth in IrelandBlack women and babies experiences in the USASystemic Racism not broken bodies. A report from Birthrights UK

​Yesterday a judge in Ireland ruled that a  woman who lacked capacity because she had a delusional disorder; a vulnerable person,  could be forcefully sedated and have a forced c section against her will under General Anesthesia and would include intubation and a recovery in the ICU. The judge noted there was currently no risk to her life.The court reportage cited lack of attendance at antenatal appointments, sexual abuse, refusal to adhere to standard monitoring procedures and admitted consumption of cocaine and alcohol at some point in her pregnancy as justificatory arguments.There was no discussion of her social care team or advocacy or of her being represented at court.A list of the  “potential risks” associated with natural birth were also given as part of the justification. The risks associated with c section under GA were acknowledged but deemed to be lesser.The article is here:https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/high-court-gives-permission-to-hospital-to-perform-caesarean-section-on-woman-against-her-will/a122542360.htmlI found this shocking for many reasons. Primarily because this judgement sets a precedent in post Repeal Ireland. To find out more listen in.If you feel strongly about advocacy and birth rights in Ireland (or anywhere), then maybe you would like to train as a Doula. My Comprehensive Doula Training Course is open for registration and features a very large component looking at advocacy and supporting people in their decision making. More information here#krysialynch #dublindoula #doula#doulatraining #doulatrainer #doulaverse #doulapodcast #doulaworkshop #doulawork

​If you are Rh-negative, your red blood cells do not have a marker called Rh factor on them. Rh-positive blood does have this marker. If your blood mixes with Rh-positive blood, your immune system will react to the Rh factor by making antibodies to destroy it. This immune system response is called Rh sensitization.Rh sensitization can occur during pregnancy if you are Rh-negative and pregnant with a baby who has Rh-positive blood.It takes a while to make antibodies that can affect the baby, so during your first pregnancy, the baby probably would not be affected and in most cases, your blood will not mix with your baby’s blood until labour/birth.If you get pregnant again with an Rh-positive baby, the antibodies already in your blood could attack the baby’s red blood cells. This can cause the baby to have anemia, jaundice, or more serious problems. This is called Rh disease.These issues can be prevented with the use of IM anti d during your first and subsequent pregnancies. To find out more listen up!If you are interested in supporting pregnant antenatally with information and mentoring maybe my doula training program is for you. Registrations now open. Payment scheme available. Email [email protected] for more info or click link https://dublindoula.com/doula-training-course-with-krysia-lynch/#krysialynch #dublindoula #doula#doulatraining #doulatrainer #doulaverse #doulapodcast #doulaworkshop #doulawork

What you need to know1. First time labours are about  23 hours. Second time labours are less than half that.2. Most fast labours are in multipara mothers3. Look for signs of labour progression; changes in position, changes in frequency of surges, change in demeanor, a latent “not sure ” phase can sometimes quickly develop into transition. If the waters have released with contractions then things are moving along – call the doula, call the midwife midwife or get heading to hospital!4. Know what to do if a BBA occurs; be prepared for what your baby will look like (purple, covered in fluid and blood), understand basic physiology; the placenta via the umbilical cord keeps oxygen flowing to the baby for those first seconds and minutes. The cord does not need to be cut. Baby needs to be kept warm.For more on supporting every kind of birth  my Comprehensive Doula Training is open for registrations. 10 moon payment plan also available. More details here#krysialynch #dublindoula #doula#doulatraining #doulatrainer #doulaverse #doulapodcast #doulaworkshop #doulawork#newbaby #naturalbirth#givingbirth #doulacourse#postnataldoula #labouring #newmother #autonomy #informedconsent #birthrighrs #birthpreferences #breastfeeding#birthplan #newmum #waterbirth #homebirth #csection #ibclc #babywearing #babymoon #vbac

How often have we heard of people being told that they “failed to progress” because their labour was slow or stalled?How often do we hear of people being induced or augmented in our maternity services?We have been groomed as a society to believe in labour kicking along at a certain pace, that all labours whether first or second plus are the same and follow the same patterns and have the same baseline to adhere to. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Not all labours are the same, not all labours have the same pace and not all babies come with the same factory setting expected by our factory style maternity services.Listen in to firstly understand the real patterns that normal labours take and then also to see what we can do to help babies achieve their normal and intuitive journey to birth.If you are interested in supporting people in their journeys to birth and beyond, maybe doula work is for you? My Comprehensive Doula Training is now open for registrations and the 10 month payment plan is available until the end of June. Find out more here

No one can ever fully control birth, not the cosy APP promising you a candlelit waterbirth or the obstetrician who thinks that they have intervened early enough to mitigate every risk imaginable. Birth will always have unknowns and part of the work of preparation is to acknowledge that.One of the most important things we can do is get to know and trust ourselves as part of our preparation. Communication with our minds our souls our bodes and even sometimes with our deepest fears all feature in birth preparation.There are also pragmatic things such as getting familiar with breathing well, moving with strength and flexibility, understanding the mechanics of labour and how our different body systems function in labour, and then there is the environment we birth in and the way our mind affects us. For more . . . just listen in.I you feel drawn to support people in labour or just afterwards, consider my postnatal doula training course, which is both a stand alone course and an entry into the Comprehensive Doula Training that will continue after the summer. More information here

“I d like to have as natural a birth as possible”. This is how many pregnant first time mothers start their conversation with me.Then they go on to tell me that they are booked into a care pathway that has FTP induction rates of over 45% and similar FTP cesarean rates.More than likely they are booked in semi private because they have some health insurance or because their GP suggested it.It’s hard to secure a physiological birth under these circumstances. Very hard. Because you are working against a system that is not designed to support physiological birth.If you are planning not to have an induction (including the stress of “persuasion”), AROM, frequent vaginal exams, syntocinon augmentation, electronic fetal monitoring, a vacuum or forceps delivery, epidural, episiotomy or coached pushing, you REALLY NEED TO THINK about considering a home birth.End of.If you are eligible, you should be doing everything to secure a midwife. That’s your job.If you can’t find a HB provider then investigate a midwifery led option.For doula support contact me.To join my Postnatal Doula Training Course starting in March 2025 click here

This Podcast Episode is part 2 of two podcasts focusing on making a postnatal plan and was originally recorded as an Insta Live Episode on January 5th 2023.Your postnatal plan is as important as your birthing plan or preferences, if not more so!Your plan needs to focus on yourself, your baby and your other family members and cover issues such as your physical, emotional and mental well being after giving birth to a new human being.You need to think about nourishment physically and otherwise and about preparing to spend a reasonable amount of one on one time with your baby. How do you feel about that and what support might you need? An important one might be a postnatal doula.You need to consider tiredness and how to maximise rest and sleep for yourself and the other members of your family, and also strategies for night time parenting,For your baby you need to think about sleeping arrangements, carrying arrangements and also perhaps most importantly feeding. Listen in to find out how you might make sense of all of these issues to have a happy and easy postnatal babymoon.If you are drawn to support people in the postnatal period then maybe working as a postnatal doula is for you. My postnatal doula training course starts on March 1st and continues for 6 months with two further weekends on April 26th and 27th and May 16th and 17th.This course will be offered in person at Insight Matters Dublin, with an option to view live by zoom also which is great for folks living outside of Dublin. It will also be fully recorded to view by playback, which is helpful if you need to miss a session.For more information see here

This Podcast Episode is part 1 of two podcasts focusing on making a postnatal plan and was originally recorded as an Insta Live Episode on January 5th 2023.Your postnatal plan is as important as your birthing plan or preferences, if not more so!Your plan needs to focus on yourself, your baby and your other family members and cover issues such as your physical, emotional and mental well being after giving birth to a new human being.You need to think about nourishment physically and otherwise and about preparing to spend a reasonable amount of one on one time with your baby. How do you feel about that and what support might you need? An important one might be a postnatal doula.You need to consider tiredness and how to maximise rest and sleep for yourself and the other members of your family, and also strategies for night time parenting,For your baby you need to think about sleeping arrangements, carrying arrangements and also perhaps most importantly feeding. Listen in to find out how you might make sense of all of these issues to have a happy and easy postnatal babymoon.If you are drawn to support people in the postnatal period then maybe working as a postnatal doula is for you. My postnatal doula training course starts on March 1st 2025 and continues for 6 months.This course will be offered in person at Insight Matters Dublin, with an option to view live by zoom also which is great for folks living outside of Dublin. It will also be fully recorded to view by playback, which is helpful if you need to miss a session.For more information see here

What happens after you have a baby in those first hours days and weeks?This podcast was originally recorded as an Insta Live on January 4th 2003 and in it I talk about those first hours in hospital; who takes care of you, what happens and what procedures and interventions you might be offered. Then those first days in hospital how and from whom you get your care and what you are entitled to, and then those first days and weeks at home.For people having given birth at home I talk about how that continuum develops and how your care transitions from midwife to PHN and GPIf you feel called to work with new parents in those early days and weeks of the postnatal period then maybe my postnatal doula training is for you?Registrations close on 6th March  2023 and the two part payment plan ends on 11th February 2023.Course takes place 11th March 2023 10 am – 5pm25th – 26th March 2022 10am — 5pmThis course will be offered in person at Insight Matters Dublin, with an option to view live by zoom also which is great for folks living outside of Dublin. It will also be fully recorded to view by playback, which is helpful if you need to miss as session.To book and for more info see here

What is the postnatal period?It is 42 days following a live birth, a loss an abortion, an ectopic pregnancy or a stillbirth. However, most people find that it lasts a lot longer than 6 weeks. In fact some people find themselves still in the “postnatal” when expecting another baby!What happens?Our bodies, minds, emotions and more change. And it’s hard! We change because we are healing from one of the most profound experiences we can have. If there is a baby, then we have the responsibility of a newborn in addition to our own journey. What support do we need and how can postnatal doulas help? Listen to find out.If you are drawn to supporting others in the postnatal period, then maybe my postnatal doula training is for you. Bookings close on 6th March 2023.The training runs over three days and modules include:The postpartum bodyThe new babyFeeding supportSleep solutionsNew baby rhythmsPostnatal exercisesListening to the birth story and validating experiencesNourishing the new mother.Timings:1st and 2md March 2025 10 am – 5pm26th and 27th April 2025 10am — 5pm17th and 18th May 2025 10am - 5pmThis course will be offered in person at Insight Matters Dublin, with an option to view live by zoom also which is great for folks living outside of Dublin. It will also be fully recorded to view by playback, which is helpful if you need to miss as session.Find out more here: Become a Postnatal Doula

Induction rates in Ireland and in many industrialized countries are soaring with many maternity units and hospitals having induction rates of over 45 – 50% for first time mothers. During the Christmas period these rates rise further to support administrative rostering in the maternity services. It would be a breath of fresh air if people were told that they were being offered induction due to staff rosters, and that they could think about it and decide if it was for them. Instead they are often bullied and coerced into induction by fear inducing notions statements and selective use of research.In this podcast I talk about the research studies used to try to persuade people induction is always a good idea for them and their baby, even from 39 weeks. I also discuss the many reasons why induction carries risks and how the narrative between care provider and pregnant person should pan our and the importance of makin a plan and trust.One of the great supports during this late antenatal period can be that of a doula. If you would like to consider training as a doula yourself, then my postnatal doula training is now open for registrations. The payment plan of €150 x 4 is active until the end of the Christmas season.More information here Become a Postnatal Doula

his episode of the Doulaverse looks at the topic of Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Section and also of HBAC Home Birth After Caesarean Section. Both are available in Ireland, and both are vital to stop the incredible rise in our c birth rates and with that the rise in complications and issues associated with repeat c birth.I look at some of the figures firstly which I hope are not too confusing! The primary reason HCPs do not favour VBAC is the fear of uterine rupture. And yet, when we look closely at the rates of uterine rupture, especially in comparison to other complications associated with repeat c births such as placenta accretia and cesarean hysterectomy the figures do not bear out the fear and anxiety that is widely perpetuated.Just for the record here are the rates of uterine rupture for first VBAC 22/10,000 or 2.2/1000 (numerous studies)For second VBAC the rate is 11/10,000For third VBAC the rate is 6/10,000The rate of perinatal mortality for planned cephalic birth is 1/1000, the rate of perinatal mortality for panned breech birth is 2/1000 and the rate of perinatal mortality for c birth is 0.5/1000 (RCOG 2017)The estimated rate of perinatal mortality associated with uterine scar rupture is estimated as 1/10,000 births.For more facts figures and fun listen in!If you would like to join my postnatal doula training, registrations are now open: https://dublindoula.com/become-a-postnatal-doula/

In this episode I start my journey with C birth. Not a lot of people know this but I was born by C birth! That makes me the ONLY person in my entire family line that was born by C birth and in fact was born in hospital. My mum and my dad and all my children were born at home. It's a heavy burden to carry! Like many people, my mother didn't plan a C birth but she was told during her labour that one was necessary and it was an "emergency" and "necessary now". It's hard to piece together exactly why and what happened, as my mum had me in London and English was not her first language. I think that I was possibly sitting breech or in an awkward position and I didn't turn in labour. My mother had a spontaneous start to labour with me and certainly broke all the rules when I was born by breastfeeding me on demand (long term), and insisting that I not be taken away after I was born, but she always spoke of that time with a mix of sadness, hurt and joy, and I am convinced that she suffered emotionally and mentally with many unanswered questions as to how and why her first childbirth experience evolved in that way. So that's enough about my C birth credentials. Let's dive in and look at how and why c births come about, what the rates are like, what the risks and benefits are and how we can have the best c birth possible if one becomes inevitable. Want to find out more about doula training? Click on the link below! https://dublindoula.com/doula-training-course-with-krysia-lynch/

Our induction rates are now heading towards 60% for first time parents with second time parents not far behind. What is medical induction of labour? What are the indications? What are the risks? How can you negotiate induction on your own terms? What part does your “due date” play in making you an induction candidate?. If induction is the right for you how is it done? Listen in to find out.

This podcast looks at why people choose homebirth, and why its a valid safe choice for many women and pregnant people. I also look at the three pathways to homebirth care in Ireland and what you get in terms of one to one care in each one.

Choices in our maternity care services. Are there any choices? Do you know what they are? Listen in to find out more. Want to support people in their choices? If so maybe Doula Training is for you?