Doula Services during a Pandemic
During this uncertain time, Blossom remains committed to providing resources, information, and support to families. We are part of a vast network of professionals in the birth and parenting community, including birth and postpartum doulas. We know that being pregnant during a pandemic can be scary and full of unknowns. We want you to know that doulas are still working, still very important, and still able to provide you important knowledge and support, even now.
Conversations with Doulas During Quarantine
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Considering Community Birth
This monthly Free Q & A information session will provide an opportunity for birthing families in the San Francisco Bay Area to connect with local midwives and learn more about midwifery based options available to them. Blossom is hosting this session in response to the increased interest in out-of-hospital (community based) birthing options during the current coronavirus pandemic. This session is also appropriate if you have ever considered birthing at home or in a birth center with a midwife.
Learn More: https://www.blossombirthandfamily.org/considering-community-birth.html
Learn More: https://www.blossombirthandfamily.org/considering-community-birth.html
Supporting our community midwives who are on the front lines of protecting our future generation!
May 30, 2020
When COVID19 first began to infiltrate our daily lives; risks and benefits began to shift and tip in new ways. In the Bay Area, similar to other parts of the US, birthing families began to reexamine their spectrum of birthing options. Midwives serving our community, suddenly saw a surge in demand for their services from families curious about options for birthing outside of a hospital setting: What are birth centers? Can I birth in my own home? Who is a midwife? Blossom immediately responded to a two fold need in our community. Firstly, to support local midwives, doulas and birth workers to protect their health and safety with access to critical PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), after all, our local birth professionals are on the front lines of protecting our future generation! Secondly, to offer resources for families to learn more about midwifery care and help answer their questions by creating a virtual space for expectant families and midwives to meet!
Most Licensed Midwives work as independent primary care providers, they don't have access to large scale institutional orders or supplies being provided by large healthcare employers. By early April 2020 most PPE was backordered for weeks and was in extreme shortage. Blossom began a grassroots effort to collect and distribute PPE (masks, gloves and sanitizing supplies) as soon as the Shelter In Place orders were instituted and hospitals started to prepare for a deluge of COVID19 patients. Over 45 volunteers gathered hundreds of in-kind donations of items valued at over $10,000 to protect the health and safety of our birth workers and the families they support during this pandemic. Local businesses donated gloves and cleaning supplies, community organizations began to coordinate fabric mask making, companies donated KN95 respirator masks, a local school donated 3D printed face masks, and so much more, it truly took a village! Click here for a list of all our donors!
Blossom supplied donated PPE to midwives and doulas working across the Bay Area from Santa Rosa to Morgan Hill! Once the immediate local needs were met, we coordinated with California Association of Licensed Midwives (CALM) to donate 1000 KN95 masks to midwives throughout the state of CA! Blossom continues to supply PPE to the birth community. If you know someone who can use supplies or if you'd like to get more involved,
please join our FB group-
https://www.facebook.com/groups/251097949263359/
In addition, Blossom recognized that birthing families were looking for evidence based information for midwifery care in settings outside of the hospital, at home or at birth centers (also known as Community Birth). Blossom partnered with local midwives to create an engaging comprehensive video called Considering Community Birth and now offers an online forum, to help families make choices and create their vision for a safe and healthy birthing experience.
Blossom hosts Considering Community Birth, a free monthly (online, 1st Tuesday, 8-9pm) question and answer session for birthing families in the San Francisco Bay Area to connect with local midwives to learn more about midwifery based options available to them. For more information and to register, please visit the webpage:
https://www.blossombirthandfamily.org/considering-community-birth.html
Blossom is thankful to all our community members that joined together to support midwifery care for birthing families. In the words of Blossom's founder Anna Hurty, we respond to the need of the hour, "to provide connection, information, support and, as always, love.”
Dear Blossom Community birthing during Covid 19,
As a birth doula in our community I wanted to take this opportunity to share some benefits of having a doula during this pandemic that go beyond in person support. I'm sure many of you have heard the benefits of having a doula be related to massage, comfort support for positioning and so on but have you heard of our role in terms of advocacy, human rights awareness and how our work supports mental and emotional health? I thought I would share how my current role as a "virtual birth doula" is highlighting these qualities of care at this time. Not only are these aspects of care an important part of my practice and many of my colleagues for every birth but are more important than ever during this pandemic.
For instance, it is important to know doulas work everywhere from hospitals, home & birth centers. Currently, doulas are only inhibited from working in hospitals at this time due to current hospital policies locally, however, many doulas including myself are still attending labors and births in person until its time to go to the hospital (especially families who plan to labor at home as long as possible-minimizing time and exposure to germs that are in the hospitals) or continuing at home support for families birthing at home or the birth center. Ask your doula about labor support at home until time to go to the hospital. That's what I'm currently doing. When parents go to the hospital I then switch over to virtual support.
I feel it's important to share this info with families-especially new families who would likely imagine they can just go to the hospital as soon as labor starts not realizing there are benefits to staying at home longer and therefore would need a support person in their home. Going to the hospital too early statistically increases the likelihood of a whole array of intervention, infection and c-section. Families absolutely still need guidance for all the many instances that occur while families birth in hospitals that they would never even think of without the guidance of doulas, left to navigate situations they never thought or could have prepared for. Doulas are irreplaceable essential guides to birthing within our current health care system and unfortunately, we are not currently covered under state health care and therefore are not seen for how essential we are. There are currently two states in the whole United States that covers doulas under state funded health insurance, Minnesota (my home state) and Oregon. In these two states it is publicized on their local news that doulas are working virtually where they cannot support families in the hospital. We need that kind of publicity to reach families but we aren't going to get it because our work is not valued the way it has been for Minnesota & Oregon in terms of being covered through state health insurance. That's why I feel it is truly necessary that each birth/family organization share the benefits of having a doula during COVID to educate the general populous of new parents who are in the dark about all this. Blossom has been so kind to accept my letter as a doula in the field during COVID 19 and my story.
A Story From the Field:
To give some perspective, I wanted to share a recent birth experience I had supporting a Mom virtually. As a highly educated professional herself in the field of systems change & policy, she understood the importance of having a professional who could provide information & education around navigating our current health care system to receive the support she longed for as a new mom. With visions of a non-medicated physiological birth in the hospital we frequently communicated the routine practices of the hospital in cross reference to her mental, emotional, physical & spiritual needs. Working alongside this Mother & husband helping them build a birth plan that reflected her understanding of her body, her choices and her goals. Given her desire to have a non-medicated physiological birth (my specialization) naturally I suggested home birth or a birth center but various factors led to settling on hospital. With news of hospital policy stating I would not have the pleasure of physically accompanying my clients into the birthing room, we quickly pivoted to prepare Dad as the primary support person in the room while I would be on camera virtually. As her estimated due date came and went we discussed the routine practice of induction at 41 weeks for normal healthy Moms. I informed her so long as she remains healthy and baby too I support her to continue to wait (discussing evidence based risks & benefits) but she would need to stand firm in that decision while communicating with her providers. As she knew it was a routine conversation for all Mothers as well as providing her & her husband with evidence based information, as well as paying extra attention to how all prenatal testing was looking, it was clear to her this routine practice did not apply to her unique body, health and choice. She chose to go in for NST at the end of her pregnancy and each time they were good. Each time she also refused vaginal exams as a way of further trusting her body to show signs. At the estimated 42 weeks signs of early labor were presenting as she told me how she really felt she should wait and allow time for her body to progress. Again, all tests remaining normal and healthy. I told her, "I support you. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do." After several days of start and stop labor, finally at estimated day 42 weeks and 2 days she spontaneously, naturally & with so much joy birthed her first healthy beautiful little girl! It was this Mother's strength, health, courage and perseverance along side the loving support of her partner that made this possible. As her doula, I was there to fill in the gaps of informed consent, support & education for her decisions she needed to confidently proceed. I highlight and share this recent story to help others understand the role doulas play beyond our helping hands when it comes to navigating hospital routines & policies with mental & emotional support.
I'll be honest, I've been in the field of working in women's holistic health and largely through labor and birth for 8 years and I'm constantly amazed at the lack of information people have about their health in relationship to a lack of health equity, their health care rights and how our current healthcare system effects birthing people and families until they walk the hard road themselves----this is why i am a doula! It truly is a hard road to walk alone. Deep breath. Sending loving prayers for all the families at this time. I appreciate you reading this lengthy message.
An update: Natividad Medical Center in Salinas has recently re-opened its doors to doulas as well as partners in attendance of labors & births! I have received word other hospitals are "actively working & deliberating to allow doulas". I have heard of families recently calling labor and delivery at the hospital they are planning to birth at and have received the go ahead for doulas to attend based on the charge nurse's decision. I urge you families to be active advocates writing letters to the head of Obstetrics at your birthing hospital as well as your charge nurses letting them know other hospitals are opening up and your request to have your doula considered essential and allowed entrance at the time of your birth. It's looking positive the more voices we have! Stay healthy & happy!
If you would like to get to know me, looking for support for you upcoming birth or in need of any other virtual consulting related to health and wellness at this time please contact me at:
Gretchen Retka, BA, CD-Activist(ToLabor), Massage Therapist, CYT, CPR
Holistic Sister
Doula Care, Yoga/Prenatal Instructor, Reiki, Placenta Encapsulation,
& Performing Artist
1(218) 851-7556
https://www.xochitlinnerg.com/services3
For Testimonials, please visit https://doulamatch.net/profile/16980/gretchen-retka
As a birth doula in our community I wanted to take this opportunity to share some benefits of having a doula during this pandemic that go beyond in person support. I'm sure many of you have heard the benefits of having a doula be related to massage, comfort support for positioning and so on but have you heard of our role in terms of advocacy, human rights awareness and how our work supports mental and emotional health? I thought I would share how my current role as a "virtual birth doula" is highlighting these qualities of care at this time. Not only are these aspects of care an important part of my practice and many of my colleagues for every birth but are more important than ever during this pandemic.
For instance, it is important to know doulas work everywhere from hospitals, home & birth centers. Currently, doulas are only inhibited from working in hospitals at this time due to current hospital policies locally, however, many doulas including myself are still attending labors and births in person until its time to go to the hospital (especially families who plan to labor at home as long as possible-minimizing time and exposure to germs that are in the hospitals) or continuing at home support for families birthing at home or the birth center. Ask your doula about labor support at home until time to go to the hospital. That's what I'm currently doing. When parents go to the hospital I then switch over to virtual support.
I feel it's important to share this info with families-especially new families who would likely imagine they can just go to the hospital as soon as labor starts not realizing there are benefits to staying at home longer and therefore would need a support person in their home. Going to the hospital too early statistically increases the likelihood of a whole array of intervention, infection and c-section. Families absolutely still need guidance for all the many instances that occur while families birth in hospitals that they would never even think of without the guidance of doulas, left to navigate situations they never thought or could have prepared for. Doulas are irreplaceable essential guides to birthing within our current health care system and unfortunately, we are not currently covered under state health care and therefore are not seen for how essential we are. There are currently two states in the whole United States that covers doulas under state funded health insurance, Minnesota (my home state) and Oregon. In these two states it is publicized on their local news that doulas are working virtually where they cannot support families in the hospital. We need that kind of publicity to reach families but we aren't going to get it because our work is not valued the way it has been for Minnesota & Oregon in terms of being covered through state health insurance. That's why I feel it is truly necessary that each birth/family organization share the benefits of having a doula during COVID to educate the general populous of new parents who are in the dark about all this. Blossom has been so kind to accept my letter as a doula in the field during COVID 19 and my story.
A Story From the Field:
To give some perspective, I wanted to share a recent birth experience I had supporting a Mom virtually. As a highly educated professional herself in the field of systems change & policy, she understood the importance of having a professional who could provide information & education around navigating our current health care system to receive the support she longed for as a new mom. With visions of a non-medicated physiological birth in the hospital we frequently communicated the routine practices of the hospital in cross reference to her mental, emotional, physical & spiritual needs. Working alongside this Mother & husband helping them build a birth plan that reflected her understanding of her body, her choices and her goals. Given her desire to have a non-medicated physiological birth (my specialization) naturally I suggested home birth or a birth center but various factors led to settling on hospital. With news of hospital policy stating I would not have the pleasure of physically accompanying my clients into the birthing room, we quickly pivoted to prepare Dad as the primary support person in the room while I would be on camera virtually. As her estimated due date came and went we discussed the routine practice of induction at 41 weeks for normal healthy Moms. I informed her so long as she remains healthy and baby too I support her to continue to wait (discussing evidence based risks & benefits) but she would need to stand firm in that decision while communicating with her providers. As she knew it was a routine conversation for all Mothers as well as providing her & her husband with evidence based information, as well as paying extra attention to how all prenatal testing was looking, it was clear to her this routine practice did not apply to her unique body, health and choice. She chose to go in for NST at the end of her pregnancy and each time they were good. Each time she also refused vaginal exams as a way of further trusting her body to show signs. At the estimated 42 weeks signs of early labor were presenting as she told me how she really felt she should wait and allow time for her body to progress. Again, all tests remaining normal and healthy. I told her, "I support you. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do." After several days of start and stop labor, finally at estimated day 42 weeks and 2 days she spontaneously, naturally & with so much joy birthed her first healthy beautiful little girl! It was this Mother's strength, health, courage and perseverance along side the loving support of her partner that made this possible. As her doula, I was there to fill in the gaps of informed consent, support & education for her decisions she needed to confidently proceed. I highlight and share this recent story to help others understand the role doulas play beyond our helping hands when it comes to navigating hospital routines & policies with mental & emotional support.
I'll be honest, I've been in the field of working in women's holistic health and largely through labor and birth for 8 years and I'm constantly amazed at the lack of information people have about their health in relationship to a lack of health equity, their health care rights and how our current healthcare system effects birthing people and families until they walk the hard road themselves----this is why i am a doula! It truly is a hard road to walk alone. Deep breath. Sending loving prayers for all the families at this time. I appreciate you reading this lengthy message.
An update: Natividad Medical Center in Salinas has recently re-opened its doors to doulas as well as partners in attendance of labors & births! I have received word other hospitals are "actively working & deliberating to allow doulas". I have heard of families recently calling labor and delivery at the hospital they are planning to birth at and have received the go ahead for doulas to attend based on the charge nurse's decision. I urge you families to be active advocates writing letters to the head of Obstetrics at your birthing hospital as well as your charge nurses letting them know other hospitals are opening up and your request to have your doula considered essential and allowed entrance at the time of your birth. It's looking positive the more voices we have! Stay healthy & happy!
If you would like to get to know me, looking for support for you upcoming birth or in need of any other virtual consulting related to health and wellness at this time please contact me at:
Gretchen Retka, BA, CD-Activist(ToLabor), Massage Therapist, CYT, CPR
Holistic Sister
Doula Care, Yoga/Prenatal Instructor, Reiki, Placenta Encapsulation,
& Performing Artist
1(218) 851-7556
https://www.xochitlinnerg.com/services3
For Testimonials, please visit https://doulamatch.net/profile/16980/gretchen-retka
Looking for a doula and don't know where to start? Check out or doula referral service, Help Me Find a Doula!