Whether you’re pregnant with your first or tenth, having a baby shower or not, no matter what, you’ll get plenty of opinions, suggestions and unsolicited advice! In our digital age, you can’t escape the constant stream of debates and ideas.  So how can you deal with all the well-meaning friends, family, and strangers who want to drop some knowledge on you? Here’s a few ideas (that you can take or leave!) from those of us who have been there. Remember, choose what works for you and your family, and don’t worry about people who don’t like your choice!

-Thank the advice-giver for their input and drop it.   This is a classic, and in 

We recommend everyone take a childbirth class during their pregnancy.  One exception might be if you’ve had a baby (and took a childbirth class) in the last 2 years or so.  We’re so fond of childbirth classes that 4 our doulas are actually certified childbirth educators (CBE).  We hear a lot of reasons couples give for skipping this important part of preparation, so we asked our CBE doulas to answer the most common ones.  Our doulas who are also CBEs are: Ellen Huffmyer, Karen Crow, Mary Duggan, and Sara Garside.  Here’s the result of our Q&A with the CBEs!
 
1. I’m planning to have an epidural anyway, why should I take childbirth classes?
​ (KC): So that you know the best point in your labor to get an epidural.  CBE read a lot of research into this stuff and new information is always coming out. There are “sweet spots” in labor where an epidural is the most effective, and 

Congratulations, your new little one is finally here! Now what?

10. Hydrate & Eat Well. You’re recovering from a major physical event, and now you’re the main caregiver and maybe even food source to a new person! You need good food and lots of hydration.  Don’t think about calories or whatever at this point, and even if you’re breastfeeding, the list of what you can’t eat is much, much smaller than when you were pregnant, so dive in!  Nursing mothers need even more hydration, vitamins, and an extra serving of protein each day, so don’t skimp! If you don’t get what you need to make from your food, it will come from your own body and you’ll be short-changing yourself.
 
9. Be amazed by yourself! You created this new life and brought it into this world!  Whether you delivered vaginally, or by major abdominal surgery (cesarean), you did it!

8. Ride out the hormones. It’s normal to be a little weepy in the first few days after birth. Your hormones are going through major shifts and it can make things feel all off.  It’s okay if you cry when you’re leaving the hospital because 

Yay! Your friend, relative, coworker, neighbor or whoever had a baby! You’re so excited to see the little one after all these months of waiting!  As much as your friend will appreciate your joy over their new arrival, you might want to use this tips to make sure your visit is a joy to her as well!
 
DO:
- Call ahead and be flexible!  You want to run right down to the hospital and check out that fresh human, but some moms might need some space that first day or so.  A long labor, an unexpected c-section or just the hormones that come along with giving birth can make some moms want to hole up and be alone with the new bubs.  “Would you like some company or should I wait until you’re home and settled?” is a great way to phrase it, or consider a text like: 

Our "Do I Need a Doula If" series continues with a question about the most commonly used pain medication for births in Pittsburgh.  "I don't need a doula, I'm just getting the epidural!" is something we've heard more than once.  Just because you plan to have an epidural doesn't mean you might not still want a doula!

  Epidural rates in Pittsburgh hospitals are pretty high, so many of our clients will have one.  There are a number of reasons you might still want a doula!
    A doula helps with positions and techniques to continue the labor process once the epidural is placed and you’re confined to bed.  Lying down can slow labor, but we have some ideas that can help you maintain your progress when you’re resting. We discuss when you need to just sleep, and when you might want to be more active, even on the epidural.  We’ll remind you to roll over regularly to maintain even relief from your epidural, too.
       Epidurals are not 100% effective, can offer partial relief or wear off, and ​

When you’re pregnant, what you feed your brain is just as important as what you feed your body.  Knowledge drives out fear, making your pregnancy, labor, and delivery healthier, easier and safer.  So what to read? There are pages and pages of pregnancy books on Amazon, and everyone’s got a favorite to suggest, so where do you start?
      First, a quick “don’t”:  Don’t make yourself crazy.  This isn’t a required reading list; you don’t have to get through all the books here.  Pick the ones that work for you, and read when you can.  Giving up naps for a pregnancy book isn’t always the best choice.   Also, be careful on the internet. There’s a ton of great information, and of course, plenty of outdated, urban legends, and just plain wrong stuff there. Stick to reputable sources and always check with your healthcare provider if you’re not sure!

OUR FAVORITE BOOKS
 
The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Sheila Kitzinger – While our doulas agree that pretty much any book by Kitzinger rocks, this is the one to ​

This is the first in a new series, "Do I Need a Doula If..." We get lots of questions that start out that way, and we'd love to talk about them!

Do I need a doula if I have a great birth partner (husband, sister, girlfriend, BFF, etc.)?  This might be our most common question! You have a supportive, awesome husband, or a partner who can’t wait to be there for you.  Your mom has had 8 kids and is over the moon to be at the birth of her first grandchild. Your sister is your best friend and she’s ready!  That’s so wonderful – there is nothing we love more than for you to have enthusiastic, loving support, and we still have plenty to do!  Chances are your birth partner hasn’t had a lot of 

Often,  one of the first questions I get is: “What happens if have a cesarean section/ will I still need a doula?”  My answer is - it may depend on when you find out you need a cesarean birth. Still,  I always recommend having one! As doulas, we sometimes do our finest work, helping and assisting you through a Cesarean birth, whether planned or unexpected.
   Before an unexpected cesarean, doulas have many ways to help with your birth, offering suggestions- position changes, showers, walks, and so forth, in general making your birth experience more pleasant. In the presence of a doula, you will know that you tried everything, and that, in fact, the cesarean