The Best Purchase I Made When I Was Pregnant...

This week I asked our ANM moms to finish this statement. I wanted to know what they felt like they couldn't have done without during pregnancy. We got a wide range of answers. I hope that this list helps you figure out what you just have to have!!

Apparel 

We had several moms who thought their best pregnancy investment involved a clothing purchase.

The Mom-EZ maternity belt offers
terrific back support! (available at ANM)

• Maternity pants - one mom said that if she hadn't had pregnancy pants, she would have been in pajamas all the time!
• Long maxi dress
• Back support belt
• Stretchy pants
• Maternity tanks from Target
• Maternity jeans from the Gap
• Pajama Jeans - one mom who had sworn she'd never buy them ended up absolutely loving them.
• Nursing tops - these are a great pregnancy purchase because you can wear them long afterwards to enable you to breastfeed discreetly

Health/Beauty Related

Some moms felt that their best pregnancy investment was something they did to take care of themselves.

• Chiropractic care - if you need a chiropractor who is very familiar with the needs of pregnant women, check out Dr. Patty Long in Meridianville.
• A Pedicure - you deserve to feel pretty and pampered while pregnant!
• Tums
• Seasickness bands - one mom said they were a lifesaver after she was hospitalized for vomiting and dehydration

Food

Several moms felt that certain foods were their favorite pregnancy purchase!

• A lot of fruit
• Hot and Now Krispy Kreme Donuts 
• Sherbet, LOTS of sherbet
• Chili cheese dog from Sonic
• Mango Smoothie
• Watermelon - one mom said this kept her from feeling "blah"

Pillows

Many of our respondents felt that a pregnancy pillow was their very best pregnancy purchase. Here's what our moms had to say:

• Snoogle (one mom had to buy a second snoogle because her husband took hers!) and mini-snoogle
• Boppy Total Pregnancy Pillow - we had a mom say she couldn't sleep during pregnancy without it.
• Prego Pillow

Birth/Postpartum Related

Doulas can make a HUGE difference!

Some mothers thought that the decisions regarding their birth and early post-partum were their best pregnancy investment.

• Midwife services
• A doula - one mom said that her doula kept her laughing and not feeling contractions until she was almost 10 cm! 
• A Medela postpartum support - one mom who had a C-section said it made her feel like she wasn't going to fall apart when she stood up.
• Nursing pads so you don't leak when milk comes in

Baby Related

Other moms thought that purchases they made for the baby topped the list.

• Cloth diapers - one mom said they've saved her a lot of money and all the colors and patterns have made it really fun.
• Breast pump - this one is really for mom and baby, but one mom said it really helped her be able to avoid formula when her little one was too sleepy to latch.
• A Heart-tones Monitor - One mom felt that using this early in her pregnancy gave her peace of mind that she needed
• Carseat/Stroller Combo - one mom said that was awesome to have with a sleeping baby!
• Moby wrap
• Rock & Play sleeper
• A Baby sling

Finally, one mother said that her best purchase while pregnant was a Sam's Club Membership....makes a lot of sense! You can get a LOT of comfort food at Sams as well as some pretty cool things for later on, too!

What was YOUR best pregnancy purchase?? 

Why Should I Pay for a Doula?

Doula Jeanne Stolaas

I occasionally have a mother ask me this question. She thinks a doula is a great idea, but her sister's friend in Timbuktu had a doula provided in the hospital and she didn't pay a penny! What her sister's friend didn't realize is that the doula WAS being paid...she was a hospital employee. Unfortunately in Huntsville, AL, we don't have any hospitals hiring doulas yet.

So just what is it that makes a doula such an important part of the birth process? After all, Dad is there, and maybe Grandma is there, so who needs one more person crowding the room? That's a good question. Let's look at just what a doula does.

The Doula's Role

• She is there exclusively to focus on the mother and to use her extensive training to help the mother achieve the birth she wants.
• She is better equipped than Dad or Grandma to advocate for the mom with the hospital staff.
• Because she's not emotionally involved, she can make more level-headed decisions.
• She is able to provide one-on-one training prior to the birth so that Mom and Dad will both know what to expect and will feel comfortable and confident with her presence.
• She is just a phone call away any time Mom has a question during the pregnancy.

Doula Brittany Berghammer

So does having a doula really make a difference? Research has found that women who have one-on-one professional labor support tend to have shorter labors, fewer complications and healthier newborns, according to Jeanne Stolaas of Doula Birthing Assistant Care. The theory behind this statistical outcome is that mothers who have professional labor support produce lower levels of stress hormones than women left alone or attended by inexperienced coaches.  

The Doula's Fee

Not all doulas are certified. Sometimes a doula will actually accept clients for free when she is seeking her certification. There are three major certifying organizations for doulas, all of which certify internationally: DONA, CBI and CAPPA.  Each of these organizations requires prospective doulas to complete a program of training that includes reading, training in doula skills, understanding of the doula mentality, adherance to the doula scope of practice, attending births and testing. None of these certifications is cheap! However, the women who are passionate enough about helping other mothers during birth view the cost as an investment. As doula Brittany Berghammer says, "I see so many women who are left to labor alone and scared. I want to empower the mother, to support her and let her know she can give birth naturally without much routine interventions if any at all!" 

Doula Wendy Robertson explains the economics of a doula's fee quite well. Once you understand the commitment required of a doula, it is a little easier to understand why doulas charge what they do. 

Finding a Doula

The best way to find a doula is word of mouth. Ask your friends who have used a doula or ask your doctor for a recommendation. You'll find a list of Alabama doulas here.  Always ask for a preliminary meeting with your doula to see if you are a match personality-wise. Once you find the right doula, you'll know it!!