Transformed Maternity and Birth

11/05/2022

When you are pregnant and between 24 and 28 weeks you will be told that you have to be screened for Gestational Diabetes

11/04/2022

Are you approaching the 24 week mark of your pregnancy? This is the time that your practitioner will be talking about the Gestational Diabetes testing with you. This blog I wrote I walk you through how to make an informed decision regarding testing that hopefully will feel easy and straight forward and give you some clarity on what feels best for you!

When you are pregnant and between 24 and 28 weeks you will be told that you have to be screened for Gestational Diabetes

03/18/2022

True or False

Hospital birth means that you forfeit your chance of having an empowering mother centered birth experience?

False! Although it takes a lot of work on your part to be intentional about how you go about building your team, who you choose and choosing what hospital to give birth in..... because all of it really truly matters.

This beautiful client of mine had what I describe as a "homebirth in the hospital " where her body, her desires and intuition were listened to and respected.

Not once forced to be in a position she didn't guide herself into

Not once did she have to argue about laying on her back to deliver

Not once was she told how or when to push

Not once was her baby taken away from her without her being ready

Not once was anything done that was not her choice. Besides having to get out of the tub 😩 although maybe we should have stayed in there and shown them how safe water birth really is ? 🤪 haha next time Amanda you won't have to 😘

Thank you for allowing us to witness your raw strength and power as you brought your sweet daughter earth side! It was a dream to witness you in your primal power Amanda ♡♡

03/15/2022

Making decisions together with your birth team vs them informing what they are going to do you is one of the most important skills I think you can develop for yourself during pregnancy and beyond.

This helps to avoid unnecessary interventions as well as birth truama.

Thus technique was taught to me by my mentor called Building a Bridge of Communication

Because your care provider is part of your team ... they are not the leader and so making informed decisions together should be the norm.

Tag a friend that might need this tool!

03/09/2022

If you have ever worked with me as your birth doula, child birth educator or have learned something from me it would help me out so much if you would like to leave a review here on the Transformed Maternity and Birth Page!

Thank you so much to all of my past , present and future clients! You are why I am here!! I love you !! 🥰

03/09/2022

It's not always what you think it is ...

I did a poll a few weeks ago asking you what you thought coping in labor looked like and I had a lot of

" calmness, breathing through etc"

Coping however is different for everyone and it can change every time you meet a new threshold in labor. It's not always glamorous as "breathing baby down" like we see in some curated birth stories.....

So I'm curious, what did coping look like for you ??

For me coping was .... complaining.... horse lips breathing.... biting my hand and sometimes my husband's 😂, going quiet and at the end uncontrollable very loud yelling ! Which was not a yell from pain but a yell of intense energy leaving my body.

Last picture captured by

03/01/2022

The ability to soften in labor comes from a couple things 

Trust and the awareness of our bodies 

We live in a world where tension in our bodies is it's normal state, so we don't even notice it until it's brought to our attention

Have you ever gotten a massage and they are reminding you to relax your arm so they can move it ?

Or if I were to remind you at this moment to unclench your jaw and drop your shoulders… What happens? 

Bring your awareness to your body throughout the day.. get really good at this now so that in labor your ability to soften is more of a natural state. 

In person Birth Class for April signups are at www.tristabirdzell.com 

I'd love to help you and your partner learn these tools to help navigate your journey through birth and parenthood confidently 

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02/26/2022

I had this whisper in my ear that I needed to offer something quick and effective for you.

Something that's cuts the fluff and serves you the key to coping in labor!

You already have so much wisdom inside of you, and sometimes we need someone outside to help pull that out and highlight those strengths.

This Masterclass is not only for birthing individuals but for birthworkers wanting to strengthen their skills for clients.

You can sign up in the link in my bio on my website or dm me and I'll send you the link !

Www.tristabirdzell.com

02/23/2022

Transition

The portal between the ethers and the earth

The short time between "I can't "
and "I did!"

I often see , just like this photo. Women in Transition lifting up, trying to escape their bodies.

This is a normal response to such an intense moment of initiation.

It can feel so out of body when you experience the sensations of intensity as your strength and your power! It can feel as if every part of you, your soul, your logistical mind and body are all trying to run in different directions.

Overwhelming for sure, but when you're able to recognize it, you can allow it, welcome it and surrender to it.

When your feeling each surge, welcome them! Instead of being fearful I want you to switch that mindset to welcoming and excitement because you know exactly what your body is doing!

It can be hard for partners during this moment, because this is the most intense part. It can be easy for them to feel unsure and helpless. I know that feeling well from when I was a new doula. I didn't know quite what to do in this phase but after attending many births now, researching and having my own unmedicated birth, I've put together the tools that can get you through that moment! In my birth classes I love to teach partners these tools to actually feel helpful in this moment of intensity.

Here is why this part of labor is the most intense
> your baby is now moving through your cervix further into your birth canal.
> babies head is putting a lot of pressure down as they work to get under your p***c bone

Transition is progress! You may feel
> nauseated
> shaky
> doubtful
> excited

These are all amazing signs that your baby is almost here. And thank goodness it's the shortest phase right! 😅

What was your moment of transition like? Do you remember what helped you through it?

APRIL Birth Class Sign-ups are ready! Check link in bio!

If you're a new doula and wanting to work with me and local, send me a DM 😘

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LABOUR // There's something about this image that I am just obsessed about. Even in all of her pain, she looks so beautiful... ❤