By Cami Nettekoven

There are numerous benefits of a Birth Doula. Studies have shown that having a Doula may greatly reduce the percentages of medical intervention. The relationship between Doula and the family is one of respect and comfort. The relationship starts during pregnancy, where the trust is formed. Information is gathered, education is obtained during these early meetings. During labor the Doula is an advocate or liaison for the family. The purpose of the Doula is to support the woman’s ability to give birth.

The Doula is available to educate the family so they may explore their options for their birth experience. This may be in the form of finding the appropriate childbirth class, learning techniques, writing a birth plan, or many other things. Every woman needs and deserves individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences. The Doula respects the desires and decisions of the family by being trustworthy, available, consistent, ethical and honest. It is important to allow the family to express concerns and expectations without judgment. She may expel myths with providing accurate, non-biased information. The information is to empower the family, strengthening them in their awareness and rights. Sometimes assistance is needed in providing questions to ask of the care provider.

A Doula supplies the knowledge of laboring techniques to accommodate the mother. These techniques can speed the length of labor and reduce the rate of medical intervention procedures. The techniques include: laboring and birthing positions, non-medical pain reduction methods, massage, aromatherapy, relaxation and focusing techniques along with emotional comfort and support.

The Doula acknowledges birth as a sacred moment that belongs to the family. She provides continuous support through labor and early post partum. She is the advocate for the family, equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in a joyous birth experience. She respects the privacy of the family. She in no way replaces the father or birth partner’s role, but enhances it. By making suggestions in comfort techniques, and allowing the partner to take a break. Many fathers and partners are eager to help in the support of the mother; however some may need a little guidance. The father’s presence and commitment of love and support is invaluable to the mother. A Doula’s knowledge can help a father or partner to relax and enjoy the experience more fully. The Doula compliments the birth process, by working along side with the family and care providers. A Doula seeks to protect a positive and memorable birthing experience for the entire family. It is most important that the family can be comfortable with the Doula of choice. They should feel free to discuss their fears, hopes, and desires with the Doula.

Doulas do not provide the mother with any clinical care, so they do not replace the doctor or midwife. A Doula’s expertise is in the physiology of labor and birthing by providing comfort measures to the mother. Doula’s have proven to make a favorable impact on the childbirth experience.

Having a Doula accessible after delivery is also beneficial. She may help the family to process the birthing experience. She will facilitate bonding with the baby, as well as initiating breastfeeding. Many breastfeeding moms need a little assistance in getting the baby latched on for the first time. Some gentle suggestions from the Doula can help get breastfeeding get off to a wonderful start.

A Doula strengthens the mother’s ability to birth in a way that stimulates her natural power within. It is important to give the mother confidence in herself and her body. By having a Doula it can help the family get off to a very good start.

About the Author
Cami Nettekoven: Is a trained and certified birth Doula through DONA International. She works in the Greater Kansas City Metro area for home, hospital or birth center births. She is also trained by the Kansas City Missouri Health Department as a Breastfeeding Counselor with Nutritional Services. Cami has 6 children and has 9 years of personal breastfeeding experience. All of her pregnancies have been high-risk, with pre-term labor and delivery, gestational diabetes, and a baby with abnormalities. It is her privilege as a Doula is to help families understand the nature of the birth process and to empower them with the tools to make pregnancy, childbirth, and their life beyond an experience of fulfillment and joy. Her web site is www.kansascitydoula.com.

By Robert Meier

The quality of a baby bedding collection is determined by the fabrics used in making the quilts or comforters, crib bumpers, dust ruffles, and other items that comprise the baby bedding set. Little information is available to consumers to help them access the quality of fabrics used in the hundreds of crib bedding collections that are sold by dozens of manufacturers. Here are a few characteristics that a consumer should consider when comparing crib bedding collections from competing brands.

Printed Fabric Patterns versus Woven Fabric Patterns
Many simple fabric patterns – such as stripes, plaids, and ginghams – can be printed or woven. While not readily apparent to the uninformed consumer, the differences between these two fabric manufacturing methods are significant and important for the appearance and durability of the crib bedding.

Woven fabrics start with differently colored threads or yarns. These threads or yarns are woven together in such a manner as to create the desired pattern – generally ginghams (small checked patterns), plaids, and stripes. The colors and pattern become an integral part of the fabric itself. Look for a fabric where the pattern appears on both sides of the fabric- this is a sure sign that it is woven. Or simply examine the fabric up close and note the colors of the individual threads that make up the fabric.

Printed fabrics are made with a solid colored material. The desired pattern is imprinted onto the surface of the solid material using a variety of inks and printing techniques. Look for a fabric where the pattern appears only on one side – this is a sure sign that it is printed, not woven.

Woven fabrics are almost universally superior to printed fabrics. They are more color-fast and resist fading more effectively than printed fabrics. The pattern, being an integral part of the fabric itself, will not wear off as compared to a superficial pattern that is printed on the surface of the fabric. The durability of a printed pattern is very much dependent on the amount of ink and precise technique used to imprint the pattern. Unfortunately, this is almost impossible to determine based simply on examining the fabric.

Complex, nonlinear patterns cannot generally be woven. But a manufacturer who chooses to use printed fabrics for simple gingham, plaid, and striped patterns is sacrificing quality in favor of cost. Not to say that a printed pattern should be avoided at all costs; but the higher price of a baby bedding set made with a woven gingham or striped fabric is usually more than justified by the higher quality.

Printed Designs versus Embroidered Designs on Fabrics
Manufacturers are increasingly creative in using complex designs in their baby nursery bedding to communicate a desired theme. These designs can be either embroidered or printed.

Embroidered designs use separate threads to sew the design into the fabric, often in combination with other textured fabrics. While embroidery techniques and technology has improved over the years to make them more cost-effective, it is still more costly to embroider a design than it is to simply print it on the surface of the fabric. Embroidered designs are generally more detailed, and almost universally more durable than imprinted designs.

Again, not that printed designs need be avoided at all costs. But the consumer should be aware of the quality differences before choosing a baby nursery bedding set with printed designs over a more costly crib set with embroidered designs.

Real or Printed Patchwork
In an effort to reduce cost, some “patchwork” bedding is really one piece of fabric with a “patchwork” design printed on it – the fabric shell of the item is then “stuffed” and sewn over at the borders of the different patterns to create a patchwork appearance. It is generally easy to see this shortcut with a simple up-close examination of the fabric – the stitching rarely lines up consistently with the printed pattern. True patchwork is far superior to printed patchwork designs and is always more expensive. True patchwork shows different textures as well as different colors and patterns.

Price versus Value
Unfortunately, some crib bedding manufacturers are choosing to use lower quality fabrics to decrease their costs without passing all of these savings on to the consumer. You should be very alert to discover these differences. It can mean the difference between a crib bedding collection that will last for a single child, or one that will last for generations.

About the Author:
Robert Meier, is President of Baby Supermall, an internet retailer of Crib Bedding, Baby Bedding Sets and Baby Nursery Decor.