Category: Natural Pregnancy

Pumping Iron: Getting more when your Iron is low

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Iron: What is it and why is it so important? Iron is an important mineral that your body uses to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the substance in red blood cells that  is responsible for transporting oxygen through your body. When you get pregnant your blood supply increases causing you to need about twice the amount of iron you would need when not pregnant. About 20% of women will develop an iron deficiency known as anemia. The risks of anemia can...Read More

The Power of Pain

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Ouch! Just hearing the word PAIN makes us shudder and recoil. No one wants to be in pain. We spend our whole lives trying to avoid pain. It is no wonder that pain is the number one fear women have of labor. Pain has a purpose. Pain is our body's way of protecting us. It is a signal to "pay attention". In the instance of touching a hot stove, it creates an immediate and  powerful reaction to protect us from...Read More

Nipple Stimulation – A How To Guide

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Disclaimer: Please do not try nipple stimulation before 40 weeks and without talking to your care provider first. Nipple stimulation is one of the most common ways for women to try and start labor or keep a good labor pattern going. Because it is easy to do, discrete, and does not require any extra equipment or monitoring it is a good choice for many. There is some debate on the best way to do nipple stimulation for the best results...Read More
birth plan

Birth Plan ( With Free Template )

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Creating a birth plan with your partner is a great way to keep you on the same page with your wants and needs. It is also a great tool to help open a dialogue with your care provider. You can use this template as a jumping off point to create a more personalised plan, or you can use it as is. Lancaster Doulas makes it easy with our birth plan template. Just print it out, check the boxes of what you would...Read More

My House or Yours?

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Last year I made the decision to only offer placenta encapsulation in our clients homes. It was a completely different direction then all the other placenta encapsulators that I knew in our area, but I knew that it was the best decision for me and for Lancaster Doulas. So what led me to change the standard? Safety: Our clients love seeing our top notch sanitation process. It puts their minds at ease knowing that all of our Postpartum Placenta Specialists carry their bloodborne pathogen certification, and PA...Read More
Birth Affirmations

Birth Affirmations (With Free Printable)

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Birth Affirmations are a powerful way many women use to envision their birth. Not only does it improve your immediate mindset, but it can also train your brain to think positive thoughts in the throws of labor. There are many ways to use birth affirmations, but we have found the best way is to create something beautiful with them (like a banner) and place them in a highly visible place (like your bathroom mirror or kitchen cupboard). Some of our clients...Read More

10 Ways To Naturally Encourage Labor

Posted on by Holly Yeager
10 Ways To Naturally Encourage Labor   Disclaimer: DO NOT try any of these methods without first clearing it with your primary care provider.  1. Sex: "The best way to get baby out is the way he got in there in the first place" I love saying that to first time parents and watching their faces react as my words sink in. Yes, it is not only okay to have sex at the end of pregnancy it can be good...Read More

The Great Date Debate: Do Dates Really Help You Go Into Labor?

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Maybe you have seen the study posted on social media -- maybe a friend swore to you it worked -- but does eating dates in the last month of pregnancy really help you go into labor? What Science says: According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information ....... maybe ?!?!? Basically they studies 114 women, 69 of whom ate 6 dates each day for 4 weeks leading up to their "due date." According to the study, the women who ate...Read More

You’re Going To Eat Your WHAT ?!?

Posted on by Holly Yeager
There has been a lot of buzz lately about placenta encapsulation. With big name stars like January Jones, Alicia Silverstone, and even Kim Kardashian speaking out about consuming their placentas, it's no wonder. Placentophagy, the act of eating your placenta, can be dated back to the 1500's when the Chinese would mix dried placenta with breast milk and then drink it to cure "Ch’i exhaustion." (Interesting side note: Ch'i exhaustion is considered a symptom of anaemia.) Eating your placenta has...Read More

A Breech Home Birth

Posted on by Holly Yeager
Being a doula means that every once in a while I am privy to an amazing birth experience. This is one of those experiences that will stay with me for a life time. I was originally contacted by Nanette to be her birth doula but she decided to have her friend (an aspiring doula) by her side. She contacted me again right before her due date asking if I would like to try my hand at photography. It was then...Read More

5 Easy Natural Baby Recipes You Can Make Yourself

Posted on by Holly Yeager
5 Easy Natural Baby Recipes You Can Make Yourself If you are like me, then you try to use the most natural products you can find on your baby. Have you looked at the ingredients list of some of that stuff? Even some of the "All Natural" products are chock full of harmful chemicals and additives. So how can you be sure that only the very best ingredients are touching that adorable tush? Make your own! It is easier than...Read More