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 Twins, Triplets - Multiples is our Specialty

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We  provide pregnancy and postpartum Doula care and consulting to families with or expecting twins, triplets or more

Prevent Sleep Deprivation -  Benefits for the parents:
 Newborns cannot sleep the whole night. They sleep all the time, but they cannot fall asleep all on their own, reliably. The second reason is that newborns are so small, and need to grow so rapidly, that they physically cannot go a whole night without eating. They must wake up and eat several times a night. 
 
Waking each other up: This is the essential challenge created by healthy multiples. The home court advantage for the parents is Postpartum Doula(s) care.



Prematurity: The more infants gestated in one pregnancy, the earlier they tend to be born in that pregnancy. If the infants born early are healthy, then the solution is simply waiting until they reach 4 months of age after their original expected due date. Parents see their children sleeping habits improve.

Illness: If the illness is severe enough, then due to prematurity or not, it can profoundly interfere with good sleeping and normal sleep development. All the comments in this essay relate to healthy infants. The complications created by serious illness require specific medical guidance to achieve normal sleep.



Sleep Facts: 
Before the Babies Arrive You can only go 2 days without sleep! The average person is already loosing (1,843) hours less sleep per year.
( This equals 77 days or 2.5 months without sleep per year)

1. The minimum number of hours of sleep to heal, repair and to stay in total health is 9.5 hours ( and 3 of those must be before midnight.)
2. 56% of adults report daytime drowsiness as a definite problem.
3. 37% report it interferes with daily activities.
4. 30% report a drop in job performance.
5. 50% report a drop in performance of daily family duties.

  • The average number of sleeping hours we are really need is 12 hours per day which comes to (4380) per year
  • In 1910 the average American night sleep was 9.5 hours which comes to (3468 ) hours per year.                                                 
  • In 1975 it had dropped to 7.5 hours total sleep per year is (2738)
  • Now in 2011 it is at an all time low of 6 hours 54 minutes which come to (2537) hours per year.
  • The average person is already loosing (1,843) hours less sleep per year. ( This equals 77 days or 2.5 months without sleep per year)
  • Now add multiples, singletons, into the mix you can quickly see the importance of sleep. You can see why it is important to have Postpartum Doula care.

   

What does lack of sleep cause?

  • Sleeping controls hormone production so the loss of sleep not only affects at least 11 different hormones in the body,
  •  It also affects neurotransmitter production especially dopamine and serotonin. This directly affects behavior/ mental / emotional well being 
  • Depression increases when serotonin and dopamine have a decrease in production. (Postpartum depression makes sense when your losing sleep)
  • Overweight  (Hormone production controls stress and appetite)
  • Increases all cravings /addictions to food.
  • Increases chances of diabetes (Insulin and prolactin control the brain chemistry)
  • Decreases fertility and can make one impotent. (Stress and appetite control reproduction - which is based on a persons hormonal balance)
  • Raises blood pressure
  • Increases chances of heart disease  (reproduction controls aging)
  • Throws your immune system completely off track increasing your chances of developing infections, autoimmune disease, allergies and cancer.
  • Melationin and prolactin communicate with your immune system and metabolism, they are controlled by light and dark cycles, day and night.
  • Melatonin affects the pituitary gland function which makes part or all of the hormones that controls you Thyroid, Thymus, Pancreas, Adrenals, Overies and Testies
  • ALL of these go out of balance with less than 9.5 hours of sleep per night.

Stages of sleep

  • Stage 1 - Light sleep: muscles relax and body temperature drops as you drift in and out of the waking state.
  • Stage 2 - Transition: heart rate, breathing and he electrical activity of the brain slows down to rest.
  • Stage 3, 4 Deep Sleep: the body shuts down to all stimuli, it is harder to awaken, Large, slow brain waves (delta waves) are seen, organs and tissues are repaired 
  • Stage 5 REM Sleep*: (with  newborns the body is able to develop and grow) Eyes move, heartbeat and bloodpressure rise, body is paralyzed. Brain activity is greatly increases and vivid dreams occur. REM sleep cycles occur 70-90 minutes after you fall asleep and lasts about 30 minutes per cycle then it repeats again.
*REM Sleep is when your brain renews its energy stores, clears short-term memory and most importantly releases any built up negative energy from the day, in essence REM sleep is when you mentally and emotionally detoxify yourself at the cellular level.The more hours you sleep in the dark, the longer and longer the REM sleep cycle intervals become, causing more renewing, more releasing of the stored mental and emotional toxins. 

The longer the dark evening sleeping occurs the greater the healing of mind, body, emotions and your spiritual well being.

    Postpartum Care Questionnaire (sample) 

     

    Main reason for desiring postpartum Doula care? ________________________________________________________________________________

    Will  Dad and or a family member or friend be home with you to help after the baby/babies are born? ____________________

    If so, who, and for how long?_________________________________________________________

    How long do you anticipate wanting postpartum doula support?

    Number of days per week ________ Number of weeks ________ Best Time _________am _________pm (minimum of 5 hrs - coverage for two feedings )

    What are your main reasons for choosing to have a postpartum doula? (Circle)

    • Instruction in Infant Care
    • Breastfeeding / Lactation Consultation
    • Prevention of Sleep Deprivation.
    • Emotional Support
    • Reassurance Sibling care
    • Household help Physical comfort measures
    • Extra pair of hands
    • I will be returning to work and I need to heal quickly
    Have you had any complications with this pregnancy? Please describe:___________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________________

    Have you had any previous complications with fertility, reproductive health, pregnancy or

    postpartum? Please describe:_____________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________________

    Have you had any stressful events, losses or major life changes in the last year? Please

    describe:_____________________________________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________________

    Please check any classes or support groups you have taken/ joined in preparation for postpartum

    ___ Infant care ___ Childbirth preparation ___ Breastfeeding ___ Infant CPR ___ Le Leche League International ____ Multiples Support Groups____ other

    Have you cared for a baby recently? ______________________________________________________

    What books on infant care, breastfeeding or postpartum have you read? __________________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________________

    Does your family have any particular cultural or religious traditions that I should know about?_________

    ____________________________________________________________________________________

    Does your family have any particular style of cooking or special dietary needs? ____________________

    ____________________________________________________________________________________

    How will your baby be fed? _____ breast milk _____ formula _____ combination

    Would you like help or support with feeding your baby? _______________________________________

    Please rate how important you anticipate the following will be in your postpartum care:

    (1)        Not at all important                  (5)        Very important

    • Postpartum comfort measures 1 2 3 4 5
    • Family’s basic needs (food, drink) 1 2 3 4 5
    • Holding baby 1 2 3 4 5
    • Infant care guidance 1 2 3 4 5
    • Help feeding baby 1 2 3 4 5
    • Household help 1 2 3 4 5
    • Emotional support 1 2 3 4 5
    • Sibling care 1 2 3 4 5
    Is there anything else you’d like me to know about your family?_________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________________

        Information provided during postpartum care services includes:
    •   Feeding baby / proper latch if breast feeding
    •   Diaper changing / types of stools / number of diapers per day
    •   Bathing baby
    •   Cord care
    •   Circumcision care
    •   Swaddling baby
    •   Burping baby
    •   Soothing baby
    •   Infant massage 
    •   CFT Therapy  (Gillespie Method Brain Score- Craniosacral Fascial Therapy)
    •   Carrying baby in a sling
    •   Postpartum comfort measures
    •   Information on mom’s physical restoration
    •   Information on emotional adaption
    •   Other:
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