Tricia Croom Doula

Times they are a changin'

1/11/2021

2020 has brought so many changes to our world and the birthing community was not exempt in feeling those changes.
As a doula I had to figure out how to work within some new parameters. Wearing a mask, learning to Zoom with clients and eventually becoming a virtual doula for clients who were not allowed to have a 2nd person present are just a few of the changes that I have had to make in my doula practice.

In response to the new hospital mandates I decided that I needed to learn more about how to safely doula during the Covid-19 pandemic. So in April of 2020 I took a Pandemic Response Doula Training and am now a certified Pandemic Response doula.

Another huge change for my family was moving from the Seattle WA area to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I am excited for this new adventure and look forward to working in the DFW birthing community.

I am looking forward to what 2021 has in store for me and how I will get to adapt to the changing times.

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Technologically challenged

11/11/2017

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As many know (and you may soon find out) I am, for lack of a better word choice, "technologically challenged". I unfortunately inherited this trait from my mother, who still hasn't managed the remote control for our TV (in her defense it does take 2, one for the sound and one for the Roku).

You may notice that the last blog post that I wrote before today was in August of 2016. Why you may ask? Well... first of all it is a little scary putting your ramblings out into the matrix. And secondly, do you know what it takes to update this blog?!?
I have to login (which requires not only a unique user name but also a password which I have to reset EVERY SINGLE TIME because I have forgotten it). Then I have to figure out how to navigate the back office of my website and interact with the editor function, which I swear they update at least as often as I blog!

I am continuing to work on this and have (after many years) mastered the art of texting! In fact, besides phone calls, texting is now my second favorite form of communication.
You guys, this is HUGE! My friends would often bug me because I never returned their texts. I now not only know how to text, but have even figured out that LOL does not mean "Little Old Lady" and that OMG doesn't mean "Off My Grass".

So it may not surprise you that I am NOT great about emailing yet. I am working on it and I do try to check my email at least once a week (once again, this is a huge improvement). If you contact me via email and I don't respond PLEASE know that it is most likely not your fault if you do not get a response and that I DO really want to talk with you but have probably forgotten my email login.
The fastest and easiest way to get in touch with me is to call or text.

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Being on call

8/2/2016

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Being on call is not for the faint of heart! It is difficult to be tied to your phone 24/7. As a doula my phone is always charged and the ringer is always at the loudest setting when I am on call.
I think for most people this might drive them a bit crazy. For me I usually love it! I love the spontaneity and unpredictability of my work. I love that no two work days ever look the same and I love that my clients have full access to me. I am good with answering my phone late night, early morning, in the middle of a movie (and yes I do answer my clients calls at the theater), and when I am out with my kiddos
The part that makes me say usually is knowing that inevitably my phone rings when I am in the shower. This is one time that I dislike being on call. Just last week I got shampoo in my eyes because I was trying to see who was calling me without short circuiting my phone.... shampoo in your eyes hurts and electronics don't like water!

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June 18th, 2012

6/18/2012

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Three things

2/6/2012

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I often receive emails or facebook notices of people giving random facts about themselves. This post was prompted by one of those posts.

Three random facts about Tricia:

1.) I dislike chocolate... this means that all of the chocolate that I bring to the births (yes, I always bring chocolate!) gets to be eaten by YOU!!!

2.) My initials ate TLC... which is exactly what I like to think that I do best at a birth. Everyone needs a little extra TLC when in labor :-)

3.) I cry at every birth.... it's not like I break down into hysterical sobbing, I just get a little misty eyed. I have often said that the day that I don't cry at a birth is the day that I will stop being a doula. Birth is an amazing, emotional, wonderful experience and deserves a tear or two!

Three random facts about pregnancy:

1.) Pregnant women glow... it's true! Your body will increase it's blood supply by almost 50% that extra blood ends up showing through the skin (especially in your cheeks)

2.) Pregnant ladies feet can get larger during pregnancy.

3.) Daddy's cannot have babies, but they can have pregnancy symptoms! It is not uncommon for the dad to be to gain weight, get cranky, experience morning sickness and even feel abdominal cramping.

Three random facts about your baby:

1.) Babies first toy is their umbilical cord.

2.) The average weight for a baby born in the USA is 7lbs 6oz.

3.) Only about 4% of all babies are born on their due date. Babies have a mind of their own and while your care giver will give an estimated due date, the fact remains that

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What is in your birth bag

1/13/2012

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I have often been asked about what tricks and tools I carry with me in my doula bag, here's a sampling of what I bring with me to a birth:

* Rebozo (Mexican shawl, I use this at almost every birth and my clients LOVE it)
* Massage balls
* Lotions for massage
* Rice sock (which the client gets to keep!)
* Electric tea lights
* Snacks (dried fruit, nuts, various bars....CHOCOLATE!)
* Visualization cards
* CD's (although I encourage my clients to bring their favorites)
* Bendy straws
* TENS unit
* Suckers (quick pick me up for laboring mom, easy to remove when a contraction begins)
* Personal items (no one wants to have a doula who hasn't brushed their teeth or is needs deodorant!)

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Benefits of having a doula at your birth

12/19/2011

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At a recent initial meet & greet I was asked what the statistics of having a doula present were. I knew that the statistics were out there, but I didn't have the exact numbers and I didn't want to rattle off any bogus statistics.

I knew that the 1993 study done by Klaus, Klaus, Kennel, et. al showed that using a doula reduced a woman's chance of having a C-section delivery by 50% and that it shortened labor by 25%. BUT, I also know that many people in the medical field took issue with those numbers saying that they were not relevant findings. For instance, the the shortened labor was by 26 minutes, and the study group was said by some to not be a large enough group to get an accurate outcome.

Whew... all of that to say, I did my research and will not be found tongue tied again when the question arises. Here are the statistics taken from a study of 8052 women.

Women cared for during labor by a birth doula, compared to those receiving usual care were:

26% less likely to give birth by cesarean section
41% less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
28% less likely to use any pain medications
33% less likely to be dissatisfied with or negatively rate their birth experience (Hodnett and colleagues 2004)

Findings of Hodnett’s et al meta-analysis of 15 trials from N. America, Europe, and Africa.

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What questions should you ask your potential doula???

11/23/2011

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At the end of my initial meet & greet I always ask if the mom-to-be has any other questions or if there is anything else she would like to know about me. At one of my recent meetings the mom asked "Did I miss any important questions... what should I ask?".

Here are a few good questions that many women do not think to ask their potential doulas.

1. How many clients do you take on each month?
2. Do you have a back-up doula and can I contact them?
3. How many births have you had to use a back-up doula for?
4. What training have you had?
5. Do you have any references that I can contact?
6. What is your greatest strength as a doula?

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Doing my happy doula dance!

9/24/2011

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I went to a meet & greet of a fantastic couple, and I just got the email from them telling me they would like to have me be there doula (Please insert happy doula dance here)!

I have to tell you, it is a fantastic feeling when you are "chosen" for a family. I also must add that when I get a "rejection" letter I really do understand. You see, I had a doula at my second birth, so I understand how personal it is to invite someone to your birth and I know how important that decision is.

I actually don't like to have my clients hire me on the spot at the meet & greet. I think it's very important for the mom & the partner to take some time and talk about the pro's & con's of the doula's they interview.

Yup, you read that right... doula's! I encourage my mama to be to interview more than one doula. This means that I have a much higher chance of getting a rejection letter, it also means that the client has a much greater chance of getting the best fit for a doula.

While I don't exactly love being turned down, I always love hearing about a great birth with the right doula, which may or may not be me :-)

So, to sum it all up:

Interview more than one doula (most doula's offer a free meet & greet)
Talk with your partner about each doula you interview
If you find that you have some ?'s that come up after your meet & greet than call or email the doula and ask her them
If you choose not to use a doula, please send her a brief email letting her know that you have chosen someone else. There's no need to explain why or feel bad about your decision.
And most importantly choose a doula who is a good fit for you. This is your birth, and you deserve to have it be your dream birth!

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For everything there is a season...

8/8/2011

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We all know that in life we go through seasons, and that each season brings with it different joys and difficulties. Pregnancy is no different. Your life is drastically changing on a daily basis and you never know what the next day holds.

When I was pregnant with our oldest son, Benjamin, I was so anxious for the day when I would go from looking frumpy to actually looking pregnant. When that day came I was overjoyed, I loved my "baby bump!" I was however unaware at the time how that little bump would drastically change my life. Over the next few months that bump made tying my shoes a bit harder and pretty soon I couldn't see my shoes to tie them at all. I was giddy with excitement when I felt him move for the first time and was less than pleased when I found out that my not so little baby had cracked my rib while still in utero.

No matter what season of life I find myself in I know that it is just that, a season. While my boys were little I was sure I would be stuck in the season of nursing, diapers and potty training FOREVER!!
Now I look back and wish that I had treasured those moments a little bit more. I didn't realize that nursing babes eventually wean and that the joy that comes from tinkling in the big-boy potty is no longer found when they are 10.

So I resolve to enjoy the season that I find myself in today. I will be greatful for the good weather and the bad. I will find the joy that comes with each new season.

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Times they are a changin'

Technologically challenged

Being on call

June 18th, 2012

Three things

What is in your birth bag

Benefits of having a doula at your birth

What questions should you ask your potential doula???

Doing my happy doula dance!

For everything there is a season...

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