Posts in For Parents
Preparing for Birth in Lincoln, NE
Preparing for Birth in Lincoln, NE

With over 15 years of birth support experience in the Lincoln area, I am asked quite often for my recommendations on how to prepare for childbirth in our community! Here are my recommendations.

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For Parents, NebraskaJoyce Dykemabirth, birth plan, baby, birth doula, caregiver, childbirth, childbirth education, doulas, Doula Joyce, expectations, EBB Instructor, evidence based birth, hospital, information, interview, Nebraska, options, pregnancy, prenatal, parents, parenting, postpartum, professional doula work, statistics
What I Would (and Would Not) Do Differently
What I Would (and Would Not) Do Differently

A client recently asked me what I would have done differently if I could go back and prepare for my first baby’s birth again. Here are the three things I would do differently, and five things that I would not change if I could go back.

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For Parents, For Professionals, Life as a Doula, My Favorite Things, My Story, PostpartumJoyce DykemaDoula Joyceabout me, birth, baby, breastfeeding, birth plan, birth doula, comfort measures, childbirth, childbirth education, doula life, doulas, Doula Joyce, emotions, expectations, experience, information, favorite things, learning, my story, my experience, natural, newborn, options, prenatal, parents, pregnancy, parenting, postpartum, professional doula work, recovery, support, self care, thankful, unmedicated
Information overload
Information overload

There is a massive amount of information about childbirth on the internet, you can truly learn everything you need to know to be prepared for birth online! The problem is, how do you know whether or not you're getting quality, relevant, and balanced information?

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For ParentsJoyce Dykemabirth, birth plan, birth doula, breastfeeding, baby, cesarean, comfort measures, childbirth, childbirth education, CNM, caregiver, doulas, Doula Joyce, expectations, episiotomy, epidural, emotions, experience, family doctor, group b strep, hospital, iv, ican, information, induction of labor, learning, mothers, midwife, natural, newborn, OB, options, obstetrician, prenatal, parents, pregnancy, parenting, postpartum, recovery, statistics, saline lock, support, unmedicated, vbac
2019 Nebraska Hospital Cesarean Rates
2019 Nebraska Hospital Cesarean Rates

Since 2017, I have been compiling all of Nebraska’s maternity care statistics from public sources, and here are the most recent, publicly available data on Nebraska hospital overall Cesarean rates, from 2019.

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For Professionals, For Parents, NebraskaJoyce DykemaDoula Joycebirth, cesarean, childbirth, ican, vbac, Doula Joyce, EBB Instructor, information, professional doula work, hospital, Nebraska, OB, obstetrician, mothers, pregnancy, statistics, women
2018-2019 Nebraska Hospital Cesarean Rates
2018-2019 Nebraska Hospital Cesarean Rates

For the last two years, I have been compiling all of Nebraska’s maternity care statistics from public sources, and here are the most recent, publicly available data on Nebraska hospital overall Cesarean rates, from October 2017-September 2018.

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For Professionals, For Parents, NebraskaJoyce DykemaDoula Joycebirth, cesarean, childbirth, ican, vbac, Doula Joyce, EBB Instructor, information, professional doula work, hospital, Nebraska, OB, obstetrician, mothers, pregnancy, statistics, women
Trust birth?
Trust birth?

“Trust birth” has truth behind it. But it’s not the whole story. If your pregnancy and birth are smooth, it’s easy to trust birth. However, when your pregnancy and birth are full of complications, is your body and birth still trustworthy? Here are my thoughts.

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For Parents, For ProfessionalsJoyce Dykemabirth, baby, birth plan, breastfeeding, cesarean, childbirth, Doula Joyce, expectations, experience, mothers, options, prenatal, parents, pregnancy, parenting, postpartum, recovery, support, trauma, vbac, cbac
My favorite things: Golf balls
My favorite things: Golf balls

Here is my latest in a series of all of my favorite things! This will include my favorites for supporting people in childbirth, doula life and recovery, small business owner hacks, books and resources, and more, but today is all about golf balls! Golf balls and other massage tools help to provide firmer pressure and can help the support team to use their energy more efficiently, so they can provide the massage and counterpressure for longer periods of time.

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For Parents, For Professionals, Resource Reviews, My Favorite ThingsJoyce Dykemadoula life, Doula Joyce, professional doula work, parents, comfort measures, favorite things
My favorite things: The Birth Partner
My favorite things: The Birth Partner

Here is my latest in a series of all of my favorite things! This will include my favorites for supporting people in childbirth, doula life and recovery, small business owner hacks, books and resources, and more, but today is all about The Birth Partner, by Penny Simkin! This excellent book has been one of my favorite items since my own first pregnancy.

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For Parents, For Professionals, Resource Reviews, My Favorite ThingsJoyce Dykemadoula life, Doula Joyce, professional doula work, parents, comfort measures, favorite things
My favorite things: Swim rings
My favorite things: Swim rings

Next up in my series of all of my favorite things! This will include my favorites for supporting people in childbirth, doula life and recovery, small business owner hacks, books and resources, and more, but today is all about swim rings! I have used these childhood water toys as both a mom and a birth doula. Read more about what I use this for, and why it is one of my favorite things.

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For Parents, For Professionals, Resource Reviews, My Favorite ThingsJoyce Dykemadoula life, Doula Joyce, professional doula work, parents, comfort measures, favorite things
My favorite things: My Shining Year
My favorite things: My Shining Year

Here is the latest in a series of all of my favorite things! This will include my favorites for supporting people in childbirth, doula life and recovery, small business owner hacks, books and resources, and more, but today is all about the My Shining Year Business Goals Workbook by Leonie Dawson! The workbooks take you through your previous business year finances, services, systems, and more, helps you to quickly identify areas where you need to make changes, and then helps you lay out your goals for the year ahead.

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For Parents, For Professionals, Resource Reviews, My Favorite ThingsJoyce Dykemadoula life, Doula Joyce, professional doula work, parents, comfort measures, favorite things
My favorite things: Rice socks
My favorite things: Rice socks

Here is the latest in a series of all of my favorite things! This will include my favorites for supporting people in childbirth, doula life and recovery, small business owner hacks, books and resources, and more, but today is all about rice-filled socks! These DIY microwaveable heating packs are simple and a great comfort tool. Read more about what I use this for, and why it is one of my favorite things.

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For Parents, For Professionals, Resource Reviews, My Favorite ThingsJoyce Dykemadoula life, Doula Joyce, professional doula work, parents, comfort measures, favorite things
My favorite things: Hot water bottles
My favorite things: Hot water bottles

Here is the first in a series of all of my favorite things! This will include my favorites for supporting people in childbirth, doula life and recovery, small business owner hacks, books and resources, and more, but today is all about hot water bottles! This old-fashioned first-aid kit item has quickly become one of my favorite items in my doula bag. Read more about what I use this for, and why it is one of my favorite things.

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For Parents, For Professionals, Resource Reviews, My Favorite ThingsJoyce Dykemadoula life, Doula Joyce, professional doula work, parents, comfort measures, favorite things