Center for the Childbearing Year, LLC » Blog

High Dose of Yeast Infection Drug Linked to Birth Defects, FDA Says

Patty Brennan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:00:48 +0000

Pregnant women who take ongoing, high doses of the drug fluconazole (brand name Diflucan) may be at increased risk of having babies with birth defects, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned this week.

Each Wednesday, our Birth & Parenting News blog highlights the latest news items, research results, consumer alerts, and legislative action alerts of interest to expectant and new parents and the professionals who work them.

Induction may be safe for some VBACs

Patty Brennan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:00:16 +0000

A new study from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that induction of labor in women planning a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) did not increase the risk of uterine rupture when the total length of labor was taken into account. The study’s authors advise, “rather than absolutely avoiding labor induction in general, clinicians may choose to restrict labor induction to patients with a more favorable cervical exam to minimize uterine rupture risk.” Read the abstract. Read a news article.

2012 Goal Setting for Doulas, Part 4

Patty Brennan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:00:18 +0000

Previously in this series on 2012 Goal Setting for Doulas, I have referenced a “marketing calendar.” Here is an excerpt from my plan, focused on the professional training aspect of my business.

Goal: Sell at least one Postpartum Home Visitor Training in 2012.

History: new program has been sketched out and description is on website; one party has expressed interest; none sold to date. Why is this a good goal for me? Because (a) it has the potential to increase my annual income by $3,000 per gig; (b) it would be a fun class to teach; (c) it would expand my reputation/visibility throughout the state and thereby increase interest in other programs my business offers; (d) has the potential to go national; and (e) has built-in continuity, meaning buyers will come back for more on a regular basis as new staff need to be trained. So, all in all, a good business goal for me, though admittedly one of several.

Action Step: Create list of contacts who form potential market for this program (by end of January).

pull current contacts from my database
brainstorm additional contacts with Wise Woman Group
generate list, with contact information

Action Step: Speak with leaders in the field (marketing research) (by end of February)

create list of questions: current training used, training gaps, biggest areas of challenge, training budgets, cooperative possibilities

Action Step: Develop foot-in-the-door strategy (by end of March)

refine existing program content, sales copy, and pricing structure, based on feedback from leaders in the field
brainstorm attention-getting strategies (use both Master Mind groups for help)
identify plan for implementation of marketing strategy

Action Step: Implement the plan (by end of April)

target three top contacts with proposal/sales strategy
have student intern generate comprehensive mailing list of home visitor programs throughout the State

And so on …

It’s all about how to get from point A to point B. All journeys begin with one step! I hope you have found this series of blogs helpful and inspiring. To keep yourself on track, join me for my “Building Your Birth-Related Business” full-day workshop, offered this coming May, wherein I will be sharing MUCH more on the subject of marketing your doula business.

The Doula Business Advisor blog is designed to support the establishment and long-term sustainability of private doula businesses. Patty Brennan is the author of The Doula Business Guide: Creating a Successful MotherBaby Business.

Studies show unvaccinated children far less prone to allergies and disease than vaccinated children.

Patty Brennan — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:39:59 +0000

It is commonly assumed that vaccinations are responsible for bringing about substantial improvements in public health and that humans were much more prone to developing serious disease prior to their advent. But a new survey released by VaccineInjury.info debunks this myth by showing that unvaccinated children are far less prone to developing allergies, autoimmune disorders, neurological problems, endocrine diseases, and other illnesses compared to their vaccinated counterparts. Learn more.

2012 Goal Setting for Doulas, Part 3

Patty Brennan — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:00:37 +0000

Doulas and other small business owners may need to procure help in order to achieve their goals. Help might be in the form of hiring a professional (for example, a web designer), or it may be in the form of getting the whole family on board with the idea that mom has specified “work times” that need to be respected, perhaps even hiring a babysitter so that you have a dedicated business development time each week. Figure out what you need to make it work! Building a business is a creative act.

The idea of the “Master Mind” group was first proposed by Napoleon Hill in his now-famous book, Think and Grow Rich. The Master Mind concept involves a special type of professional support group wherein a dynamic exchange of marketing ideas takes place. I participate in two Master Mind groups: a “Wise Women Marketing Group” that is childbirth-industry specific and one that involves entrepreneurs from a variety of industries (we’re talking heating and cooling businesses, carpet cleaners, and so on) and includes both male and female members. Each group comes together once a month and each member is allotted a specific amount of time (anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes or so, and we set a timer!) for all group members to focus on your business.

The group can critique your overall business plan, or provide feedback on a specific marketing piece you have developed (e.g., brochure, flyer) or copy you have written to promote a new product. Or, they can brainstorm new outreach venues, networking opportunities, or marketing strategies strategies … whatever you are working on or need help with. Group members can also share resources and professional contacts for contractual services (such as business coaches, graphic artists, web designers, accountants, etc.). It’s a pooling of brain power and resources.

In the industry-specific Wise Women group, we have a lactation consultant, a childbirth educator/doula trainer, a postpartum doula, a birth photographer, and a retired homebirth midwife now starting up a new business as a home funeral guide. Lots of diversity, but no overlap or direct competition. It’s really helpful to have a group industry insiders, each with her own realm of influence, sharing a dynamic exchange of ideas.

The beauty of the broader Master Mind group is that each of us can also benefit from the perspective of folks who are not in our same field. This group will cause you to identify assumptions you are making about your audience and help steer you away from insider jargon abuse. Every birth junkie knows what you mean if you call yourself a “MotherBaby advocate,” but an expectant father may draw a blank (or worse, feel excluded). Master Mind group members can often help by simply observing, “I don’t know what this means.” You will also be drawing from a wider, more diverse range of contacts, experience, knowledge, and skills. And, here’s a secret: If a marketing technique works in one business, it can be adapted for use in another. Bundled services, “upsells,” coupons, gift certificates, and referral rewards work for doulas too!

And last, but not least, the groups can be a means of helping you hold yourself accountable to your goals. If you are meeting once a month, or twice a month (like I do) to focus on marketing, you will need to prepare something to bring to that meeting or what is the point? The meeting serves as a deadline of sorts and we ALL benefit from deadlines. Being an entrepreneur is a lonely job at times. If that’s one of your obstacles, what can you do about it?

Join us next week for the final installment of our four-part blog series on 2012 Goal Setting for Doulas as we develop the marketing calendar tool.

Circumcision and informed decision making

Patty Brennan — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:00:38 +0000

NOCIRC has produced a 20-minute educational video about circumcision. http://www.nocirc.org/. This free video is available to download, copy, and distribute. You can even upload it to your own website, if desired. In addition, a Circumcision Resource page has been developed for educators at http://www.icgi.org/birth_care_providers.htm. Here you will find videos, articles, and pamphlets that discuss various aspects of the circumcision decision, as well as care of the intact child.

Please also check out the website http://peacefulbeginningsrosemary.wordpress.com/. A “New York Times” article reported that the U.S. circumcision rate has fallen from 56% in 2006 to 32.5% in 2009, according to the CDC. See http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/17/health/research/17circ.html?_r=2.

Recent news articles have reported on African studies that claim to show that circumcision prevents HIV. Dr. Dean Edell discusses these studies, and how they relate to our own experience in the U.S. at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlsUg0sdAtE.

Presently, eighteen states no longer fund non-therapeutic Medicaid circumcisions, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho,
Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington.

2012 Goal Setting for Doulas, Part 2

Patty Brennan — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:00:08 +0000

In last week’s blog, I encouraged doulas to establish goals for the development of their businesses over the new year. We can think of this goal setting as a type of business plan or marketing calendar. Now, I invite each doula business owner to review the past year. Did you set any goals for yourself in 2011? How did you do (be ruthless here)? Let’s look at the goals themselves. Did they have identified action steps and deadlines attached? Would that have helped you? Did you abandon your plan altogether in the face of obstacles encountered? Have you identified obstacles that keep you from achieving your goals?

How can we work around the obstacles? Here’s a few tips:

Try to remove yourself from the emotions attached to the obstacles and take a more objective view. At this stage, we are simply identifying a list of what makes this hard for you. What frustrations have you experienced related to launching your business?
Examine your beliefs about the obstacles. Do you believe that they are insurmountable? Do you believe that there is only one path over or around that obstacle? Might there be more than one solution? Let your imagination soar. Be open to the idea that the answers will come to you.
Get this all out on the table without pre-judging it or yourself. “Just the facts mam …”
It just might be that the first part of your goal setting for 2012 will need to revolve around resolving fundamental issues, clearing a path to the next, more fruitful steps.
Ask for the help you need. This may be from family members, friends, or professionals. Identify what it is that you cannot accomplish with help or cooperation from others.

Often our unconscious fears keep us from even examining our situation and, until we do that, we can’t move past the obstacles in our path. Next week, Part 3 in our four-part series on 2012 Goal Setting for Doulas explores how to get the help you need to be a successful entrepreneur.

Infant Mortality Data

Patty Brennan — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:00:45 +0000

Doula program grant writers are always in need of current information and data on infant mortality. Here are two interesting recent articles about infant mortality:

The Doula Programs blog provides a forum for doula program visionaries and implementers to consider common challenges, ask questions, and learn from each other. Patty Brennan is the author of The Doula Business Guide: Creating a Successful MotherBaby Business.

2012 Goal Setting for Doulas, Part 1

Patty Brennan — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:00:30 +0000

Welcome to my four-part blog series on 2012 Goal Setting for Doulas! Have you set up your doula business marketing calendar for the coming year? I don’t know why I am such a fan of New Years. I guess it’s the idea of a fresh start. As an entrepreneur (and yes, doulas may want to view themselves as entrepreneurs!), I’m also big on setting goals for myself and then, at the end of the year, measuring how well I did. For example, I increased my personal income in 2011 by 52%! My goal was a little more ambitious than that even, but I believe I am on track for achieving the more ambitious target number for 2012. Here’s a few tips:

Set your goals. Make them specific, focused, achievable, meaningful, and measurable. Better to overshoot a bit than to undershoot. If you undershoot, then you are stating that your intention is to do less than you are capable of and/or desire. If you overshoot, then you challenge yourself to do more, to be the best you can be. Warning: If you have too many goals, then there will be no focus to what you are trying to accomplish. Keep it focused!
Identify the action steps needed to achieve each goal. For example, if one of your goals is to complete your doula certification requirements, simply create a checklist of what remains incomplete. Those are your action steps.
Set deadlines for completion of each action step. Yes, really. Deadlines are your friend! Get a calendar, or create one online. Each action step must have a deadline attached.
Work backwards from the deadline to create a work/task schedule. In other words, in order to accomplish an action step by the deadline, what specifically must you do? Now, instead of feeling overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of possibilities of how to proceed, you have a plan. Just work the plan.
Hold yourself accountable. On at least a monthly basis, give yourself a measure of your progress. If you fall short, rather than abandoning your system, readjust as necessary to stay on track.

There is a saying, “Do you know how to make God laugh? Show him your plans.” And this: “Life is what happens while we are planning other things.” So, yes, we all experience unforeseen challenges and obstacles that can pull us off track. But without a plan, we are like a ship’s captain with no destination … when the storms come, we will be tossed about, but even in fine weather, we simply go wherever the current and the wind takes us. Once we commit to a destination, the odds are in our favor that we will get there. Don’t let your New Year’s resolutions become a “to do list for the first week of January!”

Anyone else have a System for Getting Things Done? Next week: Overcoming Obstacles.