Sunday, February 4, 2018

No Longer In Shreveport

I am no longer in Shreveport, I am in Germany.

But contact this midwife for births or to get doula info too.


Bonne Fete Maternity
Home Birth Midwife
www.bonnefetematernity.com
facebook.com/bonnefetematernity
318-459-8398
midwife@bonnefetematernity.com

Thanks, y'all!

Thursday, January 1, 2015

A Fresh Start

Hello all, come and join me at my new home on the web. We are having new adventures, still in Louisiana.


Sunday, December 8, 2013

I'm excited to announce that we have welcomed baby Hazel Anne into our family! She was born at 39 weeks and 5 days, 6 lbs 8 oz. It was an amazing water birth at Eden Way Birth Center and my husband caught her!

I'm taking an extended maternity leave from being a doula at the moment. However, I just started working with essential oils. Please email me at holly@mrsdeering.com if you're interested in learning more.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Improving Birth


A local rally for Improving Birth is coming up on September 2, 2013 at the Duck Pond in Shreveport, LA. You can see details and RSVP here. Feel free to bring your families and drop in to see what it's all about.

From their Facebook page:
"We are mothers and the people who care for us. Our mission is to bring evidence-based care and humanity to childbirth. www.ImprovingBirth.org


Description

There’s a big problem with American maternity care when one in three babies is born by surgery, 98% of women do not receive care based on best medical evidence, and a woman’s chance of dying in childbirth is higher here than in 48 other developed countries. ~

This movement isn’t about natural birth vs. medicated birth. It’s not about hospital birth vs. homebirth or birth center birth.

It’s about women being capable of making safer, more informed decisions about their care and that of their babies, when they are given full and accurate information about their care options, including the potential harms, benefits, and alternatives. It’s about respect for women and their decisions in childbirth, including how, where, and with whom they give birth; and the right to be treated with dignity and compassion.

Who We Are:
Our mission is to bring evidence-based care and humanity to childbirth--starting with the consumer.

Evidence-based care is based on the highest quality, most current medical evidence, tailored to the individual. We believe that women can make safer, more informed decisions about their care and that of their babies when they are given full and accurate information about their care options, including the potential harms, benefits, and alternatives.

Humanity in childbirth means respect of the birthing woman, of her autonomy, and of her fundamental right to make decisions about her body and her baby. We believe that childbearing women, like all human beings, should be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.

More about Who We Are: http://www.improvingbirth.org/who-we-are/

What We Do:
Right now, we're raising awareness about the crisis in American maternity care by going straight to the consumer to educate, inform, and provide opportunities for advocacy.

Nearly 10,000 women, families, and birth professionals in over 100 cities in 46 states came out for our 2012 Labor Day rallies, raising awareness about the need for better, more respectful, evidence-based maternity care.

In 2013, we expect to double those numbers, and we will go global with our cause.

We also hand-delivered information about evidence-based care to over 2,000 doctors, nurses, and midwives in November 2012. We are working on educational programs for high-school and college-age young women and providers-to-be, a legal advocacy program for mothers, and a national platform to establish the fundamental human right of women to choose how and where they give birth.

More about What We Do: http://www.improvingbirth.org/what-we-do/ "

Friday, July 19, 2013

Reducing Fear of Birth




This is worth watching. It's short, but great information!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Want to become a doula?

Have you ever thought of becoming a doula? I'm expecting our fourth baby in November, so I am only doing births up through October 2013. I will be back to work sometime after November 2014!

So if you've ever thought of becoming a doula, we need them here in Shreveport/Bossier City. Visit this page for more info on the upcoming local training. http://www.erikaurban.com/doula-training.php

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Testimonial!

"Holly Deering was my doula last year when I had my first baby and she was wonderful!  She knew all of the steps of childbirth so she was able to coach me throughout the birth.  She lent me books and guided me through the whole process easing my insecurities.  She helped me so much I was confident enough to have a completely natural birth without drugs.  My recovery time was amazing and my baby girl was alert and perfect when she arrived.  After she was born Holly even assisted me with suggestions on baby wearing and nursing and several visits just to check up on us and see how we were doing.  She was wonderful!!!
 
I would highly recommend her to anyone who would like to have a doula assist them with their birth.
 
Sincerely,
-J"

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Update

I am now one birth away from my official certification! If any October or November 2012 moms are interested in my availability, I can offer you $25 off my services as your doula. Simply mention you saw this post about the fall discount and we will work it out!

Also, I have the months of February and April 2013 open as of right now. Contact me today for more information!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Availability

I currently have some room on my calendar for the month of November 2012 and February 2013. If you're due in any other month, please contact me and I'll see if things might work with my current clients. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Preconception

For all the ladies that want to be mamas to be, visit Naturally Knocked Up for lots of great information on conception and health.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Babywearing Twins

I was recently approached by a grandma-to-be whose daughter-in-law will be having twins. Grandma wanted to know how to babywear twins!

So here's a great video on newborns.



And a wonderful website called Babywearing Twins!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Naples, Florida

I am visiting Naples, FL right now and I stopped in at La Leche League's local meeting. Contact them for breastfeeding questions at their website, here.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Woven Baby Wraps

The Blueberry Tree has a bargain barrel section for baby carriers. The prices are excellent for beautiful woven wraps that are brand new! The Girasol Big Sur is available for smaller mamas at 4.2 meters and it costs $88 (free shipping). The Girasol Santa Fe is 4.6 meters and will fit most for $95. I've spent this much on a used wrap before, so for those that want to try it out, these are a great buy.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Need a Doula?

I have several estimated due date ranges available if any March, April, May, or even June mamas want to contact me. Schedule your free meeting today! Call me at 318-200-0617.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

For all you mamas with a new woven wrap, here's a video on the best back carry I've found.

This can be used as soon as you're brave enough to try, and not with a stretchy wrap!


Thursday, August 4, 2011

La Leche League Meetings


La Leche League is a great way to meet other moms who are going through the same things that you may be- or they've gone through it before and can offer support!

Please join us for a meeting. Kids are welcome too.


The month of August will have an enrichment meeting (Aug 17) on babywearing- there will be different kinds of carriers to try and a few to bid on during the silent auction (in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week). 


For online help you can join the Yahoo group. Click here to check it out.

Meetings

Morning Meeting: We meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:30 am at Aulds Library, 3950 Wayne Avenue in Shady Grove subdivision, Bossier City.

Night Meeting: We meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm at Aulds Library, 3950 Wayne Avenue in Shady Grove subdivision, Bossier City.

Enrichment Meeting:  We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 10:00 am at Aulds Library.

Topics for Enrichment Meetings: 
January Birth 
February Babywearing
March Extended Breastfeeding
April Education/Homeschooling
May Nutrition
June Cloth Diapering/Elimination Communication
July Birth
August Babywearing
September Extended Breastfeeding
October Education/Homeschooling
November Nutrition
December Cloth Diapering/Elimination Communication

For further information about our meetings, please call 318-742-MILK.

Leaders

Leaders are experienced breastfeeding mothers who have completed an accreditation program and are familiar with breastfeeding management techniques as well as current research. If you need information and support, feel free to call one of our Leaders:

318-742-MILK or lllshreveportbossier@gmail.com

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Encouragement

Just as a woman’s heart knows,
How and when to pump,
Her lungs to inhale,
And her hand to pull back from fire,
So she knows when and how to give birth.
- Virginia Di

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Accepting New Clients!

I am pleased to announce that I am now accepting new clients! I am available immediately.

Please contact me for more information. And as always, if your husband will be away on military duty, I will volunteer to attend your birth as part of Operation Special Delivery.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Childbirth Education Class

This class is coming up this weekend at Eden Way Birth Center. Jen will be teaching. 


"The class is around 12 hours total and is usually a mixed group of couples who are planning natural childbirth in different settings. Some home, some hospital, some birth center. I cover the same material for everybody because the hospital couples may be planning to labor at home for awhile, and knowing how things work at home gives them an advantage. For the out-of-hospital couples...knowing what's available/routinely done at the hospital takes the mystery out of it if transfer becomes necessary.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

A Birth Story

This is a lovely birth story that I'm passing on to encourage pregnant moms. 

"I awoke just before 4am on the day I turned 41 weeks pregnant. I actually woke up because I found that I had almost subconsciously rolled myself out of bed and onto all fours to handle the pain in my abdomen. I had been semi-waking periodically for what seemed like a couple of hours feeling mild pains, but since I had been having mild contractions for weeks it didn't register any importance.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Nursing in a Wrap



This is a great way to feed your baby and grocery shop, or chase your older kids around the store.... whichever.

Monday, May 30, 2011

La Leche League Meetings

La Leche League is a great way to meet other moms who are going through the same things that you may be- or they've gone through it before and can offer support!

Please join us for a meeting. Kids are welcome too.


For online help you can join the Yahoo group. Click here to check it out.

Meetings

Morning Meeting: We meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:30 am at Aulds Library, 3950 Wayne Avenue in Shady Grove subdivision, Bossier City.

Night Meeting: We meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm at Aulds Library, 3950 Wayne Avenue in Shady Grove subdivision, Bossier City.

Enrichment Meeting:  We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 10:00 am at Aulds Library.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Babywearing

I know many people ask me about "wearing" a baby. It's pretty simple, and if you run by Hancock or Hobby Lobby you can buy some cotton crinkle gauze (best makeshift carrier material). Here's the how to on the rest of the process.

Here's a description of how to use it.

And a video to boot!



If you're interested in buying a very supportive woven wrap like the ones I prefer, there are two good sources for buying them "pre-owned".

The Baby Wearer

Diaper Swappers

Thursday, May 12, 2011

In Shreveport Again

I'm back in the Shreveport/Bossier City area again. I'm available for childbirth education but not necessarily as a doula. My little nursing one would object to me leaving!

Please contact me for more info on education and resources available.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Operation Special Delivery

I am now a volunteer with Operation Special Delivery.


"Operation Special Delivery (or OSD), provides trained volunteer doulas for pregnant women whose husbands or partners have been severely injured or who have lost their lives due to the current war on terror, or who will be deployed , or unable to attend the birth due to military reasons. The doulas that are volunteering are doing so at a discounted or pro bono rate, and are doing so by their own discresion.

What is a doula? A doula is specially trained to give informational, emotional, and physical support to women during childbirth. A doula does not perform medical tasks, but is trained to provide uninterrupted support to a mother in labor and during birth.
Why military moms? OSD believes that no one should go through childbirth without support, especially the women who are giving birth while their husbands or partners are making such a great sacrifice for our country and our freedom."

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

A Brief Stay in New Mexico

Hello all,

I'm currently living in Alamogordo, New Mexico. I will be here until mid-April 2011. I'd love to offer my services if we can work around my little nursing one, so please contact me with any questions. The same contact info applies, 318-200-0617.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

I was born and grew up in Kenya & Cote d'Ivoire. Then from the age of fifteen I lived in the UK. However, I always knew that I wanted to raise my children (whenever I had them) at home in Kenya. And yes, I assumed I was going to have them. I am a modern African woman with two university degrees and I am a fourth generation working woman - but when it comes to children, I am typically African. The assumption remains that you are not complete without them; children are a blessing it would be crazy to avoid. Actually the question does not even arise.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010


One method of hands free breastfeeding.
Shreveport, Bossier City, Louisiana, doula, birth

Friday, August 6, 2010

43 Reasons To Wear Your Baby On Your Body

from the work of Ashley Montagu Ph.D, Jean Liedloff, and various child development researchers
  1. Babywearing recreates the oneness of the baby and mother that existed in the womb which is absolutely necessary for proper development of the infant and the mother's levels of mothering hormone, prolactin.
  2. Babywearing provides fathers a way to share the nurturing as well as enhances bonding in the family.
  3. Baby-carrying helps the baby maintain equilibrium and provides movement to the baby in all three directions, essential to proprioception (body awareness).


Study: Lack of breastfeeding 

costs lives, billions of dollars

Miriam Falco, CNN Medical News Managing Editor
April 6, 2010 -- Updated 1533 GMT (2333 HKT)


A number of physician and medical groups agree that breast milk alone is sufficient for babies up to six months.
A number of physician and medical groups agree that breast milk alone is sufficient for babies up to six months

(CNN) -- If most new moms would breastfeed their babies for the first six months of life, it would save nearly 1,000 lives and billions of dollars each year, according to a new study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
"The United States incurs $13 billion in excess costs annually and suffers 911 preventable deaths per year because our breastfeeding rates fall far below medical recommendations," the report said.
The World Health Organization says infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life "to achieve optimal growth, development and health." The WHO is not alone in its recommendations.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all agree that breast milk alone is sufficient for newborns and infants until they are 6 months old.
However, a 2009 breastfeeding report card from the CDC found that only 74 percent of women start breastfeeding, only 33 percent were still exclusively breastfeeding at three months and only 14 percent were still exclusively breastfeeding at six months.