In honor of US Breastfeeding Month +, we are kicking the month off with a Breast Start Virtual Circle on Friday August 2nd at 11am.   If you are breastfeeding*, you are welcome to join. We’ll talk about milk making and learn about the places to go for help throughout the county. I know it’s not easy getting out with a baby. If you don’t live close to a group, it can feel impossible. The theme for World Breastfeeding Week is Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all. One of the challenges we have is getting to supports. So, to help close the gap and make it easier for more, if not quite all, to get support, we’re hosting this circle virtually. I started going to a breastfeeding group’s meeting, years back. It wasn’t always easy to get there, but I found it super helpful. I learned about other people’s experiences 
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We are big fans of doulas. There are more than a few reasons why. On our team, we have personal experience having doulas attend our own births and some of us even trained and worked as doulas. There’s also the science. It tells us doulas help families come out stronger. What’s a doula? Centered around the birthing family, doulas are important partners in the birth care team, along with nurses, midwives, and doctors. Here’s a little bit of what doulas do: Doulas and the Birth Team Some people don’t realize this- that doulas are not health care providers. They are helpers! Doulas focus on care, support, and advocacy. And they are important part of the birth team! Doulas share hours together with families during pregnancy. They stay with families through the whole labor while nurses, midwives and doctors in the hospital usually must divide time between families to ensure everyone gets 
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Doulas and health care providers- including doctors and midwives licensed to practice in California- can support optimal birth and pregnancy outcomes working together. With the new Medi-Cal Benefit covering doula support for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum more families can access doula support. And together doulas and perinatal care providers can make headway improving outcomes and reducing disparities in birth outcomes. 
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Doulas get to know your family and your specific needs and priorities. They know pregnancy and birth through training, education, and the experience they have with birthing families. They also know what a big impact how we feel during labor and birth has on our long-term well-being.
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