I have been SO inspired over the last few days!

All of these amazing birth workers and doulas from around the world are celebrating the work of birth support.  More and more individuals and institutions are starting to recognize the value of continuous labor support and it’s incredible to see.

 

In fact, I was asked by the nursing honors society of DePaul University to speak to their nursing students and professional RN’s next month about my work as a music therapist in childbirth.  Today they asked me for a short biography and some speaking points.  Well for someone like me who wants to passionately share every detail about my work and experience, the term “short biography” is an oxymoron.

So today, as a challenge to myself, I’m sharing my short biography for World Doula Week.

To be fair, I have written some that are 50 words or less for many conference brochures, but this one feels really good to me and is inspiring some major copy changes across my current website and my new projects too.  I had to really stop critiquing myself and write this from a place of celebrating my unique business and all of the amazing experiences I’ve been privileged to have as a professional doula and board certified music therapist.  I also had to let go of the idea of putting every little detail in it and instead just paint an overall picture of well-rounded and authentic experience.    Either way, it’s done and here it is:

Kate Taylor, MA, MT-BC is the owner of Creative Childbirth ConceptsⓇ which provides full spectrum pre and perinatal music therapy and birth services to all Chicago area families.   Through this unique music therapy practice Kate also assists women in labor and delivery as a birth doula.  Kate has advanced clinical training in providing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) support, as well as applications of guided imagery, neurologic music therapy and end of life care.  Kate draws upon her experience of the creative arts to deliver innovative childbirth education classes, music therapy assisted childbirth and unmatched personalized support for all families.  Kate enjoys using creative writing, movement, music and art in birth preparation to help families be ready for birth and beyond.  Kate also uses these creative tools to train and supervise other music therapists and birth workers including fellow birth, postpartum and bereavement doulas.   Kate has presented her research at regional and national conferences of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), the Online Music Therapy Conference (OCMT) and the prestigious Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health.  Kate Taylor has also had the honor of speaking at the World Congress of Breastfeeding through La Leche League International and on behalf of organizations like the Holistic Moms Network.  More information about Kate can be found at www.birthmusic.net.   Find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CreativeChildbirthConcepts, on twitter:  @musictherapy4me or on instagram @birthmusictherapy.

What puts the “YOU” in DOULA? A few unique things about me as a doula.

For today’s blog in honor of #worlddoulaweek I’d like to share a list of things about me that I feel make me unique as a doula. You know why I became a doula but now it’s time to see how I use my special gifts and talents to provide the highest standard of support for you (my clients) and for all my fellow birth workers reading this who trust me as your mentor.

• I am an excellent listener.
• I am patient.
• I am intuitive.
• I accept your feelings, physical and emotional.
• I support all of your feelings.
• I want the best possible outcome for you and your family.
• I can help you understand your choices.
• I will present you with all the facts and options.
• I can help you weigh the risks and benefits.
• I will not make a choice for you or attempt to sway you with my beliefs.
• I know when to let you be alone so you can do it on your own.
• I can help you understand yourself so you’re more aware.
• I bring out your creative side.
• I love music but know when to enjoy the silence.
• I see you not as mother, father, colleague, or friend but as human.
• I have the highest regard for your life and dignity.
• My continuous support can improve your outcomes.
• I will make every attempt to help you achieve your goals.
• My knowledge as a music therapist can greatly enhance your relationship with music and help you more fully embrace your experience.
• I am professional and trustworthy.
• I am authentic and kind.
• I am here for you.
• I am Kate Taylor.

Happy #WorldDoulaWeek!

Let me know how I can serve you! Email today mymusictherapist@gmail.com or visit www.birthmusic.net

 

 

5 reasons why I became a DOULA

It’s #worlddoulaweek and today I’m counting down the top 5 reasons why I became a doula.

Reason #5:  Support

I knew I owed it to myself to hire someone dedicated to supporting me.

Just a few years before becoming pregnant with my first child, I trained in a method of using music therapy for birth.  During the final day of training I was diagnosed with an abscess that required surgery the very next day.  

Streaming music instead of screaming for birth.

Yesterday my feed was BLOWING up with links to the news that Spotify streaming music service had scientifically designed a birthing playlist.  Yes, that’s right a playlist designed specifically to accompany women through childbirth by New York City-based OB-GYN Dr. Jacques Moritz.   The Huffington Post, Time.com and even YahooSports picked up the story.

This may be a new concept for some, but not for me.  I’ve built my entire music therapy practice around using music, including streaming playlists, for the whole spectrum of pre and perinatal experiences especially, fertility, pregnancy education, labor, delivery and postpartum  healing.    But Spotify already knew that I’m sure.  My profile is mymusictherapist and nearly 80% of my private playlists have birth related titles.

While I appreciate that Spotify is reaching out to OBs to curate playlists that reflect the birthing experience, I know, as does Dr. Mortiz that every experience is different.  This is why assessment of preference and familiarity is so important.  What if I played Pearl Jam’s Just Breathe at someone’s birth when if fact maybe that mom related that song to the last breaths of her loved one that died the year that song came out?  You never know, unless the birthing family chooses that song and desires to use it in their birth.  Again, it seems Spotify is just making the suggestions based on some sound advice:

• There IS a place in labor for slow and mellow music as well as music with a strong tempo.
• There ARE many reasons to use music with lyrics that make a women feel beautiful and connected to her birthing partner (Hello, oxytocin!).
• Instrumental music IS often a preferred selection for relaxation and bonding, so it too has it’s place in a birth plan.
• There IS a place for comforting and familiar music that puts mom at ease from the fear and hard work of labor.
• There IS a science behind how music impacts the birthing mother’s limbic system (and more!)
• Music can in fact be a wonderful distraction from the noises of some birthing environments (including the screams of other mothers who may not be coping as well or forgot to get a Spotify profile before their water broke.)

But, music for birth is more than that too.   Read a few of the testimonials from my birthing clients and you’ll see.  Their birth plans involved much more than just streaming music to drown out their screaming.  Rather, the music was an integral part to their therapeutic prenatal preparation.  Their music playlists were magical in how they connected them as a team, shaped their environment and created lifelong memories as a soundtrack to their birth.  The music helped heal their past birth experiences.  The music helped them anticipate their fears and anxiety and work through them by supporting imagery and reflection.  The music was “theirs” and the music was therapeutic.  It CHANGED their births.

This playlist announcement is kind of exciting to me as a birth expert and board certified music therapist.   Why?   Dr. Mortiz told the media that he sees nearly 70% of birthing families design a playlist of music during birth and spotify claims there are over 90,000 existing user playlists for pushing stages of labor.  While there may be music therapists concerned about telling Spotify or Dr. Mortiz how to better do their jobs, I’m sure they did their best with the knowledge (and more likely the algorithms) they had.  I’m more motivated to let the public know, there is more out there about the intentional and powerful use of music for birth!  

If 70% of birthing moms really embraced the therapeutic power of music with a trained guide who can help customize, personalize and navigate with them through the birthing experience, I’m going need a few more full time employees!

If the concepts behind the Spotify birthing playlist intrigue you, than having music designed especially for YOUR birth experience with YOUR musical preferences will really blow your mind.   Email me or contact me through my website www.birthmusic.net for a free consultation for birth music and music therapy assisted childbirth.   Tell Spotify, “Thanks for the head start” but keep on birthing and rock it in your own way.  This is just the beginning.   I can’t wait to hear more birth playlists from anyone who wants to make one.  After all,  It’s your Birth.  Be Creative.

Hey Spotify, you can email me too mymusictherapist@gmail.com!

Kate Taylor, MA, MT-BC