Skin to Skin Series: Introducing A New Type of Doula: The Kangaroula -30

Madison and I talk about the unique job of being Kangaroulas, a unique birth worker that was developed by Dr. Nils Bergman and his wife Jills Bergman to focus on bonding and attachment of baby and mother. We also talk about our unique premature baby stories.

Madison Hendry (aka Mama Bird), transitioned into motherhood in 2014. As a visual artist and recent graduate in 2011 with a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, she began to see a shift in her artwork, career, and perspective on life. Her artwork has been exhibited and published internationally and included in pioneering events such as Project AfterBirth; the first-ever international exhibition based on the subject of early parenthood.

With the premature birth of her second son, Madison became fascinated with the dynamics of the mother/infant relationship. She realized her touch, sound, smell, milk, and relationship with him were not only beneficial; she was essential and played an active role in his development. The process of having a premature infant taught her to listen to her instincts and her child's needs and respond to them. Madison received a scholarship and completed her Breastfeeding Educator Certification with Birth Arts International in 2018. She went on to become a Certified Birth Doula with BirthWorks Int. And Certified Kangaroula with Jill & Dr. Nils Bergman in 2020.

Madison has over 9 years (and counting) of personal breastfeeding experience. She lives in a 1950s Sears Home in Cleveland, OH suburbs with her husband, tattooer, Angus Hendry, two boys, Angus and Huckleberry, daughter, Evergreen, and a baby on the way.

Episodes in this Series:1. ⁠Skin to Skin Series: Introducing A New Type of Doula: The Kangaroula -30⁠

2.⁠ What is skin to skin and why it's vital to improving infant health and mortality -31⁠

3. ⁠The Importance of Kangaroo Care During C-Sections with Kate Donofrio⁠

Resources From Episode:

• https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2026486
• Kangaroo mother care started immediately after birth critical for saving lives, new research shows
• WHO advises immediate skin to skin care for survival of small and preterm babies
• Mama Bird Hendry
• UNICEF – Breastfeeding Crawl Video
• 3 Golden Hours, The Most Important Hours For Newborn Breastfeeding
• Use of Hand Expression of Breastmilk Within First Hour of Delivery to Increase Exclusive Hospital Breastfeeding Rate [40O] 
• Cleveland Kangaroula Collective