I've quickly found out how few people in my sphere know what a doula is. When I say that I'm a doula, or that I'm getting certified as a doula, very rarely do I see someone's eyes light up with recognition (and when I do, it tickles me pink!). More often, the response is a furrowed brow with their head cocked to one side, asking me "A what?" or "You said you do what, again?" Or, as my pastor said..."A doula? Is that anything like a diva?"
Having answered the question as many times as I have, I've generally found it easier to just go with the short answer.
The short answer is: a labor assistant.
The long answer...the REAL answer...is so much more. Part childbirth educator, part massage therapist, part mother to the mother, part medicalese translator, part councelor, part therapist, part lactation consultant, part waitress...these are just some of the roles of a doula. We support. We encourage. We empower a woman to not only decide what type of birth she wants, but help her to take responsibility for her choices so that she can take all the credit for the outcome instead of handing it over to her midwife or doctor. After all, she is the one doing all the work!
I found a neat video on YouTube that was done by a group in Wilmington. I think it accurately shows why every woman deserves a doula. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDHkDBx-9EQ
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Moving right along
I'm moving right along with my class. I've finished the Doula Skills module now and begun to work on my Reflective Practice paper. I still need to finish the draft for that and turn it in, and then turn in the final paper, do one more book review, and do the Physiology module. And attend my two births, of course! It looks like I might actually get everything finished up within my timeline! I'm so excited!
I also ordered a number of marketing items this past weekend. I'm checking the mailbox every day...I should have my very own buisness cards soon!
In other news, last night I decided to walk down the street to Lost and Found and attend their Wednesday night service. I didn't even realize a church met there...I thought it was just an after school program. But I saw on their sign that they have Sunday morning and Wednesday night services and, since AWANA is over for the year, I had a free Wednesday evening to check them out. Apparently on Wed nights they have a Bible study. Everyone there was very welcoming and nice (one woman even knew what a doula was!). I had been hoping there would be some praise and worship music, but I guess that is only on Sunday mornings. That's really the one thing I don't like about Farmville Presbyterian...the music. I really prefer contemporary worship music. But Pastor Rocky and all the people there are just so great...I guess I can get my music elsewhere if I have to. I'm hoping to get some new guitar strings soon so maybe I can start singing praise and worship with the kids as part of our schoolday. Anyway, I think I'm going to keep trying to go to Lost and Found on Wednesday nights. Last night was very refreshing.
Prayer requests today would include continued prayer for S and D as they get ready to welcome Elizabeth into their family, and for me to know what I need to do to help support them through labor and birth.
I want to praise God for providing me with time to work on my class and ask Him to continue to give me the drive to get all my work done.
I also ordered a number of marketing items this past weekend. I'm checking the mailbox every day...I should have my very own buisness cards soon!
In other news, last night I decided to walk down the street to Lost and Found and attend their Wednesday night service. I didn't even realize a church met there...I thought it was just an after school program. But I saw on their sign that they have Sunday morning and Wednesday night services and, since AWANA is over for the year, I had a free Wednesday evening to check them out. Apparently on Wed nights they have a Bible study. Everyone there was very welcoming and nice (one woman even knew what a doula was!). I had been hoping there would be some praise and worship music, but I guess that is only on Sunday mornings. That's really the one thing I don't like about Farmville Presbyterian...the music. I really prefer contemporary worship music. But Pastor Rocky and all the people there are just so great...I guess I can get my music elsewhere if I have to. I'm hoping to get some new guitar strings soon so maybe I can start singing praise and worship with the kids as part of our schoolday. Anyway, I think I'm going to keep trying to go to Lost and Found on Wednesday nights. Last night was very refreshing.
Prayer requests today would include continued prayer for S and D as they get ready to welcome Elizabeth into their family, and for me to know what I need to do to help support them through labor and birth.
I want to praise God for providing me with time to work on my class and ask Him to continue to give me the drive to get all my work done.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Soon, now!
I'm so excited! My first client is due any day now! Officially, baby Elizabeth is due to be born next week. S.'s first child was born a couple of days after her due date, and she's said she feels like this baby will wait that long, too. I read on her FaceBook page today that she feels like the baby has dropped, so maybe it will be soon!
I had a second prenatal appointment with S. and her husband D. this past week. This time I got to go without the kids. I took my birth ball (thank you Glynis for letting me borrow it!) and all of my goodies...teas, oils, candals. I'm really looking forward to this birth! I have been nervous about it for a while for a number of reasons...firstly, because the hospital S. has chosen isn't known for being very supportive of natural birth or breastfeeding and secondly because her first labor was only 7 hours, so I've been concerned that, with the long drive I'll have to make, I might miss a lot of her labor or even the birth. I think I've found peace about it, though. I'm just trusting that God will work everything out.
I'm also trying to focus on some things I've learned in my doula class: that I am not responsible for the birth choices my clients make...they are. My job is not to convince her to stand up to pushy doctors or make birth choices that line up with what I would do in her situation. My job is to support her in her choices and empower her to mke her own choices. I also feel that God will work out the timing as well. If I don't make it to her birth, then I wasn't supposed to be there. If S. and D. are meant to enjoy the birth of their daughter alone, then I won't make it there on time.
The class is going well so far. I've finished the Communications module, other than a paper I need to write. I've also finished a little bit of Physiology, though I've decided to stop that and skip to Doula Skills and hope to get through that before my clients give birth because I feel like the Doula Skills knowledge will be more important in the short term as I feel I have a pretty good grasp of the physiology.
Another exciting thing is that Crystal broke down and had an ultrasound...and I was right! She's having another girl! Natillee Grace should be here mid June. Her 3D u/s pic is adorable! She looks just like her big sister. I absolutely can not wait to attend her birth! It will be my first homebirth! I'm reeeeeally excited to be a part of that!
I'm also hoping to get in touch pretty soon with some teen pregnancy organizations to see if I could work with some of their pregnant teens. I think there are programs through the highschools as well as the crisis pregnancy center. Though I'm nervous about the number of hospital births that would bring in (I really feel that homebirth would be my comfort zone area) I also know that God is calling me to work with that population. My big concern is with the scheduling ...having to leave the kids at a moment's notice as well as what being on call so much will mean for vacation plans and such...but I feel that if God has called me to this, He will work things out. There's no point in wasting energy worrying about tomorrow, right?
In other news (well, related news, at least), I met a young woman the other day while buying some items who could be a potential client. I wish I had had buisness cards with me! But I'm hoping I can go back to the store and drop off some flyers for Blessed Birth as well as for LLL with her. My goal is to get 2 customers by the end of the year. I think I can do that. I'm also hoping I can get this class finished by the time Crystal has Natillee. We'll see about that...I guess I need to buckle down and get working on my paper!
Well, it's late and I'm sleepy...off to bed for me!
I had a second prenatal appointment with S. and her husband D. this past week. This time I got to go without the kids. I took my birth ball (thank you Glynis for letting me borrow it!) and all of my goodies...teas, oils, candals. I'm really looking forward to this birth! I have been nervous about it for a while for a number of reasons...firstly, because the hospital S. has chosen isn't known for being very supportive of natural birth or breastfeeding and secondly because her first labor was only 7 hours, so I've been concerned that, with the long drive I'll have to make, I might miss a lot of her labor or even the birth. I think I've found peace about it, though. I'm just trusting that God will work everything out.
I'm also trying to focus on some things I've learned in my doula class: that I am not responsible for the birth choices my clients make...they are. My job is not to convince her to stand up to pushy doctors or make birth choices that line up with what I would do in her situation. My job is to support her in her choices and empower her to mke her own choices. I also feel that God will work out the timing as well. If I don't make it to her birth, then I wasn't supposed to be there. If S. and D. are meant to enjoy the birth of their daughter alone, then I won't make it there on time.
The class is going well so far. I've finished the Communications module, other than a paper I need to write. I've also finished a little bit of Physiology, though I've decided to stop that and skip to Doula Skills and hope to get through that before my clients give birth because I feel like the Doula Skills knowledge will be more important in the short term as I feel I have a pretty good grasp of the physiology.
Another exciting thing is that Crystal broke down and had an ultrasound...and I was right! She's having another girl! Natillee Grace should be here mid June. Her 3D u/s pic is adorable! She looks just like her big sister. I absolutely can not wait to attend her birth! It will be my first homebirth! I'm reeeeeally excited to be a part of that!
I'm also hoping to get in touch pretty soon with some teen pregnancy organizations to see if I could work with some of their pregnant teens. I think there are programs through the highschools as well as the crisis pregnancy center. Though I'm nervous about the number of hospital births that would bring in (I really feel that homebirth would be my comfort zone area) I also know that God is calling me to work with that population. My big concern is with the scheduling ...having to leave the kids at a moment's notice as well as what being on call so much will mean for vacation plans and such...but I feel that if God has called me to this, He will work things out. There's no point in wasting energy worrying about tomorrow, right?
In other news (well, related news, at least), I met a young woman the other day while buying some items who could be a potential client. I wish I had had buisness cards with me! But I'm hoping I can go back to the store and drop off some flyers for Blessed Birth as well as for LLL with her. My goal is to get 2 customers by the end of the year. I think I can do that. I'm also hoping I can get this class finished by the time Crystal has Natillee. We'll see about that...I guess I need to buckle down and get working on my paper!
Well, it's late and I'm sleepy...off to bed for me!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Plowing through
Things are going really well with my CBI class! So why has it been so long since I've updated? Illness. This has been THE sickest winter we've ever had. It's been unbelievable. A couple of months ago we all had the flu (well, Ian got away with an ear infection, but PG, Zollie and I were wiped out). Then a couple of weeks after that, Ian and Zollie had runny noses and a cough. Last weekend we ALL got a stomach virus. It started Thursday night with Ian and Zollie waking up at about 1am puking all over the bed. They both continued to throw up all day Friday. Saturday at about 3 or 4am I woke up sick and spent about 12 hours nausious and throwing up. By Sunday morning PG had it too. He said it was like watching a train wreck...he knew it was coming but there was nothing he could do to stop it.
We had thought it was over this week. I went back to teaching on Wednesday and PG went back to work that day as well. The kids were back to eating normally, everyone seemed fine. Then last night PG said he didn't feel well. I thought he felt hot so he took his temperature...102.6!!! He has been taking Tylenol every 6-8 hours and it's still only getting his fever down to 101. Unbelievable! *sigh*
In other news, Ian seems to be hitting a growth spurt. He's been asking to eat every hour or so. I'm going to give him another week or so of this and then find a really accurate scale so I can weigh him to see if it's time to turn his car seat forward facing. I think it's definately time to put him in Zollie's seat (since it goes rearfacing up to 35 lbs and Ian's seat only goes to 33 lbs...it's an older model). He sure is growing up. I think he's going to eat us out of the house!
As far as the doula class, I've finished about 3 lessons from the communication module. I've hit a big assignment and need to sit and work on it. I'll probably wait till the kids are in bed tonight so I'll have some uninterupted time. I had hoped to work on it today quite a bit, but PG getting sick again ruined that plan. PG's parents were hoping to get the boys and keep them for the day, but they don't want to risk them being carriers of whatever PG has so we'll just have to reschedule. I did, however, get to have my first prenatal appointment with S. yesterday and I think it went really well. We discussed her first birth and her birth plan for this time as well as some relaxation techniques and streaches she can do. She has a good list of questions to discuss with her OB and to ask on her hospital tour and I think I'm pretty comfortable with her birth plans, so - even though the boys were pretty wild the whole time I was there - I think it went great!
We had thought it was over this week. I went back to teaching on Wednesday and PG went back to work that day as well. The kids were back to eating normally, everyone seemed fine. Then last night PG said he didn't feel well. I thought he felt hot so he took his temperature...102.6!!! He has been taking Tylenol every 6-8 hours and it's still only getting his fever down to 101. Unbelievable! *sigh*
In other news, Ian seems to be hitting a growth spurt. He's been asking to eat every hour or so. I'm going to give him another week or so of this and then find a really accurate scale so I can weigh him to see if it's time to turn his car seat forward facing. I think it's definately time to put him in Zollie's seat (since it goes rearfacing up to 35 lbs and Ian's seat only goes to 33 lbs...it's an older model). He sure is growing up. I think he's going to eat us out of the house!
As far as the doula class, I've finished about 3 lessons from the communication module. I've hit a big assignment and need to sit and work on it. I'll probably wait till the kids are in bed tonight so I'll have some uninterupted time. I had hoped to work on it today quite a bit, but PG getting sick again ruined that plan. PG's parents were hoping to get the boys and keep them for the day, but they don't want to risk them being carriers of whatever PG has so we'll just have to reschedule. I did, however, get to have my first prenatal appointment with S. yesterday and I think it went really well. We discussed her first birth and her birth plan for this time as well as some relaxation techniques and streaches she can do. She has a good list of questions to discuss with her OB and to ask on her hospital tour and I think I'm pretty comfortable with her birth plans, so - even though the boys were pretty wild the whole time I was there - I think it went great!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Today is the day!
As of today I'm officially a birth doula in training through Childbirth International. I am just jumping for joy! We ended up with 5 people signing up together and got such a great discount. I got immediate access to all the online materials. Right now I'm just waiting to be matched up with a Trainer and then I can get started on my materials. Yay!!!
The other exciting thing that happened today (because it makes me feel better to share the good news first...) is that our beef arrived! Two friends and I went in together to buy half of a steer and WOW does it feel good to have my freezer overflowing with free range, hormone free beef! We'll be eating steak and roasts for days and days!
So now on to the bad news...last night we were woken at 1:30am by both kids puking on our bed. I wasn't even aware that Ian had gotten in bed with us till he puked on the comforter. They continued to puke on and off all night. Ian finally stopped at about 5am or so. Zollie kept puking all day...I think the last time was right after lunch. Ian seems fine now. He ate a good lunch and supper. And Zollie seemed pretty ok by bedtime. He was drinking juice and stealing bites of pizza. So I'm praying they are ok tomorrow because I REALLY want to go to the homebirth meetup. I'm really hoping they just got some mild food poisoning or a 24 hour bug that is over now. I also need them to be well because Sunday afternoon I'm supposed to go to my first prenatal appt with S. and I do not want to risk getting her sick. Bleh!
So for prayers...pray that the boys are healthy tomorrow and that PG and I don't come down with a stomach virus!
And praise God that everything has worked out for all of us to get signed up for our class! I can't wait to get going!
The other exciting thing that happened today (because it makes me feel better to share the good news first...) is that our beef arrived! Two friends and I went in together to buy half of a steer and WOW does it feel good to have my freezer overflowing with free range, hormone free beef! We'll be eating steak and roasts for days and days!
So now on to the bad news...last night we were woken at 1:30am by both kids puking on our bed. I wasn't even aware that Ian had gotten in bed with us till he puked on the comforter. They continued to puke on and off all night. Ian finally stopped at about 5am or so. Zollie kept puking all day...I think the last time was right after lunch. Ian seems fine now. He ate a good lunch and supper. And Zollie seemed pretty ok by bedtime. He was drinking juice and stealing bites of pizza. So I'm praying they are ok tomorrow because I REALLY want to go to the homebirth meetup. I'm really hoping they just got some mild food poisoning or a 24 hour bug that is over now. I also need them to be well because Sunday afternoon I'm supposed to go to my first prenatal appt with S. and I do not want to risk getting her sick. Bleh!
So for prayers...pray that the boys are healthy tomorrow and that PG and I don't come down with a stomach virus!
And praise God that everything has worked out for all of us to get signed up for our class! I can't wait to get going!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
It's just about time!
I'm anticipating being able to formally sign up for my birth doula class this week...next week at the latest. We have 6 people who all want to sign up together, and we will recieve a substantial discount for signing up as a group! That's even better news!
I also already have my two births lined up and this Sunday afternoon I will be meeting with one of my clients, S., and her husband, D., to talk about her first birth experience and how this one will be different (or hopefully the same, as she had a really "boring" first birth!). I'm planning to discuss her birth philosophy, help her write a birth plan, and talk with her and her husband about streaches and relaxation techniques they can practice working on together, as well as explain the things I will be able to help them with during labor.
I'm so excited to be meeting with them! S and D and I went to highschool together, and I just really feel blessed that they would allow me to be a part of the birth of their daughter.
I also had the honor of speaking at our local ICAN (International Ceserian Awareness Network) meeting this past Saturday. It was a great opportunity not only to share with the group what a doula does, but also to get information about Blessed Birth out there. Glynis was able to attend as well, which was great! We have some preliminary handouts made and were able to pass out a number of those at both the ICAN meeting and at the clothing swap beforehand.
Praises: I want to continue to praise God for allowing me to persue this calling. I feel really confident that everything will work out the way it is supposed to.
Prayer requests: Pray that both of my moms will be able to have the births that they want, with healthy babies and moms. Please also pray that things will work out with their labors in such a way that I will have no problems getting to them on time and will be able to support them in the ways that they need.
I also already have my two births lined up and this Sunday afternoon I will be meeting with one of my clients, S., and her husband, D., to talk about her first birth experience and how this one will be different (or hopefully the same, as she had a really "boring" first birth!). I'm planning to discuss her birth philosophy, help her write a birth plan, and talk with her and her husband about streaches and relaxation techniques they can practice working on together, as well as explain the things I will be able to help them with during labor.
I'm so excited to be meeting with them! S and D and I went to highschool together, and I just really feel blessed that they would allow me to be a part of the birth of their daughter.
I also had the honor of speaking at our local ICAN (International Ceserian Awareness Network) meeting this past Saturday. It was a great opportunity not only to share with the group what a doula does, but also to get information about Blessed Birth out there. Glynis was able to attend as well, which was great! We have some preliminary handouts made and were able to pass out a number of those at both the ICAN meeting and at the clothing swap beforehand.
Praises: I want to continue to praise God for allowing me to persue this calling. I feel really confident that everything will work out the way it is supposed to.
Prayer requests: Pray that both of my moms will be able to have the births that they want, with healthy babies and moms. Please also pray that things will work out with their labors in such a way that I will have no problems getting to them on time and will be able to support them in the ways that they need.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Opening doors!
God is so awesome! He has been opening so many doors recently for me in regards to the doula class. Firstly, He has blessed me financially! I was anticipating having the money for the class by early May, but God has already provided all but $100 between my paychecks and birthday money! I'm just astounded! I did not expect to get nearly as much birthday money as I did! He is so good, and I want to thank ALL of my family for their gifts...you are all so precious to me!
Secondly, my next worry with the class was finding enough births to attend. I will need to attend 2 births in order to be certified. My best friend Crystal is due in June, so I knew I would be able to use her birth as one, but I had no idea how to find a second birth. I was thinking I could call a midwife I knew or contact the Crisis Pregnancy Center and see if they had a mother whom I could attend, but yet again, God provided for me! I was on Facebook the other day, reading through some of my friends' pages, and realized I had a friend from highschool who is due in a few months. I had not even thought about her! I knew she was pregnant, but didn't realize she was as far along as she was. She and I got to talking, and I explained about my doula class and the certification process, and asked her and her husband to do some research online and see if they would like a doula to attend their birth. She just got back with me recently to say that, as long as the hospital had no policy against her having a doula present, they would be happy to have me come and use their birth to help me get certified!
I am just walking on air!
I've also been asked to speak at our local ICAN meeting on Saturday about the role of a doula. I'm excited about that as well, firstly because I think VBAC moms are probably one of the groups who most need an extra support person at their birth, and also because I think it can help get my name out to drum up clients.
Please pray that all goes well with this whole process! I'm also concerned about how attending births will affect my teaching schedule as well as my babysitting schedule. I had already been thinking that in another year or so I would need to stop keeping children in my home on a regular basis so that I can focus more on homeschooling (and also because I will *hopefully* be pregnant or have a new baby within the year). But God has provided in so many ways so far that I really feel like He is ordaining me to be a doula, so I'm sure He will work all of that stuff out in due time.
Secondly, my next worry with the class was finding enough births to attend. I will need to attend 2 births in order to be certified. My best friend Crystal is due in June, so I knew I would be able to use her birth as one, but I had no idea how to find a second birth. I was thinking I could call a midwife I knew or contact the Crisis Pregnancy Center and see if they had a mother whom I could attend, but yet again, God provided for me! I was on Facebook the other day, reading through some of my friends' pages, and realized I had a friend from highschool who is due in a few months. I had not even thought about her! I knew she was pregnant, but didn't realize she was as far along as she was. She and I got to talking, and I explained about my doula class and the certification process, and asked her and her husband to do some research online and see if they would like a doula to attend their birth. She just got back with me recently to say that, as long as the hospital had no policy against her having a doula present, they would be happy to have me come and use their birth to help me get certified!
I am just walking on air!
I've also been asked to speak at our local ICAN meeting on Saturday about the role of a doula. I'm excited about that as well, firstly because I think VBAC moms are probably one of the groups who most need an extra support person at their birth, and also because I think it can help get my name out to drum up clients.
Please pray that all goes well with this whole process! I'm also concerned about how attending births will affect my teaching schedule as well as my babysitting schedule. I had already been thinking that in another year or so I would need to stop keeping children in my home on a regular basis so that I can focus more on homeschooling (and also because I will *hopefully* be pregnant or have a new baby within the year). But God has provided in so many ways so far that I really feel like He is ordaining me to be a doula, so I'm sure He will work all of that stuff out in due time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
