So one might ask, "How is it that a 44 year old mother of 12, who is also a trained professional doula, and has been engaged in birth work for over 20 years, has never used a doula herself?" Well, to be honest, the first time I had ever been approached about having a doula serve me at a birth was when my midwife, during pregnancy #11, suggested that I consider using one at my upcoming hospital birth. I was definitely interested but didn't think I could swing it financially at that point in time. I knew that such women existed who served women in labor and called themselves birth attendants but I have to say it never crossed my mind to utilize one of those either. Unfortunately, at that time, I was not aware that there were doulas available who are so committed to birth work that they would be willing to work with me, even at reduced rates. So I had an awesome birth experience with my husband and honey, Denny, and midwife, Leslie.
During my 20+ years in birth work I had been helping friends, family, and acquaintances at their home and hospital births and loved every minute of it. I first got my feet wet when my husband and I were houseparents at a maternity home in Philadelphia and I was a able to attend some of the resident's births, which was such an incredible experience. At some point along the road we decided to start having our babies at home, some of which were attended by midwives, while others were not. Along this road we met others who were home birthing and seeking extra hands on the scene at their births to help with laundry, siblings, cooking, cleaning, etc. so I was able to serve families in that respect. So grew my tremendous interest in birth work which brought me to the recent decision to go professional by pursuing doula training and certification with toLabor. And now I am in the midst of my certification process which includes attending a training workshop, a required reading list, attending a specified number of births (I've attended 16 besides my own 12), completing the most strenuous and intense test I have ever taken, an insane amount of research, and submitting 6 birth evaluations. I have to say, though, that I am enjoying every minute of it and I am meeting some very committed and dedicated birth doulas.
In hindsight, I would have to say that the reason I never fully considered the possibility of using a doula is likely because I didn't realize the full impact that a doula can have on a laboring mom and her birth. A birth doula offers education, support, resources, and encouragement before labor and delivery, as well as support during labor which can include comfort measures, massage, positioning tips, aromatherapy, encouragement, acupressure, and advocacy, along with being available to offer suggestions to Dad on how he can serve his laboring wife. During the prenatal period, a doula will offer hands on assistance in helping expectant parents develop a birth plan in keeping with their desires. Some doulas have a lending library that they make available to their clients as well as their own wealth of knowledge which they share with their expectant couples. The professional training a doula receives offers her a broad spectrum of information in such areas as anatomy and physiology, labor and delivery, breast feeding, c-sections, inductions, pain medications, pain management, patient advocacy, and compassion among so many other things. And lest you think all of this know-how is going to result in this doula being up in your face while you are experiencing the most pain you have ever felt in your life, a skilled doula will have the uncanny intuition to know when to be so still and quiet you will hardly realize she is in the room with you. She also has the amazing ability to be firm while keeping you focused, should you panic and get frazzled, and to know when to be that still small voice that you need to get through the next contraction.
So I have come to the conclusion that should I be so blessed as to become pregnant again, as has been my prayer for a few months now, you will definitely find me delivering at St. Francis, or maybe at home, with my doula in tow, and knowing that I am in the fully capable hands of my Heavenly Father, my sweet husband, my midwife and my doula. I can't wait!
No comments:
Post a Comment