Today we got the family together for Baby John's 1st birthday. There are only a few times a year when the whole family is together. So, when everyone's together, it's fun and draining too. What a long day it's been. Poor John came home, ate dinner, and was in bed by 7:30. Rowan will be in bed soon, too. And then I'll have the rest of the evening to work or hang out. I think I'll go to bed instead. I'm exhausted.
What awesome kids I have. They remind me everyday in so many ways how wonderful children are. Such amazing little people.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
New Position?
I'm a bit perplexed today. A position for a doula became open at the county health department working with teen moms and their families. It would be a great opportunity. However, I'd be giving up, or at least putting on hold, having my own business.
I think I'm going to apply for it and see what happens. They're looking for a BA, BS, or equivalent experience. I haven't even finished my certification yet. So, maybe it'll be a non-issue, after all. But another doula has said that it is great for newer doulas looking for experience. So, maybe it's a possibility. Anyway, I'll send in a resume and see where it leads.
I think I'm going to apply for it and see what happens. They're looking for a BA, BS, or equivalent experience. I haven't even finished my certification yet. So, maybe it'll be a non-issue, after all. But another doula has said that it is great for newer doulas looking for experience. So, maybe it's a possibility. Anyway, I'll send in a resume and see where it leads.
Monday, March 26, 2007
My Journey
I fell into doula work in a round about, backwards kind of way.
At 19 years old and pregnant with my first child, I knew I wanted a natural birth. I attended childbirth preperation classes like a good little girl, but often without my husband. They taught me how to hold my breathe, how to blow, how to be supported by my husband --- who rarely showed up for class. So, how exactly was he supposed to support me?
So, for birth #1, I staunchly refused any anethesia and made it through labor and delivery with just my will. Yes, husband was there. But he left the room every 10 minutes or so to smoke and chatted with the nurses when he actually was in the room. The nurses were very glad to offer me drugs with every contraction. But I refused. In the midst of pushing, I opened my eyes to the nurse laughing as she said, "I bet you wish you had taken the drugs now!" Exactly a week after my 20th birthday, I laid in the bed hooked up to the monitors and cried and screamed and finally gave birth to my beautiful little girl. Natural birth achieved! But not very comfortably.
Ten years and a new husband later, I was pregnant with Beastie Boy #1. I made it clear from early on that I would not be having anethesia and would need a good deal of support. Hunny was wonderful until I was in transition. When I really needed his support, he began begging me to take some drugs. So, I gave in and had them give me Stadol. That was the worst experience! I really wouldn't recommend it. When BB1 was laid on my chest, I was very disconnected from the whole situation. I just looked at him and thought, "Yeah, that's a baby alright." I did not get the immediate rush of love and admiration that I had with my first.
Then came BB#2. Early on, I felt very wrong about the pregnancy. I can't explain it, really. Things just didn't feel right. I spent months worrying about what could be making me feel that way. All of my prenatals showed the baby was growing strong. Because of my concerns, Hunny asked me to get an epidural. Just in case the feelings I had were a premonition of a birth emergency. So, I did. And what an awful experience that was! I had absolutley no control. I needed help just to turn from one side to the other. I laid in bed and watched the American Idol result show and then a half hour of some tv game show. At 9pm, I became very physically uncomfortable and agitated. I called for the nurse and asked her to help me turn back over. I told her that I wanted the epidural turned off because I couldn't stand to lay in the bed anymore. I had to get up. She checked me and then said not to push until she got the doctor. The doctor was concerned that I wouldn't be able to push strong enough because of the epidural. But I told her she was not going to use forceps for the vacuum. And I pushed that baby out with two contractions. My earlier worrying was really for nothing. He is a perfect, healthy baby boy.
When BB2 had trouble breastfeeding, I started researching and found a connection that epidural babies often have trouble breastfeeding. Why didn't I research that before? One topic seemed to lead to another, and before I knew it I was knee deep in information I should have been learning about all along.
Then I found the magic word: "DOULA" The answer to all of my birthing problems. Unfortunately, I found that answer after I had all the babies I was planning to have. So, I started on a new adventure- becoming a doula myself, to help other mothers in the same situation.
Moms need support to have the birth they desire - regardless of whether they want a natural birth or medicated birth. And so do dads. That's what the doula's for. Extra hands, extra love, and extra support.
At 19 years old and pregnant with my first child, I knew I wanted a natural birth. I attended childbirth preperation classes like a good little girl, but often without my husband. They taught me how to hold my breathe, how to blow, how to be supported by my husband --- who rarely showed up for class. So, how exactly was he supposed to support me?
So, for birth #1, I staunchly refused any anethesia and made it through labor and delivery with just my will. Yes, husband was there. But he left the room every 10 minutes or so to smoke and chatted with the nurses when he actually was in the room. The nurses were very glad to offer me drugs with every contraction. But I refused. In the midst of pushing, I opened my eyes to the nurse laughing as she said, "I bet you wish you had taken the drugs now!" Exactly a week after my 20th birthday, I laid in the bed hooked up to the monitors and cried and screamed and finally gave birth to my beautiful little girl. Natural birth achieved! But not very comfortably.
Ten years and a new husband later, I was pregnant with Beastie Boy #1. I made it clear from early on that I would not be having anethesia and would need a good deal of support. Hunny was wonderful until I was in transition. When I really needed his support, he began begging me to take some drugs. So, I gave in and had them give me Stadol. That was the worst experience! I really wouldn't recommend it. When BB1 was laid on my chest, I was very disconnected from the whole situation. I just looked at him and thought, "Yeah, that's a baby alright." I did not get the immediate rush of love and admiration that I had with my first.
Then came BB#2. Early on, I felt very wrong about the pregnancy. I can't explain it, really. Things just didn't feel right. I spent months worrying about what could be making me feel that way. All of my prenatals showed the baby was growing strong. Because of my concerns, Hunny asked me to get an epidural. Just in case the feelings I had were a premonition of a birth emergency. So, I did. And what an awful experience that was! I had absolutley no control. I needed help just to turn from one side to the other. I laid in bed and watched the American Idol result show and then a half hour of some tv game show. At 9pm, I became very physically uncomfortable and agitated. I called for the nurse and asked her to help me turn back over. I told her that I wanted the epidural turned off because I couldn't stand to lay in the bed anymore. I had to get up. She checked me and then said not to push until she got the doctor. The doctor was concerned that I wouldn't be able to push strong enough because of the epidural. But I told her she was not going to use forceps for the vacuum. And I pushed that baby out with two contractions. My earlier worrying was really for nothing. He is a perfect, healthy baby boy.
When BB2 had trouble breastfeeding, I started researching and found a connection that epidural babies often have trouble breastfeeding. Why didn't I research that before? One topic seemed to lead to another, and before I knew it I was knee deep in information I should have been learning about all along.
Then I found the magic word: "DOULA" The answer to all of my birthing problems. Unfortunately, I found that answer after I had all the babies I was planning to have. So, I started on a new adventure- becoming a doula myself, to help other mothers in the same situation.
Moms need support to have the birth they desire - regardless of whether they want a natural birth or medicated birth. And so do dads. That's what the doula's for. Extra hands, extra love, and extra support.
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