Category Archives: doula work

all i need to know i learned in kinderbirthin’ class…

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see what i did there? i took kindergarten and changed it to kinderbirthin’ and it works as kinder birthing too. awwwww shucks.

that really sums up the workshop though. kinder birthing. i hope i can keep that as one of my focus points as i get more involved. it’s all about kinder birthing for mom, dad and little tiny babes. also, i’m aware that kinder may or may not be an acceptable english word.

you may think doulas only support women who are having non-interventive birth. this correlation can be attributed to the fact that many women find the support and companionship of other women during her birth essential should she choose to forgo medication. but, doulas are also relevant for medicated births and cesareans. studies show that what happens to a woman emotionally matters more to her than what happens physically during labor and birth.

we learned a little more about the etymology of the word doula which is more than what you’ll find on wikipedia if you’re going to go look it up right now. it will say that doula is greek for female slave but it’s a little more than that. a doula was a woman who entered into servitude voluntarily and vowed to serve only one woman, her mistress. she took care of her mistress’ daily needs and was in turn given room, board and protection. these bonds were usually very long lasting. it’s touching to see how this term has evolved and integrated to childbirth today. i think it’s beautifully fitting.

if you are expecting please take the time to consider having a doula or at least meeting with a doula for an interview. if you’re in central ohio or indiana then consider having me as your doula! i wanna see you push a baby outta your lady regions! not many people are going to say that to you (maybe not even your partner) but i am. so take me up on it.

i just stumbled onto this on the interwebs while researching doulas and midwives and all i can say is WOW. lots of info and kinda dense at times but well worth a read. also artistically beautiful. as with the ina may book i recommended here, there are bits of this zine that don’t sit right with me and probably won’t with most of you either. but at least let those parts make you think.

Outlaw Midwives Volume 1

here i go, here i go

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about to head off to my classes. just wanted to leave you all with a nice summary of birth statistics in the estados unidos that i saw recently on a friends site. i wonder, what can one more doula do to the course of these numbers? we’re gonna find out. wish me luck!

A Breakdown of Births
Via: Ultrasound Technician

ps. huh huh huh i said doula do huh huh huh

a delivery from mr. stork

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do you think my info packet for my doula class was delivered by the stork? carrier pigeons can’t have cornered the whole mail market. upon return from my respite in hocking hills i found my information and introduction packet had arrived. i can not even relay how excited i am that a) this class didn’t get canceled and b) that i am getting myself further along the certification path. it seems like it has been forever since i decided i wanted to delve into this position. it still feels like it will be quite a while before i acquire the amount of wisdom i desire about birth and labor and the power of women, couples and families. so for right now i’m content with this next step. i’m busying myself by fitting reading and re-reading the required list into the spaces that are not already filled up with chores, activities and the reunion love affair i currently have going on with little miss. I’m happy to say i only have one more book to read before i’ve completed the reading portion of certification.

i wanted to take a moment to plug my favorite book on pregnancy and birth thus far. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth is one of my most cherished books in my personal library. that’s my copy. a little worn and dog-earred. i attribute much of what helped me remain a calm and positive feed for the first couple i helped through labor to this book. i felt like i could hear the sort of soothing voice ina may would use to coach a woman through her rushes when i read the paragraphs of this book and i was able to channel that for my first doula experience.

besides informative, it is empowering. it is hopeful and it is a bit spiritual in its own way. i highly suggest this book to anyone who is expecting or plans to be expecting or is a support to someone who is expecting or expects to know someone who is expecting. disclaimer: it can be a little hippy-dippy for the common crowd so if it’s too much for you just ignore those parts and focus on the good information and let yourself runaway with the confidence you will feel about nature’s path of birth.

back to reading…

Let the birthing begin

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I just signed up for my Doula training workshop. I’m feeling very jazzed about getting further down this path in less than a month. I can’t wait to share what I learn in my training and then bring on the new clients, new families and best-of-all new, tiny feet, arms, hands, faces and smiles.

I’ll be doing my training in Indiana with the women of Birth by Design. I want to send a big thank you to my parents for agreeing to let Darla and I crash with them for the weekend and for watching D while I’m in class.