Tag Archives: doula

lucky

Posted in doula work by

there are days, even on the heels of a great birth and a fantabulous prenatal sesh, that i question my calling to birth work.

yesterday i was sending up little conversations to the cosmos asking for guidance and some reassurance that i’m on the right path. lo and behold, i received a notification that i was the winner of a national contest from The Midwives Alliance of North America for their Doula Love package. i am so pumped!

and immediately after i received a message requesting an interview for services next year.

thank you, universe, HP, and MANA. i am feeling like one lucky lady today. sharing another one of these great vid-yos just to celebrate.

and this.

Posted in doula work by

dear santa,

please, please bring me this. i will wear it proudly around my neck while helping parents bring their babies into the world.

smiles.

pregnantbelly

i wasn’t going to do another post about an material item that i want but this is sort of a celebratory post. i just got to witness another amazing birth. and this time something just clicked. i’ve been grooving along on this path for a while but today pieces fell into place. momma’s got a whole new bag of tricks.

today is the day i became a doula.

the wonderful story of how you were born

Posted in doula work, parenting apparently? by

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last weekend i was perusing in a used bookstore and i came across the most amazing vintage book geared toward explaining procreation. it’s everything i’ve been looking for in an appropriate explanation of sex, procreation, birth and nursing….and it was written in 1952.

The Wonderful Story of How You Were Born is a pretty fantastic resource by Sidonie Matsner Gruenberg. Besides the fact that it’s a lovely little vintage book with great illustrations and fun to look at, it’s very matter of fact about procreation for all life on earth. Gruenberg doesn’t shy away from using medical terms- seeing the word vagina in a 50s children’s book is pretty cool- but explains them in tangible terms. i feel the book is very respectful to the Creator without being overtly religious. it even explains genes in a way a small child could understand.

i’ve started reading some parts of it to darla but mostly i’ve been reading and re-reading as a way of internalizing the way the author explains the birds and the bees so i have some good material for when the off the cuff conversations come about.

if any of you parents are looking for a good resource i suggest getting a copy of The Wonderful Story of How You Were Born. an updated version from 1971 is also available but the 50s version is much prettier.

oh and i also found a book about Gnomes that i’ve been coveting for a long time. it actually does cover gnome procreation…and a little book of western songs. it was a good day at the bookstore.

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6 Healthy Birth Practices

Posted in doula work by

just another little cut and paste for you from the Lamaze International website

Introduction to the Six Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices

The Six Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices can help you simplify the birth process with a natural approach that helps alleviate fears and manage pain. Regardless of your baby’s size, your labor’s length and complexity, or your confidence level, these care practices will help you keep your labor and birth as safe and healthy as possible.

sunshiny week

Posted in doula work, kiddie-do by

we had a very sunshiny week, which was nice for a change. we’re just itching for more of the great outdoors.

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and we spent a few days with our burkeybuns friends. it can get pretty hectic with 3 kids but moments like these are more frequent than one might think.

IMG_2038darla and adam were so excited when joni woke up from her nap they decided to climb right in her bed with her. it was so sweet.

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i love seeing all three kids able to share toys and activities now.

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some other fun. look at all those conjoined darlas! it makes me happy and nervous. this photo was created with a real kaleidoscope. no iphone apps were harmed in the making of this photo.

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what else about our week? hmmm.

i gave darla her first haircut. i never thought i’d be one of those moms, but i saved her hair. i just couldn’t throw it away right after. it now looks like i have a little shrew hibernating in my jewelry box. i’m sure i’ll throw it away in a couple of weeks, or sprinkle it on our garden when we start the process in march. jeez, these softy sides sneak up on me every now and again.

i’ve remembered why i stopped participating in lenten activities: BECAUSE GIVING UP THINGS IS STUPID! i’ve had a much harder time than i thought avoiding the sweets. i hadn’t realized how much i was indulging until now. i ate TWO gummy vitamins the other day because that is the closest i can get to real candy. i feel like a crack addict trying to figure out how i’m going to secretly score. is that what crack addicts call it? scoring? i don’t know yet. breaking bad is my next tv series on netflix, so i’ll find out then. not surprisingly, my body is already feeling healthier. from the lack of candy, not the crack. oh geez.

the last exciting thing is that darla and i came over for a nice long weekend visit with my family and also for me to consult with one of my lifelong friends about being her doula! i’m so excited to be back on track and a step closer to my certification. i love talking to couples about their birth choices. my friend and her husband are going to be great parents and it seems like they also have a great outlook heading into their labor and delivery. i’m just happy to be a part of these events and so thankful.  the next seven weeks will consist of a lot of review of my birthing materials and prep.  I REALLY CAN’T WAIT UNTIL MORE OF YOU LET ME BE YOUR DOULA.

it was a good week for us. now we’re just enjoying our weekending. hope you are too.

i know you’re out there

Posted in doula work by

alright you pregnant ladies and expectant gentledudes, when i say “a doula” i mean ME. me. me. M. E. ME!  even if it’s not me just get yourself a doula. you’ll be forever thankful that you did.

but reasons why it should be me: 1 – i’m awesome  2 – most of the time i smell nice  3 – i’m not a full blown doula yet so pricing is in your favor. i’m referring to myself as a “doulette” until i complete all my certification. if you are one of my certifying births you will receive the full doula experience at less than half the cost. make smart decisions b/c we’re in a recession! i do have one birth experience under my belt, in addition to that of my daughter, so i’m not totally green. maybe more like chartreuse.

happy birthing to you all!

Source: facebook.com via Sarah on Pinterest

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

Posted in doula work by

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

Let the birthing begin

Posted in doula work by

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.