I’ve been a doula for about 7 years and a childbirth educator for 5 years. This past week I went back and read my very first post about my early journey as a birth professional. It’s a long post and I loved looking back and thinking about how far I’ve come. I thought I’d share more of my journey as a doula and educator the past 4-5 years. As of this month, November 2017, I’ve been blessed to attend almost 100 births and have taught almost 100 couples in my childbirth classes. I’ve attended home births, birth center births, and hospital births. My life has been enriched by each and every one of my clients. I’ve learned something from each client I’ve worked with and from each birth I attend. Looking back on the past 7 years and how far I’ve come as a doula I made a quick list of a few things I’ve learned along the way. I’ve learned it’s not about me. It’s about my clients. I support my clients in all of their decisions, no matter what they may be. My clients may choose to have a medicated or unmedicated birth. She may choose to be induced or have a c-section. I will support all of my clients in their decisions and help them have the best birth experience for them. I’ve learned that women are amazingly strong, stronger than they think they are. Women go through so much during pregnancy, and then the amazing journey of birth. They make tough decisions when the birth isn’t going exactly as she had hoped, but she makes those decision with her baby in mind. She overcomes so much and comes out the other end with a new life. I’ve learned that spouses and partners are incredibly capable of providing amazing support during birth. Partners know what specific comforting words to say and give great counter pressure and hip squeezes. Partners are wonderful advocates and most want to be active part I’ve learned that your care provider and birth location matter. Find a provider that supports you in the birth you desire. Also, choose to birth in a place that you are most comfortable and is also supportive of the birth you want to have. I’ve seen these two things make a big difference in birth outcomes. I’ve learned that being on-call is tough. I have to be ready to go at all times. I have to have last minute childcare ready and a bag packed for my kids. My phone is always in my pocket with the ringer on high. I check it multiple times before I go to bed to be sure that it’s all the way up so I hear it in the middle of the night. I schedule everything with ,”If I’m not a birth…”. Yes the on-call life can be tricky, but it hasn’t stopped me from doing this work. So why do I love my work as a doula? I get to witness one of the most special events in a family’s life. I get to witness and support women and families becoming educated and empowered to make decisions regarding their care. I get to see women become strong, capable mothers. I get to see husbands and partners become fathers. |
HollieWife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. A passionate birth doula and childbirth educator. Archives
July 2020
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