I love my job! It is my passion and my calling. As the mother of four children I have had the opportunity to use both my educational and personal learning to assist others. You will find my arms open and my heart accessable.
Why Doulas are important?
In our society, here in America the doula is quickly becoming the first line of defense for birthing families. We are the ones who see the day-to-day struggles of families, the economic hard times, the nutritional deficiencies, the battered, the abused, the coerced and the forgotten. We have become the watchdogs for better birth alongside others who share our cause. We understand that the birthing woman is a human being and not just a medical patient. She needs compassion, understanding and patience.
The memories I have of my husband's support are irreplaceable. Yes, I could have done it without him, but I would never have wanted to try. His love, humor, comfort and support are what kept me going, smiling and feeling supported through it all. I feel our birth experience started at conception and was completed with each birth. Our relationship became stronger, our love grew with our family and we shared moments we could never have obtained elsewhere. I love him dearly and my fondest memories are of his gaze, his touch and the care he took of me. When working with families, it is important to me that the couple find support in each other. I am there as needed, but the goal is for those who love the birthing mother most to be her primary support. This includes grandmothers, sisters and frinds when they are present.
Breastfeeding creates a bond between you and your baby that cannot be replicated. If at all possible, a mother should always breastfeed her child for the first few months of their lives. I was fortunate enough to be able to breastfeed all of my children. It wasn't easy, but it got easier with each one. My first child only benefited for 6 weeks, my second for 4 months, my third for 8 months and my last for 3 years. It can be challenging, tiring and sometimes problems arise that bring the stop to breastfeeding. However I’ve never heard a mom say she wishes she had never breastfed, it's always the opposite, mothers who choose not to or cannot always wish they could have. There are options such as supplemental feedings and even breast milk in a bottle is a good alternative. A mother who could not lactate could look into a milk bank. If a mother does have the need for formula the close contact between her and her baby should not be altered. A baby thrives and grows on touch, interaction and stimulation, especially a bottle-fed baby should be held close and spoken softly to.
My Births:
My births include: A very low intervention unmedicated, spontaneous vaginal birth of my first daughter weighing 7 pounds 14 ounces at 40 weeks 3 days. Augmentation of my second birth following an allergic reaction to antibiotics for Group B Strep and vaginal birth of my daughter weighing 7 pounds 4 ounces at 37 weeks.
My first son’s birth was three weeks of Prodromal labor followed by a induction using Artificial release of membranes with narcotic use. This labor although long in the latent stage was quick, taking less then 4 hours start to finish. This baby was born vaginally without assistance, posterior (sunny-side up) and weighing 7 pounds 12 ounces at 38.5 weeks. He presented with a nuchal hand (hand beside the head) and a 15-inch head.
My last son was born spontaneously with only a week of Prodromal labor. This labor was long and unproductive; it took me 8 hours of active labor to progress from 5cm to 7cm. At that point, I consented to a Pitocin drip and an epidural. The bolus of IV solution helped my contractions pick up, so no Pitocin was needed. However the anesthesiologist was unable to place an epidural so instead placed a spinal bolus which lasted about half and hour. On examination, I was complete and pushed my beautiful son into the world in two pushes. He was born posterior (sunny-side up) weighing 7 pounds 6 ounces at 36 weeks. My husband was there for them all as my main supporter. Our love and happiness shone in his eyes at the moment of each birth.
Growing a happy family starts at birth! Even before birth a woman needs to prepare her body, mind, and life for the presence of the new baby. We know through research how important the health and well-being of the mother is during pregnancy.
Living as stress free as possible, eating correctly, keeping toxins and chemicals out of her meals and body and meeting the body’s need for water keeps both mother and baby healthy. On top of good prenatal care, keeping interventions such as testing and examinations to a minimum of what is medically necessary helps to ensure both mother and baby stay healthy.
The next step is choose the birth that is best for your baby. Low intervention birth in a supportive, compassionate environment with a care provider and birth team that know and care for you can make all the difference in your emotional and physical recovery after birth and allow you to become the best parent you know how.
Then comes parenting, holding, loving and caring for your newborn will create a bond of security and happiness for both mother and baby. Breast-feeding, attachment parenting and co-sleeping are all options available to increase the physical, emotional and lifelong health of your new baby.
Parenting starts at birth, but families are created out of love.
My Credentials and Work
I initially trained privately for my doula work, studying clinically and non-clinically for a year in 2000. I then decided to certify as a birth doula with Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals Association or CAPPA. I am currently enrolled in Childbirth International CBE diploma program with a goal to become a certified childbirth educator, which will better enable me to serve my clients. Along these lines I found that an increase in education would help me to better support my clients. I started working towards my RN (nursing degree) in the fall of 2006. As a nurse my hope is to conitinue to assist families while having more access to those who most need support. I have worked as a birth doula and a childbirth educator since 2001. Once I became a doula I felt it imperative to be involved in my community. I searched for ways that I could help and found them. I have in the past few years written several articles for various publications on birth and the birthing family. While living in Arizona I spoke at Childbirth Education classes at both St. Joseph’s hospital and The Bradley Method with Nancy Capo. I found these classes fulfilling and would take the opportunity to remind parents of their abundance of choices during their birth. I was the Arizona, Minnesota and Illinois State Representative for Operation Special Delivery and did several Television interviews about doulas and OSD. I also served as the CAPPA Minnesota State Representative for a short time. My goal is for every birthing family desiring birth options and support to have the information and support to obtain those options. I co-created the prenatal letter of intent with a fellow doula. I may eventually take the path to Baby Catcher as a CNM (certified nurse midwife), however doula work will always be my first love.
