Many times you find yourself getting asked what do you do for a living? What did you go to school for? What have you been doing the past 10 years? Did you get that job you always wanted? Why do you like what you do?
Well I have been asked this several times over the past week or so since I joined Facebook. I find it an interesting site, as it is a virtual/modern savy class reunion.
Anywho, I was asked on a yahoo group that I am apart of, "What is at the root of your love of birth?", basically why did you get involved with the birth profession that you have chosen.
Here was my reply:
"Seeing women be a part of such an amazing act. What a privelage to be apart of such a wonderful thing, creation........and just to wittness how wonderfully made we are as humans, as women, is absolutely beautiful. Nine months, (give or take a little), we are able to nurture a seed that blooms into such a wonderful tiny being. To be that close to God's perfectionate hand, to be his vessel for such........leaves me speechless every time! And seeing the satisfaction, the empowerment, the confidence, the courage that each woman displays during this time is amazing.
Not only pregnancy and birth that I admire, but the love that a mother has, whether she birthed the baby or not, is very special. To see them lock eyes, to love, to touch, to bond is just heart melting. We are special ladies........there is no other like us!"
I truly do love being a Doula and Childbirth Educator! Who knows.......overtime this love may develope into becoming a Midwife?!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
A New Business Name
Well, I have been out of the Doula business since August of this year. I took some time off to have my baby girl I have raved about. While taking this time off from the hands on work of Doulaing, I have decided to research, study, meditate, re-create, and revitalize my personal business. I plan on getting a solid start back in January 09 of what I will consider to be an awesome, rewarding career. The first of many changes to the once called, "Natural Beginnings", is now being called, "Labor's Little Helper"-Doula and Childbirth Education Services.
Now that I am a Certified Doula and Childbirth Educator, I have many ideas and service options to choose from. I am excited and hope and pray that I am successful!
Now that I am a Certified Doula and Childbirth Educator, I have many ideas and service options to choose from. I am excited and hope and pray that I am successful!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Creating A Birth Plan
"The reason for creating a birth plan is so that everyone understands your hopes and desires for labor and birth. It is a great place to begin discussions with your caregiver(s). This is not a contract, but a statement of your preferences.
Birth plans are best kept short and to the point -- lots of details may be lost on medical support staff. You may wish to create two plans: one for you and your support team (coach, doula, etc.) and another, more concise document (about a page long) for your caregiver and the hospital/birth center staff.
It is very important that you talk about the procedures and/or choices that appear on your plan with your caregiver(s). Not only do obstetric practices often vary by caregiver, hospital, state and country, there are often important factors involved. It is your responsibility to evaluate and understand each choice you make. " -pregnancyandbaby.com
Visit: http://pregnancyandbaby.com/pregnancy/baby/Birth-plan-creator-241.htm
>I think this website offers a great interactive tool for creating a birth plan. All you have to do is fill in the main information and then go through and click your preferences. It compiles all the information you provided and then all you have to do is "click" print. The site suggest that you keep your printed plan to one page long. I agree. Print all preferences and info pertaining to your care on a seperate one page for your care-provider and the birthing staff, then put all preferences/info pertaining to your infant on one page for his/her physician and nursery staff.
Birth plans are best kept short and to the point -- lots of details may be lost on medical support staff. You may wish to create two plans: one for you and your support team (coach, doula, etc.) and another, more concise document (about a page long) for your caregiver and the hospital/birth center staff.
It is very important that you talk about the procedures and/or choices that appear on your plan with your caregiver(s). Not only do obstetric practices often vary by caregiver, hospital, state and country, there are often important factors involved. It is your responsibility to evaluate and understand each choice you make. " -pregnancyandbaby.com
Visit: http://pregnancyandbaby.com/pregnancy/baby/Birth-plan-creator-241.htm
>I think this website offers a great interactive tool for creating a birth plan. All you have to do is fill in the main information and then go through and click your preferences. It compiles all the information you provided and then all you have to do is "click" print. The site suggest that you keep your printed plan to one page long. I agree. Print all preferences and info pertaining to your care on a seperate one page for your care-provider and the birthing staff, then put all preferences/info pertaining to your infant on one page for his/her physician and nursery staff.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Could this be a Part-time Job Posting......?
All classifications of families have been struck by the economic $ turmoil, I know my family has. Usually in hard times, being short on the $, many are forced to find an extra income source............could this be one way to do it?
I wouldn't mind pumping a little extra for some gas money, :o) , but just how good would the final product taste? Imari seems to be content, but I don't think my Brownie Maddness would taste that great, matter of fact, would the consistency even be right?
Check it out: http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=36349.
I wouldn't mind pumping a little extra for some gas money, :o) , but just how good would the final product taste? Imari seems to be content, but I don't think my Brownie Maddness would taste that great, matter of fact, would the consistency even be right?
Check it out: http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=36349.
Monday, September 29, 2008
A Lady Knows When It Is Time
A lady knows when it is time............this is so true, especially Tuesday, September 23rd when my sweet little girl came into this world. Yes, this past Tuesday, I was blessed to have in my arms a beautiful baby girl, named Imari. Oh my gosh, (mommies are partial to their babes), this girl is a cutie. She has a light, caramel complexion, brown eyes, straight black hair, long fingers and toes. To me and her Daddy, she is absolutely perfect!
My due date was September 30th. I ran out of patience and was determined to have a September baby, (as a Doula I would encourage to just let nature take its course, without hurry or basically support whatever the mommy wished to do, I was not the Doula this time :0) ), and so I opted to 'nudge' mother nature and baby along.
I went into the Doc's office Thursday the 18th and discussed my options for induction. I researched my info on the subject and took his thoughts into consideration. My husband and I left the office that day with the idea of going home and trying all the 'natural' self-induction methods we could, if those things didn't work then we would go in to the Doc's office on the following Monday and have my membranes stripped in the hopes I would go into labor that night, and if that didn't work, then Tuesday morning we would go over to the hospital and begin an elective induction with Pitocin.
Well, it's obvious which one we chose, (birth date was at the beginning of post), but I really think my little lady knew what time it was and she had jumped on board overnight, really over the past 3wks. (Let me back up a bit), Over the past 3wks, like one or two nights out of the week, I would awake to nice contractions that could be timed. These were nothing like toning contractions. They were 15, then 10-7, then the last week before the birth they were 3-5 minutes apart, but all times they would fade after 2-4 hours.
(Moving Ahead), okay, so Tuesday morning we get to the hospital around 6am. I was a little crampy, having some contractions, and a lot of nerves. I went through admission and signed my life away, finally at 7'ish I went to the bathroom to change into my lovely hospital gown, and SURPRISE, my water broke, just after I discovered my mucus plug in my undies, (this was an exciting find, I can finally tell with experience what a 'mucus plug' may look like!). So I hop on the bed, get hooked up to the monitors and all, my nurse checks me and I am 3cm, so then I excitedly call my Doula to let her know what was happening at that point. She informed me to call her whenever I thought I would need her, she would be ready and waiting for my call. About a quater to 8, I got my i.v. hooked up and the PIT was started at a level 3. A very light start, but I could automatically feel a difference in the contractions, nothing hurt, nothing was uncomfortable, just different. I was excited and began settling with the thought that my baby was coming to see me today! Well, at 9a, my nurse came in and said "why don't you get up and move.......try the bathroom, you want to keep your bladder empty."So I took my new friend, the i.v. pole, with me to the bathroom and sat there...........I pee'd...........and sat there...........then I had a REALLY different contraction, it caught my smile. Then I had another contraction with a gentle rocking of the pelvis and sway, and then I knew, I needed my Doula. I hollered for Rylan, my husband, to call the Doula, tell her this was it, labor has started. He called her at 9:09a. I finally got back to the bed, I was so in shock of the last contraction that I had, that the offer to go walk from my nurse, just seemed impossible............I felt like laying down, and that's what I did. My nurse checked me and I was at a '6-7'. I hugged the left side of my bed, stroking the side rail from top to bottom during the contractions and as the contraction peaked and began to come down, I would open my eyes and blow out the flowers on the wallpaper that bordered the room. The flowers matched the 'coming down' of the contraction to the T. I knew when I blew on the last pink flower in view that the contraction was over. My husband and my mother gently stroked me or rubbed my hand and back. They were such good support at this birth. My Doula was on her way, she had an hour travel time to reach the hospital. I never thought to call her anytime sooner than I did, 'cause it was agreeded to call her when I thought I would need her. And I did that..........but who knew how short and fast this labor was really going to be? Needless to say, she was in route and the Doctor was on stand-by at his office, literally across the street from the hospital. I suddenly felt the baby move down into my pelvis, I told the nurse anxiuosly, "she just dropped to station 0, she is coming." The nurse checked me, and I was 8cm on one side of my cervix and almost complete on the other side, baby was at station 0 true enough. My nurse walked out the door and asked someone at the nurse's station to call my doc. She came back over to me and asked me to turn onto my right side and manage a few contractions on that side. So, eventually they got me to turn over. I had 2 contractions on my right side and I screamed, "she is coming, help me, I've got to push..........", and I pushed. My nurse kept a poker face the whole time, she was so wonderful. She asked me on the first contraction after me telling her I had to push, to breathe and not push, just breathe through the urge.........well the next contraction came and I began pushing instead of breathing and my sweet nurse did not say anything about stopping, she just told me to breathe slowly because the baby was crowning. Two pushes and my baby was here, 10:16a.m. My nurse caught my baby, and I couldn't have been anymore happier. Imari weighed 7lbs. 14oz. and measured 21 1/2" long.
The doc walked in a good 10minutes later, basically to pat me on the back and deliver the placenta. I had no tears, so he didn't get to practice his sewing 101 skills. My Doula got there at 10:40a.m., she was so worried about what I would say.......she didn't make it and she had so wanted to be there, not just as a Doula,but as my friend. My excitement and contentment with how my labor went, (fast and relatively un-painful even with the Pitocin), that it was okay for those who didn't make it. I achieved a goal of mine, an uncomplicated, med-free, (only med used was Pitocin), vaginal birth. It didn't really matter that the doc didn't make it, mainly b/c having worked in L & D and being a Doula, nurses are the 'eyes' and most of the time they are the 'hands' too. And as far as my Doula, we just couldn't help the timing. She had been there for me during prenatal q & a's. Her encouraging words and how I knew she would treat me during labor played in my mind. Just as was posted by someone on her blog, we got a lot of the labor out of the way before the actual day, so true!
Imari is truly my little princess! She lies here on my chest as I re-tell the amazing day she came into my life. I loved this lil' bean from the moment the pregnancy test was positive.........now look at her, OMG she is wonderful! We had a beautiful LABOR DAY, the blessings are amazing!
My due date was September 30th. I ran out of patience and was determined to have a September baby, (as a Doula I would encourage to just let nature take its course, without hurry or basically support whatever the mommy wished to do, I was not the Doula this time :0) ), and so I opted to 'nudge' mother nature and baby along.
I went into the Doc's office Thursday the 18th and discussed my options for induction. I researched my info on the subject and took his thoughts into consideration. My husband and I left the office that day with the idea of going home and trying all the 'natural' self-induction methods we could, if those things didn't work then we would go in to the Doc's office on the following Monday and have my membranes stripped in the hopes I would go into labor that night, and if that didn't work, then Tuesday morning we would go over to the hospital and begin an elective induction with Pitocin.
Well, it's obvious which one we chose, (birth date was at the beginning of post), but I really think my little lady knew what time it was and she had jumped on board overnight, really over the past 3wks. (Let me back up a bit), Over the past 3wks, like one or two nights out of the week, I would awake to nice contractions that could be timed. These were nothing like toning contractions. They were 15, then 10-7, then the last week before the birth they were 3-5 minutes apart, but all times they would fade after 2-4 hours.
(Moving Ahead), okay, so Tuesday morning we get to the hospital around 6am. I was a little crampy, having some contractions, and a lot of nerves. I went through admission and signed my life away, finally at 7'ish I went to the bathroom to change into my lovely hospital gown, and SURPRISE, my water broke, just after I discovered my mucus plug in my undies, (this was an exciting find, I can finally tell with experience what a 'mucus plug' may look like!). So I hop on the bed, get hooked up to the monitors and all, my nurse checks me and I am 3cm, so then I excitedly call my Doula to let her know what was happening at that point. She informed me to call her whenever I thought I would need her, she would be ready and waiting for my call. About a quater to 8, I got my i.v. hooked up and the PIT was started at a level 3. A very light start, but I could automatically feel a difference in the contractions, nothing hurt, nothing was uncomfortable, just different. I was excited and began settling with the thought that my baby was coming to see me today! Well, at 9a, my nurse came in and said "why don't you get up and move.......try the bathroom, you want to keep your bladder empty."So I took my new friend, the i.v. pole, with me to the bathroom and sat there...........I pee'd...........and sat there...........then I had a REALLY different contraction, it caught my smile. Then I had another contraction with a gentle rocking of the pelvis and sway, and then I knew, I needed my Doula. I hollered for Rylan, my husband, to call the Doula, tell her this was it, labor has started. He called her at 9:09a. I finally got back to the bed, I was so in shock of the last contraction that I had, that the offer to go walk from my nurse, just seemed impossible............I felt like laying down, and that's what I did. My nurse checked me and I was at a '6-7'. I hugged the left side of my bed, stroking the side rail from top to bottom during the contractions and as the contraction peaked and began to come down, I would open my eyes and blow out the flowers on the wallpaper that bordered the room. The flowers matched the 'coming down' of the contraction to the T. I knew when I blew on the last pink flower in view that the contraction was over. My husband and my mother gently stroked me or rubbed my hand and back. They were such good support at this birth. My Doula was on her way, she had an hour travel time to reach the hospital. I never thought to call her anytime sooner than I did, 'cause it was agreeded to call her when I thought I would need her. And I did that..........but who knew how short and fast this labor was really going to be? Needless to say, she was in route and the Doctor was on stand-by at his office, literally across the street from the hospital. I suddenly felt the baby move down into my pelvis, I told the nurse anxiuosly, "she just dropped to station 0, she is coming." The nurse checked me, and I was 8cm on one side of my cervix and almost complete on the other side, baby was at station 0 true enough. My nurse walked out the door and asked someone at the nurse's station to call my doc. She came back over to me and asked me to turn onto my right side and manage a few contractions on that side. So, eventually they got me to turn over. I had 2 contractions on my right side and I screamed, "she is coming, help me, I've got to push..........", and I pushed. My nurse kept a poker face the whole time, she was so wonderful. She asked me on the first contraction after me telling her I had to push, to breathe and not push, just breathe through the urge.........well the next contraction came and I began pushing instead of breathing and my sweet nurse did not say anything about stopping, she just told me to breathe slowly because the baby was crowning. Two pushes and my baby was here, 10:16a.m. My nurse caught my baby, and I couldn't have been anymore happier. Imari weighed 7lbs. 14oz. and measured 21 1/2" long.
The doc walked in a good 10minutes later, basically to pat me on the back and deliver the placenta. I had no tears, so he didn't get to practice his sewing 101 skills. My Doula got there at 10:40a.m., she was so worried about what I would say.......she didn't make it and she had so wanted to be there, not just as a Doula,but as my friend. My excitement and contentment with how my labor went, (fast and relatively un-painful even with the Pitocin), that it was okay for those who didn't make it. I achieved a goal of mine, an uncomplicated, med-free, (only med used was Pitocin), vaginal birth. It didn't really matter that the doc didn't make it, mainly b/c having worked in L & D and being a Doula, nurses are the 'eyes' and most of the time they are the 'hands' too. And as far as my Doula, we just couldn't help the timing. She had been there for me during prenatal q & a's. Her encouraging words and how I knew she would treat me during labor played in my mind. Just as was posted by someone on her blog, we got a lot of the labor out of the way before the actual day, so true!
Imari is truly my little princess! She lies here on my chest as I re-tell the amazing day she came into my life. I loved this lil' bean from the moment the pregnancy test was positive.........now look at her, OMG she is wonderful! We had a beautiful LABOR DAY, the blessings are amazing!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
What's Cooking?
Just announcing that baby #3 is almost done cooking, I am currently 37wks and 4 days. I am so counting down the time, very excited, and anxious. Can't wait to share my baby story with you.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Hey Lover Boy................(Baby #2)
After my first son turned 18months old, I just wasn't feeling quite right. Pregnant? No way, I can count how many times on one hand! I'm getting ready to start nursing school in January, me and hubbie we are working together to try and make both of ourselves happy, and lil' man is just now walking good, toddling around, bringing us joy despite all the other things we deal with on a daily.
I don't know what told me to go in that store and buy a pregnancy test. And can you imagine the looks I got anyway, "she has a baby and is buying a pregnancy test to see that she is getting ready to have another baby............is she nuts?" (I have always been worried about what other people think, I am still trying to work on not caring!) I pull into the driveway, check the mail axiously, (I had been waiting on my acceptance letter to Nursing program), got in the house, lil'man ran off playing, I sat on the toilet, p'd on the dumb stick that was going to ease my mind about how I had been feeling, and started to open THE LETTER..................literally, in my left hand I held my future(the acceptance letter, I had been granted into the Nursing Program) and in my right hand I also held my future, (MOTHERHOOD, a second time around)! And to top that crazy, wonderful moment, my toddler comes to the bathroom door, "ma-ma", and the bottom let out, (tears people, not what could be insenuated here). I was crying again. Another emotional pregnancy.
The pregnancy followed through pretty much like the first. I was not able to finish nursing school at the time. I fufilled one semester and then took a leave to have my baby that summer. Again, I had the same Doc, who was very good, I have nothing bad to say about him. I had actually begun labor on my own, but as so many believe, labor is painful from the start, it was not for me. I actually did not even realize that I was in true labor. I went for a routine NST, ( I battled high BP with both pregnancies), and they admitted me because I was in active labor, (BTW, I still wasn't hurting, I actually felt good). Once fully admitted they augmented my labor, (PITOCIN), and things got ugly! Again, I was able to manage, however, this time I didn't even want the stadol because it had made me so looney and itchy last time. My baby was born healthy and safely at 4:49p on a Thursday, and I retore in the same tear as with my first birth.
This birth was even better. I was still not aware of a lot options, and the statistics on birth, and more, but this birth felt a little more empowering. Maybe it was because it was known terrain, maybe it was because it was 1/2 the time of my first, was it because I started labor on my own and seen that it was a "good feeling" and not a "painful feeling" as many paint it? I still have not put my finger on it, but for whatever reason that birth felt good and it made me curious for the first time, "What is really a natural childbirth? What would it be like to do this from start to finish, on my own?"
My blessings kept growing and growing. I already had a precious son, and now I had two. Now this fellow, he was cute fresh out of the womb. The first words from my mouth as they laid him on my chest were, "Honey, look at him, he is so cute". His eyes are the first things you would notice about him, they are bold and beautiful. They draw you into him and just make you want to know more about him. If you can get past those eyes of his, he has a smile to go right along with them. Hah...........my boys are going to cause me fits when they get a little older! He is a lover boy, he loves to love and be loved. He is gentle, but can go the opposite direction in a heartbeat, yes he can be stubborn as a bull. For the most part, he is mister "cheesy" smiling all the time and it is so contagious. He loves to play and eat. He does both so well, (LOL, the eating part is his daddy...............ummm, okay, me too. We love food way too much). He clings to his older brothers every move, wanting so much to do what he can do, (baseball, go to school). He is sweet and genuinly cares for others. I would not trade this fellow for nothing either.
I don't know what told me to go in that store and buy a pregnancy test. And can you imagine the looks I got anyway, "she has a baby and is buying a pregnancy test to see that she is getting ready to have another baby............is she nuts?" (I have always been worried about what other people think, I am still trying to work on not caring!) I pull into the driveway, check the mail axiously, (I had been waiting on my acceptance letter to Nursing program), got in the house, lil'man ran off playing, I sat on the toilet, p'd on the dumb stick that was going to ease my mind about how I had been feeling, and started to open THE LETTER..................literally, in my left hand I held my future(the acceptance letter, I had been granted into the Nursing Program) and in my right hand I also held my future, (MOTHERHOOD, a second time around)! And to top that crazy, wonderful moment, my toddler comes to the bathroom door, "ma-ma", and the bottom let out, (tears people, not what could be insenuated here). I was crying again. Another emotional pregnancy.
The pregnancy followed through pretty much like the first. I was not able to finish nursing school at the time. I fufilled one semester and then took a leave to have my baby that summer. Again, I had the same Doc, who was very good, I have nothing bad to say about him. I had actually begun labor on my own, but as so many believe, labor is painful from the start, it was not for me. I actually did not even realize that I was in true labor. I went for a routine NST, ( I battled high BP with both pregnancies), and they admitted me because I was in active labor, (BTW, I still wasn't hurting, I actually felt good). Once fully admitted they augmented my labor, (PITOCIN), and things got ugly! Again, I was able to manage, however, this time I didn't even want the stadol because it had made me so looney and itchy last time. My baby was born healthy and safely at 4:49p on a Thursday, and I retore in the same tear as with my first birth.
This birth was even better. I was still not aware of a lot options, and the statistics on birth, and more, but this birth felt a little more empowering. Maybe it was because it was known terrain, maybe it was because it was 1/2 the time of my first, was it because I started labor on my own and seen that it was a "good feeling" and not a "painful feeling" as many paint it? I still have not put my finger on it, but for whatever reason that birth felt good and it made me curious for the first time, "What is really a natural childbirth? What would it be like to do this from start to finish, on my own?"
My blessings kept growing and growing. I already had a precious son, and now I had two. Now this fellow, he was cute fresh out of the womb. The first words from my mouth as they laid him on my chest were, "Honey, look at him, he is so cute". His eyes are the first things you would notice about him, they are bold and beautiful. They draw you into him and just make you want to know more about him. If you can get past those eyes of his, he has a smile to go right along with them. Hah...........my boys are going to cause me fits when they get a little older! He is a lover boy, he loves to love and be loved. He is gentle, but can go the opposite direction in a heartbeat, yes he can be stubborn as a bull. For the most part, he is mister "cheesy" smiling all the time and it is so contagious. He loves to play and eat. He does both so well, (LOL, the eating part is his daddy...............ummm, okay, me too. We love food way too much). He clings to his older brothers every move, wanting so much to do what he can do, (baseball, go to school). He is sweet and genuinly cares for others. I would not trade this fellow for nothing either.
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