Doula Article

Here is a link to the article I've been talking about. It starts on Pg. 24. Enjoy!!
http://www.timesfreepress.com/HealthWatch2008/

Want an Autograph??

The article on doulas came out in the paper today. There is a huge picture of me with Annika and our children. I am pretty happy overall with how it all came out. I am a little critical of myself though. I think I could have said some things in a better way for my quotes and I wish my belly wasn't sticking out in my picture (partially because of the way I was standing and partially because I'm overweight). I'm really so glad that the paper did an article on Doulas. At least some women who might not have known about this option will be able to have better birth experiences. Now I just have to prepare for the flood of interest. I don't know if I'm being a little too optimistic, but I know I'll get a few calls from it. I'm already busy this year, but I never mind attending a birth. I also certainly don't want all the attention for myself. I plan on referring to other doulas also. Although there are only 2 others I know of right now.
I will post a link to the article as soon as I can.

Catching Up

I have spent the last several days trying to catch up on things. Miriam was behind in homeschooling since she went to Columbia and then I was gone all day Tues. We have been doubling up to make up for those days. My house is a wreck. I really need to spend some time cleaning, but between homeschooling and everything else, I haven't done much yet. Plus I am still waiting for a call from my last client this month. It could come at any moment so I feel like I have to be prepared. I have been getting ready for my bible class on Sunday because I'm not sure when I'll be called or even if I'll make it. Plus I am still recuperating from the birth Tues. I still feel tired and really want to lay around. Anyway, I feel all out of sorts and out of routine.
In the last 2 days I have had 3 more couples hire me to be their doula- 2 in March and 1 in July. I have so far been busier this year than the 3 years before. I certainly don't mind, but my family and I will have to get used to it.
On a different subject, the other day Lily was nursing (yes, I believe in extended nursing) and I thought to ask her what "Num Num" tasted like. She immediately said "strawberries". I have always thought that breastmilk was sweet, but strawberries can be tangy. I thought that maybe she said that because strawberries are one of her favorite foods. So I asked Miriam if she remembered what it tasted like. She said "Sweet, sweet, sweet, sour". So maybe breastmilk has a strawberry taste. I wonder if they could come out with a strawberry flavored formula??

Powerful Birth

Well, I did attend a birth yesterday. Every time I go to one, I am in awe at the power of birth and what a woman can do. My client was very active in labor, so I had a lot of work to do. I am very sore today. Her labor was hard and long. She did end up with an epidural, but she labored so well for almost 24 hours and she just got exhausted and wasn't progressing fast enough to keep encouraged. Once she got the epi and was resting, she dilated very quickly so it was probably for the best. She pushed well and didn't tear. The husband was great the whole time. The baby was beautiful. I was really so proud and I hope they are too.
I had 3 births this month- 2 have already happened. One of my clients did not call me when she was in labor. I can't know exactly why, but I guess they thought they didn't need me at the time. I've had this happen before so while I am a little upset, I'm beginning to think that some couples just need prenatal support and not actually birth support. They need someone to talk to who believes in birth and that a woman can do it! I just kinda wish they would let me know this ahead of time so I'm not on call. I still have 1 more and I know she'll call. It is a homebirth also so I am really excited since this will be my first one other than my own.
Being a doula is a job, but it is not like a job for me. If you call seeing mothers be so strong, fathers looking at their wives in awe, and a baby coming into the world just a job, then you have never been at a birth. While I certainly do some hard work (supporting a mom and dad is not easy), it is something I consider to be a privilege. I love my "job"!!!!

Birth On My Mind

This is my first post about birth. It is heavily on my mind this week, because I have 3 clients due and it looks like all three may have their babies this week. So I am starting to mentally prepare for supporting these women. I've been doing some reading and some surfing on the internet. I thought I would include some of the sites I found that I loved. Maybe you will like them too.
First is a blog http://wonderfullymadebelliesandbabies.blogspot.com/. She has some great info and videos. The videos from 1-19-08 were so beautiful and I cried as I watched the first one.
This blog led me to another. It is the blog of the midwife who made the videos I loved. It has tons of birth stories which is great for a birth junkie like me. They are older, but who cares! http://navelgazingbirthstories.blogspot.com/
http://babymonkeymomma.blogspot.com/ This one seems pretty interesting also.
Well, I just got a call that one of my clients is in labor. Early labor, but labor none the less. Hopefully, in the next couple of days, I will be posting about the wonderful natural birth I attended.

Home Again

So, I have my Miriam back. It really was not so bad for the 5 days and 4 nights she was away, but I could definitely tell something was missing. It's hard the first time your child doesn't need you. She was supposed to come home earlier, but when I talked to her she said "No" and quickly got off the phone. Wah!! I can tell she is glad to be home, but I also know that she will leave again. She is growing up! On that note, she lost her second tooth tonight. One day she will leave me once and for all, but I don't want to think about that. She always promises me that she will live with me forever. She said when she gets married, her husband would move in too. I'll let her believe for now that I think this will happen. Not that I would mind, but I know her wishes will change when she reaches that age. Miriam and I are really kindred souls. We get along so well and like so many of the same things. I love Lily to death, but sometime I just don't get along with her. Of course, things may change as they both grow up. I really love having daughters. My mom and I are close and I look forward to my relationship with Miriam and Lily growing. My girls are so wonderful and so different. I am saddened and excited at the same time as I watch them grow. It is times like this that I really empathize with my own mother and agree with all those says- "They grow up so fast", "Enjoy them while you can", etc. Something my own daughters will learn one day.

SNOW!!!

We had snow in Chattanooga last night. It was a real treat for Lily. This is really the first time she has seen it. At first she was kinda scared of it. When we got home from Bible class and I showed her our white yard. She asked "Daddy did that?" I said "No, that's snow". Again she asked if daddy made that? I told her God made it so she is now telling everyone that Jesus made the snow. This morning she said something about Daddy making that mess. So last night I think she thought that daddy had made some sort of white mess in our yard. I just have no clue where she got an idea like that?? Maybe I say things like that sometimes?? Anyway, she really enjoyed the snow. We threw it at each other and played outside for a little while. She also stuck out her tongue and caught some. Here are a few pictures of Lily and the snow. Miriam is not in these pictures because she is in Columbia for a few days with my mom. I miss her!