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Daniel the Draw-er

4/15/2014

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Picture
When I'm not riding horses or helping families bring babies into the world, I'm a writer.  My love of words began back in elementary school when I would fill out my Scholastic book order forms and use my own money to buy all sorts of books.  I remember many days when I doodled cartoon characters and wrote stories on my wide-ruled notebook paper when I was supposed to be doing seatwork instead.

A few years ago, frustrated by the ups-and-downs and inconsistencies of doula work, I cornered a friend who had told me about a college course she took where they wrote a novel.  "It's time," I said.  "Teach me your ways, O Wise One."  And my friend directed me to Chris Baty's "No Plot No Problem" and the idea of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).  

Here we are, three years later, and I've written four full-length Young Adult fiction novels... and, drumroll, please... self-published a children's/middle grade novella titled "Daniel the Draw-er".  

I write under a pen name, S. J. Henderson, not only to put a little distance between my doula world and my writing world, but because there's already an author named Jen Henderson who writes about weather (really?!).  Go figure.

Anyway, Daniel is the story of a nine-year-old boy who discovers a magic pencil in his attic.  Whatever he draws with the pencil comes to life, from rocket cats to pizza-baking robots. It's a witty read for the entire family, with zero potty humor (you're welcome, parents) and zero name-calling.  I've given it a reasonable price so it can be easily shared and gifted.

I'm an independent author and would love your help spreading the word about "Daniel the Draw-er".  Any ideas you might have are greatly appreciated!



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Now, Here's a New One!

7/20/2013

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It's been a while since I've received a new scam e-mail, so this one took me a bit by surprise.  

They're not usually from Russia.  I almost titled my blog, "In Soviet Russia, Scammers Scam You..." but then I thought maybe people would think I was implying anyone from that area was shady, which is very far from the truth!  However, I couldn't resist telling you about it anyway, so you probably still think I'm a jerk.  Sigh.

So, without further delay...  The actual e-mail.  I removed the last name, on the off chance that this is not a scam (which it is).  But if you Google our proud papa, he was born in 1947 and won four gold medals in the Olympics as a biathlete and something about murder.  I don't know what about murder, exactly--blame it on my short attention span.  Beyond murder and elite sports, apparently he also is savvy in the ways of childbirth and stuff.

*** 



Hi,

Am Aleksandr from Moscow,my wife is 6months pregnant and she will be in your city on the 14th of August.Do you offer service for Child Birth Education and Breastfeeding classes?if yes kindly get back to me with the details below:

1-Charges per session
2-Years of Experience
3-Your Website

She will be staying 4 months or more.Awaiting your response so that i will book ahead before coming.

Thanks

Aleksandr [last name removed]
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Falling In Love

1/18/2013

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I feel bad for those of you who don't fall in love every day.

Maybe I'm a sap, deep down inside.  It's always been this way.  Sometimes it is embarrassing, but usually I think it's one of my better traits.  As cynical and sarcastic as I might seem, people do matter to me.  Odds are, you're one of the people who matter.  And I hope that, even just a little, I have mattered to you.

~ Putting on gloves to make sure my best friend's baby doesn't fall on the floor.
~ Is it Mardi Gras?
~ Benchpressing three women and still not hitting the spot, except when it comes to pocket-dialing 9-1-1. 
~ Can I get you a glass of water? 
~ Peach tea--I don't drink tea, but you can try to convert me!--and, please, punch me in the stomach as soon as that contraction ends.
~ That was not a firm, warm hug.  What a load of....
~  Uhhhh, are you anywhere near a hospital? 
~ I'm sorry, Jen.  You're just not strong enough.  Go get him from the lobby.  [reuniting a banished husband with a mom who needed every ounce of his strength.  To date, one of the most beautiful and exhausting experiences I've ever had]
~You're doing wonderfully.  Say hello to my lactation consultant friend.
~ Here, honey.  I just Googled this labor position. 
~ Come sit down next to me... and... it's okay your water broke.  These weren't my good Crocs.
~ Blissful immediate skin-to-skin bonding instead of hours of isolation [true for several of my families].  Happy sigh!  My work here is done.
~ You've never met this woman before?  Nope.  Nice to meet you.  Did you want the vitamin K shot?
~ This is the spreadsheet I want you to fill out.  Do you have a finance degree, by any chance?  No?  Well....  Good luck.
~ The epitome of the perfect Bradley method family.  I wish I had a magic wand.
~ A family that became like my own.  Sorry about your sweater.
~ Kids, you're up just in time to meet your new brother.
~ Let your body move in whatever way it needs to.
~ I'm sorry I ate all of your hummus and you can see my sister's bra.  I made you this cute hat(?).... scarf.
~ The Jewish community places high value on sarcasm.  [Now I understand why I function so well within the Jewish community.]
~ Now that I've found you, I may never leave. Stupid GPS.
~ Sweet Virginia, and an even-sweeter family.
~ Happy anniversary to you.  It's not often I get invited to a romantic dinner for five.
~ Baby Moe.  Oh....  Baby Moe. 
~ I recognize the toddler in the visitor lounge.  That can't be good....
~ Sifting a baby right out.  Mimosas and chocolate chip pancakes for all!
~ Advocating so well for yourself that you nearly shoot the eyebrows off of your Ghandi-like midwife.
~ Like a Boss.
~ Eating Snickerdoodle bars with your husband even though you are fasting.  I'm glad you are my friend and will forgive me when all is said and done.  <3
~ They keep telling me my baby is smart, and yet she wants to stay breech.  Is she smart or isn't she?  (It turns out, she was smart and so were they).  Oversharers = my peeps.
~Fist-bump between pushes.... and ice cream and chocolate sauce solves everything.
~ You were never broken.  (And I greatly appreciate anyone who giggles at a good "balls" joke.)
~ Seven diapers in one hour is no joke.
~ You did Fantasti*con.... and I'm not just saying that to be creepy.  :-)

There are more moments than time and words to share, but I add to this rich mosaic one piece at a time.  It may be nonsense or silly to you, but to me, it is the reason I do what I do.  It is why I return the e-mails, make the calls, drive the miles, sip the lattes, and wedge myself into impossible pretzels in the corner of that birthing room.  Because I meet and fall in love with hopeful people all the time.
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Breathe

11/11/2012

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My client sent me a text confessing she is scared to leave the hospital and the comfort of having a nurse or lactation consultant one button-press away.  I sent a text back to her to reassure her that we'd help her find support if it was needed.  What I was thinking at that moment was:

"Sometimes the most important thing you can do is take a deep breath, let go of the hands you've been holding, and trust your intuition."

It can apply to so many areas of our lives, can't it?  Along with being terrified of failing, are we also just as scared to succeed?

For me, this is significant because I've buried myself ridiculously deep, 8k-ish words, in my National Novel Writing Month word count deficit.  The words seem to be dammed up today, and I don't know why.  Is it fear?  The complete scariness of letting go of control?  Hushing the overbearing voice of that so-called "perfectionist" streak? 

I need to let go of those things that are holding me back, to trust I can do this because, deep within, I know how to do this... and I want it more than anything.    Just like this new mama, convinced she doesn't have the wisdom she needs to be the mother she was divinely designed to be.  We both need to stop and realize that God has not given us these gifts without the necessary tools to enjoy them.

Breathe in.  Breathe out.  
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So You Wanna Be a Doula?

5/4/2012

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I'm thinking of putting together an "Intro to Birth Doulas" class for those considering doula work but not sure about how to go about doing that. I'm thinking the class duration would be roughly 4-5 hours, $100 per person.


My plan is to go through the process of what it is a doula does, discuss scope of practice, ethics, etc.  

First class will probably be within the week, as I have someone interested to do this ASAP.  If you are interested as well, please contact me!
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Rainy Days and Scammers Always Get Me Down

4/16/2012

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Just got this scam e-mail a few minutes ago and thought I'd throw it out for those of you who hadn't been so.... blessed....

Richard "frichardson48@yahoo.com"


My name is Frank Richardson and would need to confirm if you have a free date in June for 5 who needs childbirth education, Doula and also a yoga or Pilate fitness class.

I kindly asked that you provide me little information on your area of specialization and if possible method of operation.

God Bless,
Frank



Now, I'll admit that I'd seen this one before, as it had been posted on a doula forum I happened to visit yesterday.  This was word-for-word what the other doula had received, so I was already on high alert...  

Two things that stood out immediately:  His e-mail shows up under the name "Richard", but he signs off his e-mail as "Frank".  As an aside, I rarely trust people with two first names.  There's something uber-shady about being able to almost effortlessly have your own alias.  ;-) )

On the surface, this one seems nearly legit until you get to the last paragraph where "Richard" is asking about the recipient's "area of specialization" and "'if' possible method of operation".  I don't know how to "if".  Okay, well, maybe I do.  But if you don't already know my area of specialization, I'd like to inform you that I have pretty awesome ninja skills, Frank Richardson, if that is, indeed, your real name.  Let's set up a date for some doula/childbirth education/pilates/yoga and I'd be oh-so-happy to show you!
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The Doula Sisterhood

4/10/2012

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Being a doula is an experience that is, well....  hard to explain.  Even to myself.  There is something to be said for a woman who can't be bothered to balance her checkbook but can manage to coordinate and execute an elaborate plan to keep her kids from wandering the streets while she GREETS A NEW SOUL.  I'm pretty sure that deserves a trophy or something, but usually all I get is grimy clothing, a condemned house, and a grumpy husband.  It can be such a thankless job, which is why I am so grateful for the women who are in the trenches with me, day after day after day.  And, believe me, I do mean day after day after day...

Not that the doula gig isn't full of sunshine and kittens.  Okay, yeah, so it's totally not full of sunshine and kittens.  What you've read about birth work isn't all that accurate--babies are rarely born bathed in heavenly light and serenaded by a chorus of angels.  It's usually more, uh, primal than all of that, that's a freakishly bright spotlight up there, and the chorus of angels is likely a nurse coaching a woman on how to take the largest dump of her life.   You think I'm kidding about that last part.  How sweet of you!  

So this one goes out to my doula sisters, because they may be the only ones who truly understand what it's like.  Sometimes we need each other to talk us down from the proverbial ledge.  Thank you for talking me down so I can doula another day.  You are a rare breed... A doula.

If you've ever had a full-blown panic attack upon realizing your cell phone shut itself off in the middle of the night, even when none of your clients are due....  You might be a doula.  

If you've ever been forced to spend a weekend in borrowed scrubs and dress shoes because you've been called in for a birth but your birth bag hasn't....  You might be a doula--and repeatedly considering burning said pair of dress shoes when you get home.

If you've ever found yourself in the middle of a coffee shop [loudly] discussing what wine would pair best with your client's placenta tartar... You might be a doula.  You might also take satisfaction in seeing the people in the booths around you push their food away in disgust.

If your partner texts you at 3 a.m. to ask "How far dilated is she?"... You might be a doula, and trying to dismiss the fleeting notion of calling him in as your back-up.

If you've ever laughed in someone's face when they complained about their 12-, 20-, or 24-hour shift...  You are really just insanely jealous.  But, yes,  probably still a doula.

If you've ever held someone's leg in the air for two hours....  I don't want to hear about it, probably.   This is a family show.

If you have burst into tears about the sink full of dishes that smugly greeted you when you emerged from that three-day birth...  You are totally justified in stringing your family up by their toenails.  And you're a doula.

If you complete each of your sentences with the phrase, "unless I'm at a birth".  Doula doula bo boula.

If you've learned an otherwise pointless hobby just because you need something to occupy yourself during early birth...  You should probably sleep instead.  Just sayin'.

If your colleagues are some of the nuttiest women around but also the most amazing people ever, you're not only a doula, but you're blessed beyond measure.

In a world where we work so hard to be that difference to the families that trust so very much to us, sometimes we need more shoulders to bear the burden.  Thank you for walking this crazy path alongside of me, sisters.  You are amazing!  You are doulas.

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My Birth Story ~ By Tamara

2/23/2012

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From Jen:  This is the birth story of a lovely homebirth I had the privilege of helping with recently.  It is important to this mother that all of her story is told because it just might help someone else.  Please be respectful of her and her situation.  Now to Tamara's story...

~~~


First, some back-story...

Discovering that I was pregnant was a time of tension in my life at first. I was already a single parent of three other children; my 13 year old son, Alex, who lives with his dad, eight year old daughter, Olivia, and four year old son, Nicholas, who both live with me full time, and I was not anticipating having another child. After thinking that rekindling a relationship with my daughter's father might work, I had made the decision not to continue that relationship because we already had Olivia and he did not participate in raising her. I realized it was best not to try to resume a relationship with him because he still seemed to be unsure about the responsibilities attached to the relationship and appeared to only be interested in having a connection with me. I found out I was pregnant a week after breaking the relationship off. I had to call him and tell him I was pregnant which caused additional stress between us. He wouldn't be a parent to this child either. I was hurt, but had already come to terms with this. 

Over time, my thoughts about my pregnancy changed from upset to acceptance, and from confusion to love and determination. I was determined to continue pressing forward to build myself up and to grow both as a parent and as the sole person financially willing to take care of my children. Shortly after I found out I was pregnant I applied for a Masters degree program in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and although I applied two months after the application deadline, I got accepted. I cried with joy when I received my acceptance letter in email. This meant that there were new and special things ahead for us such as world travel, a salary with benefits and a manageable work schedule. I wouldn't have the same old story to tell.

Over the past couple years, I had began educating myself on alternatives to modern medicine and had become fascinated by ways to manage my health, my nutrition, and the way I see the world to create peace and well being in my life. I decided to have a home birth after not seeing eye to eye with two obgyns. My first obgyn, a female, tried to recommend me for counseling because I did not want vaginal exams while I was not in labor. She wrote in my file that she suspected I had been sexually abused at some point which had never been a factor in my life! I was disgusted by this. I was 32 weeks pregnant when I changed my obgyn, only to face further opposition to not wanting vaginal exams by the male obgyn I was provided. He actually yelled at me when I did not have my clothes off while waiting on him to enter the room, although I had signed a consent form informing my ob/gyn that I did not want a vaginal exam. He told me that he didn't want to adhere to my birth plan because I would have needed to introduce it to him when I first found out I was pregnant. Most birth plans aren't even created until a pregnant woman turns 37 weeks. I had never heard of anything so ludicrous. I decided at that point to find my own independent midwife and fire my ob/gyn.

While watching videos on live home births I was introduced initially to the idea of having a doula. I was concerned about going through my labor and delivery alone, being a single parent and having little family support, and looking into getting a doula seemed to make sense at the time. A doula is a labor and birth coach who knows massage and relaxation techniques and is there to help a pregnant woman (and spouse or partner) go through the birthing and pregnancy process informed about what her body is doing. I was immediately interested in this. When the difficulties with my second ob/gyn intensified, I became sure that I did not want him to deliver my baby, which opened a gateway to not wanting to have my baby in a hospital. I learned that the c-section I had with my four year old was a result of the pitocin used to induce my pregnancy dropping my baby's heart rate. I did not know that likelihood of such risks by medical induction at that time, and simply thought something was wrong with me or my baby that caused the c-section - not that my otherwise normal pregnancy was complicated by the introduction of petocin into my baby's system. I started seriously considering having a home birth at this time, and learned that a doula would not be able to assist me in the labor and delivery of my baby because doulas are not medically trained. I was disappointed by this as I had already started to pay for doula services, and was discouraged from seeking out a midwife because I was 38 weeks pregnant by that time.

Out of curiosity, I decided to search online for whether a pregnant woman at 38 weeks could still find a midwife and deliver her baby at home. I had been discouraged from looking for a midwife at that stage in my pregnancy because it didn't leave a lot of time for prenatal care or to anticipate anything that may go wrong during birth, but my pregnancies had all been normal, I had records of my vitals during all of my prenatal visits and had two normal ultrasounds, and I never had any issues from the births of my other children unless there was medical intervention. I had negative test results for every test they could think to give me, so why couldn't I have a home birth with a perfectly normal pregnancy? Everything I read online said that hiring a midwife was still perfectly fine at 38 weeks, as a midwife has medical training and can transport a pregnant woman to the hospital if there is a problem outside of her control. My fears were calmed and I found that during my births, normal situations were treated like emergencies, such as leaking ambiotic fluid at 40 weeks and not having the confidence of knowing what my body would do during labor and being medically induced as a result. I wanted to give my body a chance to labor naturally and to deliver my baby in a comfortable environment. To give myself a chance to have a vaginal birth and if something went wrong then to seek a hospital for emergency services - what a hospital is intended to exist for when a woman gives birth in the first place. I am glad I made this decision. 

-----------------------------------------------

I met Kristin Lacy, Wendy Pinter and Jen Henderson as a result of sending out emails to the Michigan Midwives Association and being recommended to speak to Wendy due to the time of the year. It was Christmas week when I turned 38 weeks pregnant, and many midwives had taken some holiday time that week. Wendy was attending a birth and I was able to connect with her intern, Kristin Lacy, by email - it was a match made in heaven! Kristin eased all of my fears and concerns about seeking out a midwife at 38 weeks pregnant, and discussed with me her years of medical training prior to deciding to become a midwife, and was able to meet with me the same day we emailed each other. She did everything possible to make sure that I had access to everything I wanted for an ideal birth experience - including providing access to a private birthing room where I had the option of having a water birth after finding out my mobile home couldn't sustain the pool. She looked over my medical records for my pregnancy thoroughly and explained that I was getting two midwives and a doula, a team of support. She also emphasized the fact that if I didn't want any support at a particular time during labor and birth, no touching or talking or to labor alone, that my wishes would be completely respected. I was awakened to the position of control over my own body and my own birth experience through my conversation with Kristin and I was empowered and encouraged by that. I was also assured that everything possible would be done, if an emergency did arise, to transport me and my baby to a hospital as soon as possible and that they were very well trained and prepared..

I was 41 weeks and 6 days pregnant when my labor finally began. I had my prenatal care appointment with Kristin the day before I gave birth and was still 2 centimeters dilated after about a week. After attempting to induce me for the fourth time over a two week period with natural remedies and with my contractions still being very irregular, few and far between, Kristin reassured me that I was in labor and that my body and my baby were moving at their own pace, at God's pace, and not to worry. I was a bit discouraged and I didn't know what to expect my body to do. Kristin asked me each time that she attempted to induce me what *I* wanted to do, and went with what I felt my body was saying. She was extremely empathetic and sensitive to me, while at the same time giving me responses that were sure and even sometimes stern like an older sister would do for her younger sister who didn't know what to expect. I had my children picked up by their grand mother before being induced that day, and was ready to have my baby. Kristin tried stripping my membranes, I tried listening to relaxation CDs from the hypnobabies CD set, and after several hours and feeling even more discouraged, I was provided herbs to help induce my labor by soaking in a warm bath to try. My contractions never became regular or intense, and I felt discouraged about another possible false alarm or failed attempt at induction. Kristin left my home encouraging me to stay patient, and I went for a walk to ease my mind and my feelings. I picked up some caster oil based upon a friend's suggestion but didn't touch it until I spent 45 minutes soaking in the herbs and had no contractions three hours later. I decided to try the caster oil. Two hours after taking the caster oil and not having any contractions, I decided to call my mom and have my children brought back and to go to bed. My daughter had school the next day and if it was going to be another false alarm, I didn't have time for it. *laugh*

I was woken up by strong contractions at 11:45 pm after having gone to bed at 10 o'clock. I decided to time my contractions after feeling three intense contractions at around four minutes apart. I timed three more contractions which were consistently about three minutes apart and felt my water break while I was laying in bed! It was 12:06 am when my water broke and I scrambled to get up and get to the restroom before I completely soaked my bed, dialing Kristin as I hurried to the toilet. After verifying what I was feeling, Kristin said she was on her way and for me to call Jen, the doula. Jen told me she was on her way, but that she was farther away than Kristin was at about an hour and a half, and told me to leave the restroom because if I stayed there I may have the baby before my team got there, so I relocated to my living room - my children sleeping soundly in my room.

I labored on my love seat with a blue pad under me and was surprised at how manageable the contractions were. By the time I sat on the couch at about 12:15 am, my contractions were two minutes apart and I could reassess my position and how I wanted to breathe to control how I coped with the intensity of the contractions without a problem. I remembered the intensity of my contractions when I was medically induced with petocin, how I couldn't breathe between contractions and the pain caused me to want an epidural right away. This experience was completely different! I had time to think, the contractions intensified gradually and gave me time to prepare myself when my body was naturally laboring on its own! I was calm and delighted - I was doing this myself! 

Kristin arrived by 1:30 am and checked my vitals and the baby's heart rate. Everything was fine. She then told me that she wanted to check my cervix to see how far I was dilated and I said that was fine. I was shocked to find out that I was between five and six centimeters dilated already! That was supposed to be the longest part of laboring, between two and five centimeters based on everything I read and more than 50 home birthing videos that I watched! My body changed stages without a problem, and without the "typical signs" of labor that you read about. Everything was moving so fast! I was then told that I could stand up and labor any way I wanted to, but I chose to stay seated for a while. Jen arrived just after 2 am and to honor the fact that I wanted a water birth really bad, despite my mobile home not being able to support the pool without worry, my bathtub was sterilized and prepared for me to give birth there. Jen cleaned out the tub and I was allowed to labor in the water. It felt soooo wonderful! It eased my contractions right away, but soon, I felt like I had to push and wanted badly to go back into my living room. No matter what position I wanted to get in or where I wanted to labor, Kristin and Jen made it happen for me. Kristin told me that this was my birth and I get to be in control of the way I deliver. That the only time she would intervene was when I felt like I had to push because she wanted to make sure that my cervix was dilated enough not to cause me pain in my uterus when I pushed. I was grateful for this because the feeling to push became overwhelming, and I had no way to tell whether my cervix was open enough to allow me to push comfortably or not.

I could feel myself wanting to push so Kristin wanted to check me. The baby felt sooo low in my pelvis! I was only in the tub for about 30 minutes. Jen and Kristin helped me out of the tub and my contractions were so intense that I had to labor on my hands and knees in the hallway through one of the contractions and crawl to the area that Kristin and Jen had set up for me to labor on by the couch *laugh*. I got to choose where I wanted to deliver, where I wanted to labor, I had never felt that much in control during any of my other births. I tried to labor on the couch but it just felt too soft, and the water just didn't feel right. I felt bad about the caster oil because things got a bit messy, but Kristin and Jen didn't flinch about it - it was all part of being a midwife and doula for them. Before I knew it, I was trying to keep myself from pushing in order to give my cervix a little more time to open up - I was at 9 centimeters by 3:30 am, and needed an additional hour to allow my baby to decend into the birth canal and then push him out. I had episiotimies with my other pregnancies without even knowing if I was in danger of tearing or not. My baby crowned without causing any tearing!

My children were sleeping soundly until I gave a yell to push my baby's head out - everything having been manageable up until the point where I had to force my body to relax in order to push with my contractions. My daughter and son came out of the bedroom just in time to hear their little brother's first cry at 4:25 am, a brief little yelp, as he lay on my chest with his eyes wide open and holding onto the fingers of my right hand. He was beautiful and I heard my daughter and son say "Awwww"! Noah was born on January 17th, 2012, at 4:25 am. His 8 year old sister weighed and measured him at 7 lbs 0 ozs, and 18.5" long.

Wendy came from another birth 2 hours away and delivered the placenta, and Jen was constantly supportive and encouraging, involving my children and taking pictures of the baby being weighed by his big sister. I was so entranced by the experience that I forgot to have pictures taken of the baby emerging into the world, but decided that I was glad that I didn't have such intimate pictures, that it all worked out for the best. Every memory I have about my birth experience is incredible and I find myself catching my breath or exhaling because I did something so empowering. I feel as if this was the only birth out of four that I was actually present for - this time I was in control, I was allowed to trust my body, and I was in the comfort of my own home when my baby came into the world. 

Kristin Lacy is an incredible midwife and I am truly blessed to have had her and the rest of her team present for my birth. I didn't want more children before this experience, and now I hope to find the right relationship where I can be married and have one more just to have an opportunity to plan it from the very beginning of my pregnancy with Kristin involved. 
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The Sum of the Parts

2/17/2012

1 Comment

 
I'm here again, apologizing for my absence in the blogosphere.  I wish I was better at dropping in here regularly, but I supposed there is some kind of resistance bred within me that wants to speak when I feel moved to.... not merely when I think it's been too long and people think I have forgotten that I even have a blog.  That is just one of my little idiosycrasies--the pieces of me that make me just that.... ME.

As a doula, I am called to become familiar enough with a mother or a mother and partner in a matter of hours to be able to not totally tick them off when the time comes for their precious child to make their grand debut.  It's like speed-dating and then running off for a quickie wedding if you're the chosen one.  I'm always humbled when an expectant family says, "Yes, we'd like for you to be with us for the birth of this child" despite my tendency towards goofiness and caffeine consumption  (I swear I am quiet and calm during birth.  Promise.).

We, as complex human beings, are a fantastically jumbled recipe of experiences, quirks, and personality.  We view life through different eyes and interpret our world using our own minds and hearts.  It is amazing to me that even as unique as each of us are, we are able to locate and [generally] connect with people who identify with us....  Lovers, friends, family, colleagues, etc.  If you are currently expecting, your developing baby is already becoming that being full of potential, wonder, and life experience--you may already sense some of that as they jab you with their little feet and elbows just to make sure you know they're there and they're soaking it all in.

What makes you YOU?  
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A Thankful Busy Bee

11/19/2011

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First of all, I am shocked that I haven't blogged here in two months!  In those two months I have written a novel, doula'ed for a half-dozen beautiful families at the births of their little ones, provided postpartum care for a few weeks for a wonderful local family healing after a c-section delivery, met with the amazing ladies of Doulas Share (the doula support group I formed this summer) for our first holiday get-together, and.... phew!!!  Just remembering it all makes me a little sleepy.

As we are nearing Thanksgiving within the next week, I wanted to take a moment here to give thanks for a few things that have been given to me:

~ I am thankful for a rewarding job, despite the challenges.  Being a doula is far from easy.  Those of you who are searching for doula care for the first time may not yet have a full grasp of what it is I and my doula sisters do, but I pray that our hard work and personal sacrifice will bless your family.

~ I am thankful for compassionate care providers.  There is immeasurable value in a gentle, understanding nurse or a doctor/midwife who addresses your concerns without bullying.  They DO exist, I promise.

~ I am thankful for all of the connections I get to make with the families that I support.  As days and years pass, I may slip from the memories of your birth or postpartum period, but know that I always carry my doula families close to my heart and send my love to you and your precious little ones.


Feel free to add your own thankful comments if I have inspired you to do so.  I'd love to hear them!  
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    Jen

    Doula, wife, mother of four, equestrienne, comedian, dreamer.... 

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