Greetings All...
I just found out that my header had gone inactive. So sorry to all who might have thought the whole site was inactive. Just the header... and now it should be "fixed" or as fixed as I can manage right now.
All my births are done and reported. Books are read, just need to write the last report. Have studied much, if not most, of the physiology text. I'm not actually sure why I'm worried, except that it's been a while since I tested on physiology for my CBE certificate. (Childbirth educator... with ASPO/Lamaze)
I guess I should make a few things clear here. I have many techniques and principals at my disposal for each birthing family. I tailor what I use to suit THAT family. You will not find me forcing you to have a birth a certain way. I think in the past doulas might have gotten a bit of a bad rap as those who MADE you give birth without drugs, at home, in a certain position... you fill in the blank. While we are certainly able to work with many scenarios our goal is to support you in YOUR birthing experience. That is one of the reasons that it is so important for a doula and her clients to get to know each other before the birth. While I "could" walk into a room having never met a couple before (and I have done this) it is easier for me and helps your birth more to have spent some time together.
All this to say, as I near the completion of this process I have learned how to serve the birthing family and NOT myself. That's a good distinction, don't you think?
For those new to this site here is a brief overview of who I am:
I have four children, two of whom I gave birth to in a hospital setting. One was with an epidural (6 weeks early) and one was with no meds at all.
I have been a La Leche League leader in the past and counseled numerous nursing mothers in our hometown area.
I trained and received my ACCE certification from ASPO/Lamaze and taught childbirth classes in our community for 9 years before "retiring" for a bit when our adopted daughters arrived. I have since continued to teach within our church community or by word of mouth, although my ASPO/Lamaze certification has expired.
I have helped as a "doula" with births for over 24 years and am now seeking to finish my certification through CBI. While not "necessary" per se, it makes many people happier for me to have formal training. I can supply references from former clients and another doula in the area (I was her doula and CBE for several of her births).
Well, there it is. I'm hoping to finish by this summer, if not before. I just have to fit this in with the rest of life. Feel free to stop on by my other blog if you want to know more about me personally.
Blessings and Happy Birthing,
Kim
Showing posts with label general update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label general update. Show all posts
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
I feel like I owe you a post...
I feel like I owe someone a post. But, I don’t want to write just for the sake of writing. That’s my other blog. But, neither do I want you to think I don’t care about you all.
Being a doula is something I always never knew I wanted to be.
I have known FOREVER that I want to teach. I have taught in public schools, Montessori, a small Christian school, Vacation Bible School, homeschool, childbirth classes… you get the picture. But, until I had children and started teaching Lamaze I had no idea I wanted to be a doula.
The first birth I ever attended was not my own. We had a young lady living with our family during a crisis pregnancy. She was quite sweet, fairly shy and had some tough things to deal with. So, when it came time to go to her childbirth classes and her partner wouldn’t go with her she decided not to go. Part of my (volunteer) job was to help her meet goals she/we had established as she progressed through her pregnancy. So, I finally asked why she didn’t want to attend and she said she didn’t want to be the only one alone in the classes. Well, DUH! Why hadn’t I thought of that? So, I suggested I accompany her and so began this lovely journey I am on.
We attended classes, and while some helpful information was disseminated, I often called this the “How to be a good patient” class. And, these classes are what most women in our town attended. A few years later when Dear and I were blessed with our first pregnancy I regretfully signed up for these classes, but with a bit of hope that perhaps they had changed. Well, it didn’t actually matter because I gave birth on the second day of classes, so I never learned what they had to teach.
Our second pregnancy found me OBSESSED with the idea of being PREPARED and being PREPARED EARLY since Senior Son had arrived 6 weeks early and things were heading down the same path for Young Man. I found Lamaze classes in our town, taught by a sweet southern Mississippian who just loved on her pregnant mommies. I talked her into getting me into an earlier class, just in case, which was a good idea, as Young Man also made an early appearance, just not as early as Senior Son. Whew! Let me catch my breath after that run on sentence!
Our second birth, almost at home or in the car, happened very rapidly, a mere 13 minutes after arriving at the front door of the hospital. But, through all the early labor at home (2 months), transitional labor (home and car) and trying to NOT have the baby in the lobby, I found that, indeed, breathing and positioning, knowledge and support all helped me. And, voila, I was into my next phase of teaching… Lamaze classes, headed down the road to something… perhaps midwifery.
Many prayers, hours of reading, miles of travel and tests, papers and lesson plans later, I knew that while I loved teaching childbirth classes, and I really LOVED attending births I was NOT called to be a midwife, but a doula. Where I was gifted was in helping the family, not in catching the baby nor making medical decisions. And, in that manner I have supported laboring women in our town for the past 22 years, if you count that first birth that started it all. Now, all these years later I am studying to obtain my certification.
Recently someone asked why I was spending all that time getting a piece of paper. I answered, “Because once I have that little piece of paper the people in the hospital will be a bit more willing to work with me, but more importantly let me have a bit of autonomy in the room so that we can allow/help the birthing mother to truly have the birth she desires if at all possible.”
And, that’s how I got here. So, I am a bit over 1/3 of the way through my reading, I have written approximately 1/5 of my one major paper. I have been reading supplemental books to add to my knowledge and should have my first “write up” birth (one that happens during my training) in November. What I really need is another birth! Anyone up for a doula?
Seriously, part of what I will be learning is how to find clients. And, I hope part of what I learn will be how to balance client needs with my family’s needs. Other than that? Piece of cake. Okay, not quite that easy, but I hope to complete this within the year.
Happy Birthing,Kim
p.s. if you or anyone you know needs a doula, just leave a comment and I’ll be happy to help you find one.
Being a doula is something I always never knew I wanted to be.
I have known FOREVER that I want to teach. I have taught in public schools, Montessori, a small Christian school, Vacation Bible School, homeschool, childbirth classes… you get the picture. But, until I had children and started teaching Lamaze I had no idea I wanted to be a doula.
The first birth I ever attended was not my own. We had a young lady living with our family during a crisis pregnancy. She was quite sweet, fairly shy and had some tough things to deal with. So, when it came time to go to her childbirth classes and her partner wouldn’t go with her she decided not to go. Part of my (volunteer) job was to help her meet goals she/we had established as she progressed through her pregnancy. So, I finally asked why she didn’t want to attend and she said she didn’t want to be the only one alone in the classes. Well, DUH! Why hadn’t I thought of that? So, I suggested I accompany her and so began this lovely journey I am on.
We attended classes, and while some helpful information was disseminated, I often called this the “How to be a good patient” class. And, these classes are what most women in our town attended. A few years later when Dear and I were blessed with our first pregnancy I regretfully signed up for these classes, but with a bit of hope that perhaps they had changed. Well, it didn’t actually matter because I gave birth on the second day of classes, so I never learned what they had to teach.
Our second pregnancy found me OBSESSED with the idea of being PREPARED and being PREPARED EARLY since Senior Son had arrived 6 weeks early and things were heading down the same path for Young Man. I found Lamaze classes in our town, taught by a sweet southern Mississippian who just loved on her pregnant mommies. I talked her into getting me into an earlier class, just in case, which was a good idea, as Young Man also made an early appearance, just not as early as Senior Son. Whew! Let me catch my breath after that run on sentence!
Our second birth, almost at home or in the car, happened very rapidly, a mere 13 minutes after arriving at the front door of the hospital. But, through all the early labor at home (2 months), transitional labor (home and car) and trying to NOT have the baby in the lobby, I found that, indeed, breathing and positioning, knowledge and support all helped me. And, voila, I was into my next phase of teaching… Lamaze classes, headed down the road to something… perhaps midwifery.
Many prayers, hours of reading, miles of travel and tests, papers and lesson plans later, I knew that while I loved teaching childbirth classes, and I really LOVED attending births I was NOT called to be a midwife, but a doula. Where I was gifted was in helping the family, not in catching the baby nor making medical decisions. And, in that manner I have supported laboring women in our town for the past 22 years, if you count that first birth that started it all. Now, all these years later I am studying to obtain my certification.
Recently someone asked why I was spending all that time getting a piece of paper. I answered, “Because once I have that little piece of paper the people in the hospital will be a bit more willing to work with me, but more importantly let me have a bit of autonomy in the room so that we can allow/help the birthing mother to truly have the birth she desires if at all possible.”
And, that’s how I got here. So, I am a bit over 1/3 of the way through my reading, I have written approximately 1/5 of my one major paper. I have been reading supplemental books to add to my knowledge and should have my first “write up” birth (one that happens during my training) in November. What I really need is another birth! Anyone up for a doula?
Seriously, part of what I will be learning is how to find clients. And, I hope part of what I learn will be how to balance client needs with my family’s needs. Other than that? Piece of cake. Okay, not quite that easy, but I hope to complete this within the year.
Happy Birthing,Kim
p.s. if you or anyone you know needs a doula, just leave a comment and I’ll be happy to help you find one.
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