Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
a little more about me
I understand, that in choosing a doula, it helps to first know a little about who they are and where they come from. I hope to answer some of your questions about me :)
I'm the oldest of 7 children, all girls. I grew up experiencing first hand, the beauty and joy of birth. I witnessed my first birth at age 11 during the birth of my 3rd sister. I remember cautiously watching and sitting near my mother as she labored in the comfort of our home. This was her first home birth and it was seamless. Perfect in every way for her and everyone involved. My parents allowed me to cut the cord and it formed a precious bond that I still carry today with my sister, Sara (now 16).
My husband and I had been married 3 years when we had our first child. I was nervous and not sure if I could birth naturally, so we had an intervention free hospital birth. We had taken Bradley Classes together and felt well prepared. My Mother served as my unofficial Doula and my husband was my coach every step of the way.
After only 3.5 hours of labor, Leilani Elizabeth was born and I was forever changed. I remember crying as I held her skin to skin for the first time and said "I was made for this!"
A few years later I was able to serve as an unofficial doula to a dear friend as well as my sister in law. I knew then that this was something I wanted to pursue!
Well, a few years down the road and another 3 children added to our family, here I am. Blessed by my own midwife with the opportunity to attend the CAPPA Doula training last August.
I've experienced my own 4 births, each very different, as well as attend the births of others.
I've been apart of home births, birth center births and hospital births. I've learned it doesn't matter where you choose to birth, but that you are allowed to choose how you birth! I love informing women that they have a choice when it comes to this big day and that it should be a beautiful experience.
I educate women on how their bodies work and how to work with their bodies to create a more gentle, easier labor. We practice positioning, breathing and visualization before her due date to better prepare for what's to come. I share with them resources that help in their decision making.
I assist in creating a detailed birth plan of their wishes and desires their labor and delivery.
I do my very best to help prepare them for one of the biggest days of their lives-whether they've given birth before or not.
I believe that every woman deserves to have a Doula for every birth, to comfort and calm, to encourage and soothe.
The following are the benefits of have a Doula
I'm the oldest of 7 children, all girls. I grew up experiencing first hand, the beauty and joy of birth. I witnessed my first birth at age 11 during the birth of my 3rd sister. I remember cautiously watching and sitting near my mother as she labored in the comfort of our home. This was her first home birth and it was seamless. Perfect in every way for her and everyone involved. My parents allowed me to cut the cord and it formed a precious bond that I still carry today with my sister, Sara (now 16).
My husband and I had been married 3 years when we had our first child. I was nervous and not sure if I could birth naturally, so we had an intervention free hospital birth. We had taken Bradley Classes together and felt well prepared. My Mother served as my unofficial Doula and my husband was my coach every step of the way.
After only 3.5 hours of labor, Leilani Elizabeth was born and I was forever changed. I remember crying as I held her skin to skin for the first time and said "I was made for this!"
A few years later I was able to serve as an unofficial doula to a dear friend as well as my sister in law. I knew then that this was something I wanted to pursue!
Well, a few years down the road and another 3 children added to our family, here I am. Blessed by my own midwife with the opportunity to attend the CAPPA Doula training last August.
I've experienced my own 4 births, each very different, as well as attend the births of others.
I've been apart of home births, birth center births and hospital births. I've learned it doesn't matter where you choose to birth, but that you are allowed to choose how you birth! I love informing women that they have a choice when it comes to this big day and that it should be a beautiful experience.
I educate women on how their bodies work and how to work with their bodies to create a more gentle, easier labor. We practice positioning, breathing and visualization before her due date to better prepare for what's to come. I share with them resources that help in their decision making.
I assist in creating a detailed birth plan of their wishes and desires their labor and delivery.
I do my very best to help prepare them for one of the biggest days of their lives-whether they've given birth before or not.
I believe that every woman deserves to have a Doula for every birth, to comfort and calm, to encourage and soothe.
The following are the benefits of have a Doula
- Reduced the overall cesarean rate by 50%
- Reduced the length of labor by 25%
- Reduced oxytocin use by 40%
- Reduced the use of pain medication by 30%
- Reduced forceps deliveries by 40%
- Reduced requests for epidural pain medication by 60%
- Reduced incidences of maternal fever
- Reduced the number of days newborns spent in NICU (neo-natal infant care unit)
- Reduced the amount of septic workups performed on newborns
- Resulted in higher rates of breastfeeding
- Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal confidence
- Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal and newborn health
- Resulted in decreased rates of postpartum depression
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