Busy bee!

This past month has felt a little on the hectic side. At the end of October I began the last class needed as a pre-req for midwifery school- a course I had happened to take years and years ago that had been disrupted by an illness. My resulting C in the class wasn't adequate so I had to take it once again. Thinking it would merely be review was an understatement and the need to "review" an entire textbook on Anatomy and Physiology, learn it all, take two midterms and a final, all via a distance course in the span of a short time, was a little overwhelming. Wait, I lie- it was utterly stressful.

A little more than a week into November saw a beautiful birth followed by a trip to Portland that next week- an important trip! My interview for midwifery school. I would like to say that it went well, but it's so hard to tell. What makes it even harder was that the following day, at a meet and greet, I met other women who were applying and I must say that the competition is harsh!

I have had my regular school classes going on, as well, in addition to kids and work. Needless to say, I am happy November is over and we are well into December! This past week I finished A&P and have ordered my transcripts (they have to be received by 12/31), finishing the class with a B+. Not too shabby considering I did it in about five weeks! Now it's a waiting game until sometime next month, to find out how much they like me...

In the meantime, I have an article coming out in March in the spring Midwifery Today issue. It's about my thirteen year breastfeeding journey... I am incredibly excited. I also am available for births from now through March... I can see nothing better than starting the new year with welcoming some new lives into this world and hopefully receiving news that I will be able to begin my path into midwifery later that year!

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Welcome, baby W!

Ahhhh... there aren't many things better than seeing a new, beaming family and getting to hold a sweet, newborn baby, fresh out of the package!

Birthin' Babies

Driving home tonight the moon was big and full breaking through the one clear part of the sky.. so golden that it looked like an egg yolk sitting in sea of whispers of clouds.. quite a beautiful display considering our cloudy Pac Northwest skies that one gets accustomed to. Sometimes it's hard to remember that there are clear moons and skies full of stars out there.

More women are said to go into labor on full moons... today also is 11/11/11 which is estimated to be a big day for babies being born due to planned inductions (don't get me started on that one..). I, however, had the honor just a few nights ago to attend a beautiful, spontaneous, out-of-hospital birth... it's births like that that manage to take my breath away. Mama working to birth her baby out of her own power and strength... surrounded by those who love, respect and care for her. No one demanding anything, or yelling at her..no one threatening her with procedures or arbitary time frames....baby never leaving mama or a set of arms that love him/her. Just respect and reverance for her body and it's ability to know how best to birth her baby. That's how it is truly meant to be.

I was just thinking, on my drive home looking at the pregnant moon, about the first birth I ever attended. I was four years post-doula training (never imagining that I'd actually doula when I took the class). I had a good knowledge base about pregnancy and birth, but felt useless at the birth. In retrospect, I worked hard.. I was sore for a few days afterwards, having been contorted between a tub and a dresser to support Mom. Never the less, it reminded me of how critical one can be of themselves... I always wonder "did I do a good enough job?", "is there something I could have done better/different?", "did I add value as the doula or did I just feel like an extraneous person?". It seems like these questions are always easy to answer when I provide a very active, physical role in the birth (doing massage, counterpressure, rebozo work, holding Mom, etc) as opposed to when Mom just needs someone to hold the space, assure her all is normal, give encouragement and supportive words and offer gentle suggestions.

Sometimes, however, that's all that birthing women need... and they will forever remember that kind, encouraging words were spoken to them in their most vulnerable moment. One thing I will always remember is while pushing my youngest son out, my midwife saying "You know how to do this" almost in a whisper. She was right.. I did and those words echoed through my brain, giving me the encouragement I needed. It was nothing to her... just a small phrase, but something I will always remember~ someone believed in me, believed in my body and trusted in my ability to trust myself. Things like that are invaluable... and hoping in some small way I can do the same for other women as they birth their babies.

Labor Support

I love being a doula.

Back in 2001, I took the Labor Support Course for Birth Doulas at Seattle Midwifery with none other than the amazing Penny Simkin (author of the Birth Partner, among other things). At the time, I was 9 weeks pregnant with my second child; the tools I learned were invaluable as I birthed my son unmedicated with a midwife at a birth center. Two years later, I attended my first birth as a doula for a dear friend and have been hooked ever since.

Don't get me wrong... the work is hard and labor intensive. I have walked away from births and found myself sore for days later. On top of lack of sleep, time away from family, the challenges of being on call.. there are definite challenges present. What makes up for it is when you have a Mom look into your eyes for reassurance that everything is going Ok.. when you can do something to ease the intense sensations that result from labor and birth... when you watch that tiny, new baby slip into this world and see the look of pure exaltation and joy on a mother's face as her newborn is layed on her chest. It is almost as if you can see the veils lift between heaven and earth to let that new little life through. It is amazing.

Up until now, I have done just a few births here and there each year. This year so far will be my busiest yet, with four births. I have made the decision to start regularly offering both birth and postpartum doula services. Helping moms, babies and new families has been my passion (as anyone could likely see from reading this blog) and it's about time I started doing something I love more often.

My business, Babymoon Birth Services, has been created to support families in the Whatcom County area. Offering birth doula services... as well as offering postpartum services such as care for other children, running errands, housework, helping with new baby... I am excited for this new venture!