In 2000, I attended my FIRST birth as a doula....
The weekend before, I was actually called to be a back up while she was away (and was thrilled) by a local doula--
We all made it through the weekend withOUT the mom going into labor. I felt let down...
I had wanted to go so badly!
I was surprised by a call in the middle of the night...out of the blue...the other doula, A, called me asking me if I would like to meet her up at CGH to doula with her! DOULA WITH? Wow...of course I would!
I arrived before A, and I remember feeling nervous...I had my little doula bag, tried to remember everything I had learned and experienced as a mom of five in labor and delivery.
When A came, and the mom was in the bathroom, the midwife came in too, so A took me around, showing me all the little ins and outs of the hospital birth setting. She showed me what was in her doula bag, what she thought was important etc etc.
A stepped back and let me DOULA. The mom was delivering her 3rd baby...what an honor!
At one point, she grabbed my hair, which I had NOT worn UP, and said, "HOW did YOU do THIS FIVE TIMES??????!!!!!!!"
I remember thinking, "What should I do?" Instantly my instincts took over.... I held her face, talked her out of her panic and down into her birthing body, so she could again surrender to what her body was trying to do...
Beautiful baby girl was born shortly after.
Thank you, A, for believing in me...
Thank you, God, for giving me this gift....
What did I learn on my FIRST birth as a doula?
NOT to forget hair TIES for MYSELF!!
aw chris! i loved this. :)
ReplyDeleteit's hard to think of you as a "new" doula!