As birth doulas we often encourage and support our clients in the challenges of putting these characteristics into action during pregnancy, birth, and after baby joins the family. This week Tiffany got the opportunity to practice these traits – not by her choice. You see her bag containing her computer, wallet, phone, and keys was stolen while meeting with a midwifery client. Security footage shows the thief with her bag but so far he has not been located by police. You can imagine that a busy doula, student midwife, and mom would find it hard to be without her “tools”. Before her replacement phone arrived she had a late 1990’s model phone, there wasn’t anything smart about it. Credit cards were cancelled and she’s going through the process of figuring out where data on her computer pertaining to school work is located.
How has Tiffany reacted? To be honest, I (Jen) felt more anxious, frustrated, and angry at the injustice of this theft then she has. She absolutely lived these attributes, in fact later in the day she attended a birth and the family whom she supported had no idea she had been through a challenging experience earlier in the day.
As doulas, we practice the qualities that are a part of the major life transition of growing, birthing, and caring for another human. We must remain flexible, make the best decisions with the information we have, practice resilience, and choose to let go of anxiety of the unknown. While we support you in your transition to parenthood, know that this support comes from practice. And we get it, it’s hard work.