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11/18/2016

Am I ready? Will I ever be? Am I suppose to be ready? - Thoughts from a student midwife

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 Tiffany's thoughts moving into the next phase of her life as a licensed midwife:

I recently made a post on facebook acknowledging my fear and doubts about finishing midwifery school, and becoming a midwife. 

I researched midwifery school back in 2004, it sounded like a fantasy, and unattainable dream. I was 24, and a single mother of two girls. I had experienced two lovely unmedicated hospital births of my own, and wanted to usher others through the journey. I had finished my junior year of highschool in 1998, and never went back. I didn't have a diploma, or any idea how I could go to college. I brushed it off and accepted that it would never happen. 

Fast forward to 2009. I traveled to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and visited a friend who was pregnant. She told me about her plans to use a midwife, birth at a birth center, and use a doula. I went home from that trip to find out that I too was pregnant! I quickly researched birth centers and midwives, and chose to have a doula for this pregnancy. The whole experienced rebirthed my fascination with pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. I became a childbirth educator, and a birth doula.

In 2012 I applied for midwifery school, and was accepted. After I received acceptance, I also received a letter explaining my cost of program. At that time, the school I had applied for was not MEAC accredited and was not offering financial aid. I was presented with an opportunity I couldn't afford... a monthly payment of several hundreds of dollars for several years. My husband (then fiance) was staying home with our 5 children while I worked full time as a doula, it just wasn't feasible. Again, my dream was stuffed away. I accepted that I would never be able to afford the education I desired. 

"DOUBT IS PART OF BIRTHING, WHETHER IT BE A BABY OR A DREAM." - KC Baker

2014, pregnant for the 4th and last time... I decided to apply again as I had heard that the school was accepting financial aid. I was accepted, and started midwifery school when my youngest (now 2.5) was just 4 months old. Crazy, right? I have been known to take on a few too many things at the same time, but I wasn't going to let this opportunity pass me again. 

Since 2014 I have nearly completed a five year program in about 27 months. Workaholic? Yep. I love to work.  All-the-while this included a full time doula practice of 5-7 clients per month and midwifery clients 3-5  per month from my preceptors practice. I don't know what I was thinking... but I did it. Somehow. Maybe it was the wine and chocolate, maybe it was knowing that I'm not going to get any younger... who knows. 

The awesome responsibility of becoming a licensed midwife is weighing on me. There are a lot of fears of liability, boundaries, ethics, growth ect. A friend said today in my crowd-sourcing post, "Most everyone I know taking on the responsibility of caring for the delicate balance of life and death goes through this." That is some serious truth right there. I have breathed life into babies, I have stopped women from bleeding too much, I have unstuck the ones who are held up, I have helped women believe in their bodies and welcomed over 315 new lives into this world. I know I can do this. I know this is a transition. I know it's okay to be scared. Right? Gosh, I'm sure it's really helpful that I've experienced this on the other end as a birth doula helping a laboring woman during her transition. One past client wrote in and said "Fear is a guardian at the gates of truth. It is normal to feel this way, as you're about to step over a threshold...it's an initiation. Do you remember how right before my baby finally came out, I started saying stuff like "I don't want this baby...make it all go away...and I just want to sleep" . I think it's kinda like that." 

Another friend posted this beautiful blog post that inspired me to share my story today:
http://kcbaker.com/blog/2014/01/21/birthing-dreams/

"So this year, whether you are birthing a baby, a book, or an inspiring artistic vision, I hope that you remember this:
The more your creative undertaking comes from who you authentically are and from the ways you feel inspired to love this world, the deeper the resistance and self doubt you will feel.
The key is to know that your resistance and self doubt are part of the process, not a barrier.
There is nothing inside of yourself to get rid of, only to love and allow.
This realization is essential to opening ourselves as the clear, pure channels of love and creativity that we are.
To a year of birthing the deepest truth of who we are, and seeing that – truly – nothing stands in our way."  - KC Baker


Here is the post I made this morning as I was feeling the self doubt, so many people I admire in the field, and past clients had inspiring words to share: 
​www.facebook.com/tiffany.larsenshone/posts/10209775453157014?comment_id=10209776206495847&notif_t=feed_comment&notif_id=1479486618665492

I will do this. I will be a midwife. I will pass my test. I will have fears. I will have triumphs. I am loved. I am supported. I am not alone. - Tiffany


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11/14/2016

"She was like a lighthouse. I felt safe with her." - a testimonial for Tiffany and our PSD Partnership

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Being that this was my first pregnancy, I knew I wanted a doula to help me and my husband through a home birth. We interviewed Jen and Tiffany and I instantly knew that they were the right people for the job. I felt right at home and heard with both of them and knew they'd be perfect for helping us during birth. I had a very long labor that started at home. Tiffany was there as soon as I needed her to be. Throughout the next 24 hours, she was there with me, encouraging me, making suggestions and telling me what to expect to come next. She was like a lighthouse. When my labor stalled, she encouraged me to to get things moving by making good suggestions to bring about more intense contractions. I felt safe with her. 

Ultimately, after 48 hours of labor with very little progress and an inability to keep food down, we transferred to the hospital. I was heartbroken that we couldn't finish the birth at home, but wanted a rest and a break from the pain. Tiffany was so helpful in that transition to the hospital. While my midwife prepared the transfer, Tiffany spoke to me about what to expect. She was very familiar with Northwest Hospital and made it sound like such a safe haven - and it was. Once I was there I had an epidural and told to sleep for several hours. Tiffany went back to our house to get a few hours of much needed rest herself.

Later the next day, it was finally time to push. Tiffany was so encouraging, holding a mirror, taking pictures and coaching me on pushing. Her energy helped me push my little boy out in just two hours. I was thrilled! It was a rocky birth, as my waters had broken early and there was meconium in the waters. They had to take him away and suction his nose and mouth. Tiffany kept talking to me, letting me know what they were doing and how he was doing. It was exactly what I needed to stay calm and wait for him. He turned out perfectly!
I would definitely recommend hiring Tiffany and Jen!  -AH
Posted 11/13/2016

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11/4/2016

When an Intended Homebirth Transfers

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"Although birth is only one day in the life of a woman, it has an imprint on her for the rest of her life." - Justine Caines

It is an honor an privilege to be invited into the sacred space of labor and childbirth. Sometimes, things do not go as planned, but that doesn't mean that the experience is not empowering or beautiful. 


In my experience, families walk away from their birth feeling satisfied NOT when things go as planned, but when they felt listened to, cared for, and were given the time and information to make all of their own decisions.

This family was part of the decision making process the whole way, nothing "just happend." This is what maternity care should look like.

Shout out to the amazing homebirth licensed midwives, certified nurse midwives, and Ob that provided informed consent, and allowed time for informed decision making!

Welcome to the world Baby Sloan Wylder! Love, Your Doula Tiffany

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11/2/2016

Testimonial from a Happy New Mother

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 "Jen and Tiffany were an amazing team! They helped me stay informed of all my options each step of the way and were always super responsive and calm.

Jen ended up being my doula during my birth and I cannot say enough about how much I appreciate her! She helped my husband and I stay focused and I felt so reassured having her next to us. She advocated for us and was an amazing coach!

​This team is amazing and I recommend them wholeheartedly." HCR

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"Not only did I have one expert, I had a whole team of experts ready to support me no matter what. I loved that I was able to meet and spend time with both doulas, there was a great comfort in that. My birth ended up be very long, and the team switched out which gave us a fully rested doula with a new and fresh perspective."
Find out what makes Mountain view doulas a sound choice for birth doula support.
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Seattle Birth Doula support for home births, water births, hospital births, birth center births, VBAC births in Seattle, Kirkland, Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, Snohomish, Bellevue, Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Marysville, Everett, Olympia, Tacoma and surrounding areas. Additional services include Placenta Encapsulation in Seattle, Kirkland, Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, Snohomish, Bellevue, and surrounding areas and excellent local resources for Childbirth Education Classes, Maternity, Birth, & Newborn Photography, and more. Learn about the difference home birth Midwifery care during pregnancy and birth can make with Seattle Midwives.
Puget Sound Doulas in Seattle, WA serving: Lynnwood, Edmonds, Shoreline, Seattle, Capitol Hill, Greenwood, Wedgewood, Ravenna, Northgate, Beacon Hill, Queen Anne, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Renton, Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Marysville, Everett, Olympia, Tacoma
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Tiffany
  • Services
    • Birth Doula (Services & Fees)
    • Postpartum Doula
    • Placenta Encapsulation
    • Labor & Birth Photography
    • Testimonials
    • Products >
      • Videos
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