It was a busy week at Puget Sound Doulas last week with 4 babies born in 3 days. While one was a “normally longish”, the others were what we like to call “efficient”. Birth is a complex process to which we must approach with flexibility. Each of these birthing woman faced challenges- a baby in a posterior position “sunny side up”, a baby with variabilities in her heart rate, a premature urge to push, and unexpected efficient labor progress. The commonality between all these families was bravery…. Trusting the process….staying focused…. allowing themselves to lean into support….believing the encouraging words being spoken to them…. Welcome girl and boys! It was an honor to be witness and a part of your entrance into the world and into the loving arms of your parents. Love, Doula Jen
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11/18/2016 Am I ready? Will I ever be? Am I suppose to be ready? - Thoughts from a student midwifeRead Now
11/14/2016 "She was like a lighthouse. I felt safe with her." - a testimonial for Tiffany and our PSD PartnershipRead NowBeing 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 "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
Some babies take their time and others are super efficient. Well done baby girl in transitioning into the world so well. And your mama, you got a strong and focused one. Your daddy's smile couldn't be more genuine. Welcome to the world little one. Love, Doula Jen 10/13/2016 "By writing a birth principles statement rather than a birth plan, I truly stepped into my power as a birthing woman, and allowed this birth to transform me in the very way it was meant to." -JHRead NowIt was the very birth experience I needed. When I gave birth to my daughter, I had been a doula for four years. I had seen birth in all its various permutations and combinations, from ecstatic natural birth to highly medicalized birth and everything in between. It’s a strange position to be in when you’re preparing for birth: knowing almost too much about what lay ahead. I had seen too many women coerced into accepting interventions that provided a false sense of security about hers and her baby’s safety, only to have those interventions create more problems. I had seen too many women patronized and given skeptical raised eyebrows when they had asserted their beliefs that they could birth naturally. “We’ll see. You might want something later,” the nurses would say. “Healthy mom, healthy baby,” doctors would remind her, as though un-medicalized birth was a potentially dangerous choice. So I went into my birth with my guard up. No one was going to tell me what to do. My birth would not be influenced by the man. There would be no unnecessary interventions for me. My birth plan reflected my fear. It read like a menu: I’ll have this, this and this, but not that. It was demanding: you will not do this, you will do that. It was an attempt to control a process that I could not, despite my years as a doula, bring myself to accept was completely out of my control. I went into my birth with my guard up. No one was going to tell me what to do. My birth would not be influenced by the man. There would be no unnecessary interventions for me. I went on to have an incredibly powerful and empowering birth that was not, incidentally, devoid of interventions. When it became obvious that my birth was not going to go according to plan ― my water broke three weeks early and labor did not start ― I worked with my doula to explore all my options, and finally chose to have medical intervention on my timeline and on my terms. It was the very birth experience I needed. I finally realized that empowered birth does not necessarily equate to unmedicalized birth, but rather the opportunity and ability to stand in one’s power within a system that too often robs women of choice, agency and self-determination. It changed the course of my doula practice, my mothering, and my life. I realized that there is great power in finding the balance between surrender and desire. That going into birth kicking and screaming, railing against the system within which I was birthing rather than choosing to work with that system, was what empowered birth was actually all about. I finally realized that empowered birth does not necessarily equate to unmedicalized birth, but rather the opportunity and ability to stand in one’s power within a system that too often robs women of choice, agency and self-determination. When it came time to birth my son, I knew that a traditional birth plan couldn’t capture the nuances and complexity of my desires for my experience. Rather than creating a veritable “wish list” of desired outcomes, I chose to step back and think about the fundamental values that I had that would shape my decisions during my birth. Rather than creating a birth plan, I created a birth principles statement ― a documentation of my beliefs and values about birth, myself and the support I desired in the process. One snowy winter night, I curled up by the fire with a cup of red raspberry leaf tea and began to draw, write and doodle on a giant piece of paper. This is what I came up with: I TRUST BIRTH. I KNOW MY BODY. My decisions will be informed by my intuition, evidence, and the loving counsel of my support team. I will do what feels right for my body and my baby, where it feels right, and when. I WILL BIRTH WITHOUT FEAR. I will be surrounded by positive thoughts, encouragement and support. I trust those I’ve surrounded myself with my vulnerability and my raw, awesome power. I WILL BIRTH STANDING FIRMLY IN MY POWER. In loving arms with positive intention, I am ready for what this birth will bring. I own my decisions and my process. I accept the unknown; I am adaptable and prepared for my birth to unfold as it is intended. I believe that everything is an option, and that I know I will make the best decision possible when I am informed and engaged in my own care. This time, my declarations of intention were about me. Not about the system, or its interventions, or anyone else. This time, I commanded the respect, trust and reverence of my care team. I asked for their positivity, and reminded them of their role in recognizing both my vulnerability and my power. I let go of defensive language and simply held the power that I knew I had, rather than grasping for the control which would always evade me. Weeks later, in a pool in my bedroom, I gave birth to my son. I was surrounded by a quietly supportive team of midwives and family who simply watched my process unfold with the exquisite trust of witnesses to a powerful, deeply primal, and beautiful experience. I had surrendered the laundry list of desires I thought I had for my birth and instead focused on what I believed to be true, how I wanted to feel, and how I wanted to be supported. By writing a birth principles statement rather than a birth plan, I truly stepped into my power as a birthing woman, and allowed this birth to transform me in the very way it was meant to. Written by: Jessie Harrold Coach, Doula, Writer, Adventurer, and Mama of 2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/im-a-doula-and-this-is-what-i-did-instead-of-writing_us_57f7f212e4b090dec0e710da?section=us_parents Jessies website (it's amazing): http://www.nalumana.com/new-start-here/ This family did a lot of flexing- they made informed decisions which helped them feel in control in the midst of a birth story that proved to be longer then they imagined and required a ton of focus. Love and support permeated the room where there baby girl took her first breath. And I swear she smiled in her mom's arms..... Welcome baby girl, love Doula Jen
Sometimes we get the joy of getting to fulfill a need.
At different times in our lives, Tiffany and I have both been humbled and overwhelmed by gifts- these gifts have come in the form of words, time, or "stuff" to take care of our children. We, along with some of you had the pleasure of bringing these forms of gifts to one of our clients recently. Within days being being interviewed, this new client's birth story unfolded in an unusual way full of irony, joy, and the need for extreme flexibility. In the morning they left their hotel room expecting to learn about birth and newborn care with Jen (which they did) but by dinner time they were holding their baby and putting these new skills into practice. Tiffany posted on our facebook page asking if anyone had newborn clothes or supplies they no longer needed. Our community literally took this to heart- filling both of our minivan trunks with essentials for mom and baby. In fact we had to weed through the gifts and pass along some of your generosity to others! The gifted family was overwhelmed by your generosity but I assured them that thank you notes were the least of their concerns (new moms understand there's little time for thank you notes and would not expect anything). I did however say that someday they will get the opportunity to pay it forward and this will be their act of gratitude. Below is the letter the grateful mom sent: Hi Jen and Tiffany, I just wanted to thank you both again. We cannot thank you enough. Thank you so much. We got into our apartment today and will be staying the night.. I look in the corner of our studio and see all the baby stuff we need to get set up and clothes organize to help determine sizes etc. We cannot thank you enough. Thank you so much. You two, your community, and the anynomous donors, will forever have a place in our hearts and our baby's heart as we share the story when he gets older. The generousity of you and your community will always be cherished in our hearts and we will always feel such gratitude towards you. Thank you for encouraging our attitudes towards empowerment as we accept such generosity. I cannot share how such a relief I feel when I look over and see all that I need and can use right now. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I cannot fully explain how much you and your community have helped us. Thank you from all three of our hearts. With love and gratitude, Thanks community- Tiffany and I (Jen) are so grateful for you! 9/10/2016 Patience. This family released control and allowed their birth story TIME and were pleased with the result.Read NowPatience. This family released control and allowed their birth story TIME. Because sometimes contractions slow down or even go away. That's hard when you've been working often and for a LONG time. Rather then give up, they rested, then when her body was ready for active labor they got active. Baby E - your parents fell in love the moment they saw your cute little face evident by the tears which flowed freely from their eyes as they kissed your smooth head.
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