Doulas Know Squat or at least the Miracle of Birth

Yayy for the first day of school!!

2009-08-27T05:47:00.001-07:00

I have been waiting for this day since about June 12! LOL!! The first day of school!! Don't get me wrong, I love my boys but when Dad works obscene hours and you are left with most of the parental responsibilities, the task does become daunting at times. Today will be a wonderful respite!!

I want to discuss schools. I know this will anger some people but so did my post on menopause..LOL I have nothing against Christian, private schools, or homeschooling. Both of my older kids started out in Christian schools and did very well. My middle son still talks about how wonderful his kindergarten teacher was and he is now in 11th grade. That right there says a lot. So why don't we continue to send our kids to a Christian school? Because it occurred to me several years ago that we as Christians were taking all the light out of the public schools and what was remaining was potential darkness! Sure our children are impressionable and especially the really young ones but I think it's our job as parents to reinforce their moral upbringing. We have to consistently remind them of our rules, our beliefs and that we are foremost children of God. I think our children can be light in what can otherwise be a dark world. Again, don't think I am poo-pooing your decisions. We all have different convictions and this one is mine!

How much do I need?

2009-08-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday morning, i spent a couple hours in a DC Starbucks as I waited for Mike to tie up a few loose ends at work. I sat down in a big cozy chair drinking my venti mocha, facebooking, and doing so happily in my faded jeans and my Lane Bryant heavily discounted new shirt! I then proceeded to watch people come in and out and was even aware of the many conversations going on. Mainly i saw Armani suits, Prada, Gucci, Liz Claiborne...are you getting me? The conversations went from everything from jetting to Rome, skiing in Aspen, or cruising to Puerto Vallarta. I heard things like making my first million or selling the 3500 sq ft home for a 6,000 sq foot home. I felt like i was in a foreign country. I went from feeling secure in who i was to feeling like homeless person sitting in that chair. I was surrounded by a bunch of materialistic snots or was I? I struggle with materialism. I love money....I really do. I am secure that I can go out to lunch when i want and I can buy not only what i need but what i desire. No, i am not wealthy and i am not in debt but i am comfortable. I struggle with wanting new things and my desire to upgrade to better things. Am i any different than those DC people? Am a snot? I pray every day that the Lord will strengthen me to be different! I long to be comfortable in Him and not the material things.......

On Tuesday afternoon we drove down to Fayetteville. Mike went to some meetings on Wednesday and I spent the day with dear friends. It's amazing how something that started out as a trip to keep my hubby company on a 7 hour drive turned out to be a blessing for me. I met with friends that i know for sure that the Lord had planned which ones to gather with that day. Real women with real struggles, passion, and love of Christ. I met my friends who spoke into my life, shared with me love and spoke words of wisdom through angelic whispers. These woman spoke of having just enough while doing His will and of a God that would never have his children lack for anything. How did they know? I came back with a renewed heart and spirit and was blessed beyond words. The Lord showed me once again through my sisters that He is all I need.

Two or Four?

2009-08-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

Not only is it a lovely 94 in Maryland today but the temperature is slightly elevated indoors as well. This slightly middle aged woman is experiencing Menopause. Yikes, did i really say the dreaded M word? I did and get used to it. If i am gonna talk about your dilating cervix and uterine contractions, you know it would be only natural to talk about Menopause too. :)

So recently my husband took note of how many undergarments i was packing for a 4 day trip. He was perplexed as to why i needed 7 pairs of underwear and 4 bras not too mention a few extra change of clothes. Any woman who is starting to go through the change or is going through it will certainly understand. The warmth that starts at your toes and slowly goes up and spreads all over your body leaves you drenched in a pool of sweat. Are we starting to understand the undergarment dilemma that my husband thought i was having? If there is one thing I can't stand is sweaty undergarments!

So why am i telling cyberworld about my temperature issues? I guess cause i am packing again! This time it's an overnight trip and I am deciding on whether i should pack 2 or 4 pairs??

OH BABY!!

2009-08-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

So i have to admit there are some births that really stick out in my short but wonderful career. Not that one is a cuter baby or a better baby than the rest but some of the births just were either a challenge or just a WOW experience.

Adison was one of my firsts. Her mama's labor was textbook labor and J followed it stage by stage. J was also one of those moms that would smile and talk and then stop for a contraction and then finish her sentence right where she left off. She moaned and groaned and danced her way through the birth and it was natural and fabulous.

Andrew's mama M was memorable cause she was my beauty Queen! Only mama i have had who put on her make-up and did her hair between contractions. Did I mention her hubby was deployed at the time so she single handily was raising another son and gave birth with out her hubby present. That to me deserves a medal!!

Connor was one of the most precious. Not only was he very wanted for many years but he was a true miracle. Connor had what doctors called a traumatic birth experience. He was born with many developmental delays and we weren't even sure he was going to make the first 48 hours but today Connor is walking and talking and although he is a tad bit behind his peers, he is truly a miracle!

Joseph's birth was an learning experience as his mama M was the first pastor's wife to cuss me out!! LOL! She was a beautiful Godly woman until you got her in the delivery room and then everything that came out of her mouth was a new word for me!!

Davien was my shortest birth so far. D was a first time mom and I think her story is my funniest. She called me and told me that she was in labor and she was stopping to get a bite to eat before heading to the hospital so I packed up my things and headed out. When i got to the hospital 20 minutes later, she was not there so i waited and waited and waited. I finally called her and she said, "i told you we were stopping to get a bite!" Well I thought she meant Burger King but she was at the Olive Garden enjoying pasta and contractions. By the time she got to the hospital she was 8 cm and delivered an hour later. Her birth was 3 hours from start to finish.

Izzy goes on record for being my longest birth, 40.5 hours! L's labor was not only long but hard and she did an amazing job of staying on top of the contractions and fighting the pain every step of the way. I yet to have a client whose contractions were as intense as L's. I don't think I could have lasted as long as she had and I have such great respect and admiration for her. This was also one of those births where i was just in awe over Dad and his participation.

Torien was my first c-section baby. I was torn up about this one and was convinced I should have done something differently but in the end I know that it was necessary and there was nothing that i could have done.

Anthony's labor was my most challenging because NOTHING was textbook about it. His mama G. would contract and then not contract and then contract and not contract and I didn't know if she was truly in labor. Right about the time i was about to call a mentor and say WHAT IS GOING ON, her whole demeanor changed and i knew it was time to go. Had we waited 5 more minutes, Anthony would have been born in the parking lot!

Willow has to be my most interesting birth and I know her mama K would even agree with me. K was my crunchiest mama to date and wanted and had everything natural down to even planting the placenta in the back yard and Indian chants afterwards.

Noah was my most spiritual birth yet. His Mama D. and daddy S. prayed this baby through contractions and it was beautiful to see the overwhelming peace of God come upon all of us!

Lola was my international birth! Mama was Filipino and papa was Mexican and we had 15 family members in one room and we basically laughed this baby out. Never has a birth been so much fun!

Maxwell is the only birth so far that i missed completely...LOL My nephew was born 3 minutes before my arrival!!

Julian has been the only one to date whose mama labored in the tub the whole time. R. got out 15 minutes before he was born! It was a wonderful experience to see mom handling the pain with just water and well OK i helped a bit too.

So here it goes.....

2009-08-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

Not sure what i am doing here or how long I will be doing this. I created this blog many months ago and then decided anything that i really had to say would be pure rubbish as my British friend Gill says so i never did anything with it. I know for sure that my English will not be perfect and my thoughts will probably anger some and make others smile but I can guarantee that what you get will be from my heart...the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I named this blog Doulas Know Squat because I am a doula and I believe with my whole heart that I have the best job in the whole entire universe. To see life being born, life created by God come into existence is truely a miracle and something that i will never get tired of...the first cry, the first smell, the first time mom and dad hold their new baby....I am getting teary eyed now just thinking about it. I hope to as time permits, write some brief paragraphs on some of the babies that i have assisted into this world just to share a little bit of my Heaven with you!