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    Charlotte Purls


    Lilypie Breastfeeding Ticker

    and they call me 'Mommy'...

    Drips and dribbles of my life and the things that peak my interest... mainly the kidlets and knitting.

    Saturday, December 23, 2006

    Becoming a Doula

    I know what I want to be when I grow up....

    A Doula.

    After having two great births, I want to help others do the same. John and I had thought about teaching Bradley Childbirth classes after Dory was born, but I wanted to wait until I had another birth under my belt. Closer to Jack's arrival, I started to realize that it wasn't Bradley that I loved so much but the natural childbirth itself and that Bradley was only one way of reaching for that goal. Even when a birth goes 'wrong' and unexpected events occur, it is still possible to have had a great birth and i want to help moms facilitate that. Most of this was realized fully when one of my friends at church was due the same time as I was, and we knew she would only be a day or so behind Jack's birth.
    She was very interested in natural birth and had prepared herself for that avenue... but I felt like after talking to her that i just wished I could be there for her to help her through the journey. Now, she never asked this of me, and I don't know if she would have even if I wasn't pregnant with Jack, but *I* wanted to help her and be there for her.
    After Jack was born I found out that the birth had ended up being a cesarean after 2 hours of pushing.. . I felt really bad because I felt like I could have helped her. I wasn't there, so I don't know how, but I still feel like I could have. So now, a good friend has heard me talking about it and has asked that I attend her birth. it should be easy, she's going for her third birth, the second at home. But then, what do I know? I have never attended a birth that was not one of mine... Luckily, I have some great help - my own Doula, Lara, who I love dearly. She doesn't know it yet, but she is going to be a great mentor. :)
    Off to help the world, one new mommy at a time, by helping to create better births. :)
    Okay, so that was over the top... but you get the idea. Birth is a very powerful thing and no matter how it happens, a woman should not be traumatized or regretful about how it happens when it can be such an empowering part of her life. That's what I want to help other women have, empowering births.

    Now, all that said... I'm quaking in my boots... much like cold feet before a wedding!

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