Sunday, November 11, 2007

New Venture

So I've been thinking this over for awhile and I have finally taken the step. I sent away for my certification material and my recommended reading from Dona to become a Birth Doula. I'm very excited about this and can't wait to get started and dig into this material! What an amazing thing to be a support to women in this time in their life!
A few friends of mine and I went to see "The Business of Being Born" the documentary by Ricky Lake and it was to say the least, eye opening. I think all women of child bearing age should watch this. Women in this country are being faulted by our medical community, they are sent to flounder in a system set up against them and their bodies without being given the tools and the knowledge they need. Scare tactics are being used against women for doctors convenience. Our country is one of the worst developed countries in the world as far as cesarean sections and also infant mortality (its in the bottom two); yet nothing is being done to change this and to reverse this trend. According to the World Health Organization only 10-15% of women are in need of a c-section, in the US our average is more than double and rising. I know personally that I'm just learning about my body and the actual process of birth. I had know idea the chemical and physical change that your body undergoes in labor, its AMAZING how it all works together.
Well enough of this rant, I'm sure there will be more in the future.
I'm very curious of my mom readers, can you tell me your birth stories and how you felt about the whole process in general? Oh yeah, and if you live in NJ; want to have me at your birth? :) I'll bring you ice chips and cheer you on!

3 comments:

mama k said...

What a great movie, right?

I am writing up a whole blog post about it too.

As far as my birth story, you pretty much know it already.

I knew I wanted a natural birth so I took Bradley Childbirth Classes and hired a Doula to support that plan. I learned so much at my Bradley classes that I was able to put together a birth plan that I knew would help me acheive the birth I desired. Unfortunately my OB at the time was not supportive of my desire to have minimal interventions so I switched OBs when I was 7mo. It was the BEST thing I could have done. Also, I was diagnosed with a mild case of Gestational Diabetes so that automatically put me in the "high risk" category. I knew that I did not want to be induced unless the baby or myself was in a situation that made it medically necessary. (ie going over your due date is not enough to make it medically neccessary)
So for the actual labor, my water sprung a leak around 6pm. I went to the hospital at 8pm. The strong contractions didn't start until around 11pm. I don't remember too much during the night but I was in and out of the tub and used a birthing ball and also sat up on the bed at times.
The only interventions I wound up having were intermittant fetal monitoring. No IV, no induction drugs, no drugs of any kind, no episodomy.
Baby was born after several hours of pushing at around 1pm. It was exhausting and the most intense experience of my life, but I am so glad I educated myself and did things the way I did.

Happy said...

I "know" two doula's who are members of the Fly Lady group I belong to. One lives in NJ (I'm not sure where, I think just over one of the bridges) and the other in Chester County (outside of Philly). I thought it was pretty cool. There is a midwife group in Media, PA.

Granola said...

How cool! You have no idea who I am and but I think I subscribed to your blog a few weeks ago during the Bloggy Giveaway when I saw you were writing about organic stuff. So "hi" from MN

I had the same doula at both of my labors and neither my husband or myself would have it any other way. Both boys were born naturally within 8 and 6 hours (respectively) and since I knew I would end up with the doc who was on call it was very nice to know that at least we would know our doula and she would be our advocate for a natural birth.

I wish you the best in your pursuit!