Any other doulas here?

[havsulen]

I work as a birth and post partum doula - are there any other doulas here in this DDC?

Do you plan to continue working as a doula after this birth? I plan to take a break from birth work after my own birth, because I don't want to leaving a baby for any longer amount of time. But after a few years I think I'll be ready again. My middle daughter is 2,5 years old now, and she is starting to sleep more at night and nurse a bit less, so she's just started to be ok with me attending births again. And here we go back to scratch with a newborn again... - but we are very much looking forward to it so the work bit is just a minor detail.

Do you want a doula at your own birth?

[bleumoose]

Me I am a birth doula, but haven't worked in a couple of years. It got to be too difficult after DS2 was born, as I didn't have reliable childcare and both kids had trouble being left with others. I would love to get back to it someday, but for now am happy not attending births.

I will be having a doula at my birth, I think. It'll be a doula friend of mine.

[ComfyCozy]

I'm a birth doula. Just got back from my first birth in ten months at about 1am I have one more client this month, and a friend due next month who wants me there. After that I'll be on hiatus until after baby is born. Usually I'll take multips (shorter births) and homebirths (if I can bring baby and an older sibling) on when baby is about 8-10 weeks. I have to supplement from birth anyways b/c of my previous breast reduction, so baby is used to a bottle. I plan to focus more on teaching childbirth ed and my midwifery studies than on doula work, though.

[havsulen]

Originally Posted by ComfyCozy

Just got back from my first birth in ten months at about 1am

I am waiting for a client who has a guess date a couple of weeks from now.
She's a multip - so I am hoping we'll be ready in time for one of my many naps.
(I have stocked up on energy bars to keep me going).

I hope tp be able to to more teaching, too - tends to happen at more convenient times of the day...

[opera mom]

I had not attended a birth in 2 years because i have a 19 month old but I got to attend one about 10 days ago. I have only attended births while preggo(3 births now) so it will be nice to not be pregnant at one. I was lucky and got the call at 7:30am on a weekend so my husband was home with the kids and I was home by lunch I have one more birth that I committed to before I knew I would be pregnant and she is due in about 10 days. It will be my first birth center birth and now that my morning sickness has passed, I feel more confident. After this one, I may attend a friend in Feb. big belly and all but them I will break again till I have a less nursing dependant child.

[havsulen]

After almost four weeks on call, the birthing mama called me last night - and we had 24 beautiful birthing hours together. We did "the whole book" - walking, swaying, massaging, drinking tea, laughing, stroking, going outside for fresh air, smelling lavender, lighting candles, moaning, sleeping in between contractions and lots of more massaging (ouch, my arms are sore today! ;) ) - before she setlled in warm water and had her beautiful baby girl. 

I loved the fact that they let us alone in the hospital for almost 12 hours without any interventions except for listening to the baby and giving her acupuncture - we got the time we begged for, and that was all that was needed.

When I got home, I ate lots of eggs and bacon before going to bed, and still I woke up in the middle of the night completely starving! It sure is different working when preggo! And I hope I will remember this birth as motivation to get me going again after my own birth!

[ComfyCozy]

Oooh :) Congratulations!!! That sounds like a beautiful birth! Great job!

[mclisa]

Wow, I didn't realize that so many of the Aprils are doulas!  Cool!