Don't Do It Without A Doula!

The bloggings of a new doula, and the other things that take up her days!

Monday, June 26, 2006

Craigslist may open some doors for me!

I'm excited about this. I listed my services on Craigslist a few days ago, and I got an email tonight enquiring! She is delivering at the closest hospital to me, only 12 miles away or so. I would love to have a client that close, usually everyone delivers at the bigger hospitals which are about 45 mins away from me. Yay!

Sunday, June 11, 2006

My anniversary!

Of the first birth I did alone after I decided to be a doula! Alone meaning without a doula mentor there.

I wish I had her birth story saved but I don't. It was nerve-wracking and fun though, especially because I was pretty pregnant myself and looking forward to my impending birth. She seemed to think I did a good job. :)

I have a client!

YAY! This makes me feel so much better.

There's only one small teeny tiny glitch...

She's not pregnant yet! She is hoping she is this month already though, I can't wait to find out. She wants me to be really hands-on because her husband, though well-meaning, is not very helpful in labour. (He fell asleep last time watching TV!)

So I'm praying she is pregnant now or soon so we can start this exciting journey. :)

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Cost of certification

How discouraging. I don't really feel like I need to be certified, to be honest. But I understand it's probably good from a client's point of view to be sure I've passed the criteria of a 'governing body'. So I have been looking into it, but it is so expensive! It's several hundred dollars. Even to be listed in DONA's directory is $80 for two years. Ouch.

Another testimony

I got a wonderful message from my friend J. She's the one who did hire me to be her doula, but I missed the birth. I remember driving home from the airport and checking my voicemail... none from her or K (my backup doula). I was so excited! She didn't have the baby yet! So the next day I called K... and yep, she had the baby. I was happy for her but SO bummed that I missed it. Here's what she wrote in a testimony for my website:

Amber was a great comfort during my pregnancy. She was always available to answer questions and calm any fears that I had concerning the delivery. I was able to borrow many books from Amber to educate myself and reaffirm my decision to have a natural birth. After her phone calls just to chat and see how I was feeling, I would feel such a sense of peace knowing that this wonderful doula was going to be there to support me as I gave birth to my baby.

Unfortunately due to a family emergency Amber had to leave the country around my due date. Amber’s back-up doula, Katie, did a wonderful job filling in for her, and my husband and I were extremely grateful for her guidance during my labor. She also took the most beautiful pictures during my labor, and after the birth, that I will treasure forever. Amber was so disappointed that she just barely missed the birth, but did make sure she came to see us both at home and in the hospital.

Having a doula made my natural birth so much easier. Amber and Katie are both amazing people and I feel so blessed that they played an important role in the birth of my second baby.