So... What's dad supposed to do?

We encourage moms and dads to work hand in hand to have the best birth experience for them.  Many dads experience anxiety and fear at the thought of helping a laboring women and would benefit greatly from having an experienced birth professional by their side to guide them in helping their laboring partner. Take my husband for example:

He is your typical car loving, math minded, engineer type man of the house. When we found out we were pregnant with our first he was... nervous to say the least. I went into labor right around midterms (yes he was still in school) and when I went in to be induced, we had been so excited the night before that he FORGOT he had a huge midterm due by the end of that day. *cue extremely upset past dates pregnant wife!!!* I was livid! We went in to be induced and he worked on his test all morning. When contractions finally started to hit me, they hit me HARD. I needed him, someone, ANYONE desperately and my being upset didn't make any part of that experience easier. He finally finished his exam and was able to support me through the majority of the labor but I knew that I wanted something different the next time around.

With my second I employed an amazing doula. She and I were already close friends so she knew exactly what made me tick and how to read my cues. The best part was that she guided my (completely clueless!) husband in how to help me. She instructed him in "slow dancing", breathing techniques, and when to say nice things to me. It was a night and day difference! I finally got the experience of feeling like a goddess during labor and having the man that I love by my side to help strengthen me through each contraction! And he got the support he needed to do so.

So you may be saying "well we have a doula now! What's dad supposed to do?!" Or "Dads there, he will be able to handle it, we don't need the extra support." Well from one new mama to another I'm here to tell you, he may look brave, he may act the part, but nothing instills fear in a man like being the only support person for a very pregnant, very hormonal women and having absolutely no clue what to do to make her stop giving you that dirty look!

Dads can be such amazing support people and there's nothing like watching a once timid dad truly step up to the plate. Whether dad is a go-getter ready for anything that labor throws at him or a quieter voice near by, we are here to support and help you to have the best experience possible! Don't worry dads, there's still lots for you to do!

Photo courtesy of thelocketphotography.com

Poop

The unfortunate reality of my life at this time is that poop is the pervasive conversation, smell and hobby in my home. Theres something horrifying about having a small child in your home who is all at once potty learning, potty regressing and literally OBSESSED with all things poop. Needless to say, this is not how I thought my life would look 5 years ago. Thankfully, i've also been catapulted into the world of being comfortable with the conversation about poop.

As a doula this serves me quite well. For a women in labor, pooping is pretty much a guarantee. Its been said over and over that you wont know, no one will tell you, you wont even care and while all of those things are true, it can still cause a lot of anxiety about the impending labor that could even stall an otherwise healthy labor! With one of The Doula Girls by your side, I can guarantee that if its important to you, its important to us. Poop happens! Our amazing poop patrol skills at home transfer over quite nicely to a birth experience and we are on the ready to help you feel as comfortable as possible!

Got poop anxiety? Dont stress, hire a doula!

Laid in a manger

During this Christmas season, I have been reminded of one aspect of Christs' birth over and over again. As a doula, I feel so much empathy for Jesus's mother Mary and the barn that she gave birth in. Not only was she giving birth for the first time, she was also giving birth to the Savior of the world! If that isn't an immense amount of stress, I don't know what is! This Christmas season, Mary is my hero, for having faith in her body and fighting the fear that can often come with childbirth.

She showed a sense of intuition that many women envy. She is a women that I look to as someone having extreme bravery and extreme love. She is the example of a mother willing to do anything to bring her baby into the world safely, even if that meant just bringing out some fresh hay. She showed compassion for those around her and acceptance of what was to come. My hope this Christmas season is that all women can feel their worth and embrace their strength through birth, much like Mary. I hope that no women will ever have to be alone during their birth experience, a time where, more than ever, we need to support of those around us. Regardless of your religious beliefs, I hope we can remember Mary and be thankful for her example. 

A dream is a wish...

As a little girl, I dreamt about holding tiny babies in my hands and caring for these babies with the utmost tender care. As I grew up, I realized that my dream wasn't necessarily to care for these babies but the families that surrounded these tiny humans. I've had the privilege to provide support for women through many difficult as well as rewarding circumstances regarding their children. The Doula Girls has been a dream of mine for quite some time now and it is empowering to finally have the ability to make it a reality. This new adventure is something that I have dreamt and thought about for far to long. I'm very pleased to announce the opening of The Doula girls, now accepting clients for the new year!

Love, The Doula Girls