So, yesterday morning at 3:45am I attended my first birth as a doula intern. It had to be, for my record's sake, the shortest birth I have been a part of. The doula called me around 3:05am and told me that the couple was speeding to the hospital from Castle Rock, as she was fearing that she was going to give birth at any moment. The doula arrived to the hospital at 3:30am and I arrived at 3:35am.I walked into the labor and delivery room, only to find the mom standing beside the bed, moaning and the hopsital staff hurrying to check her, and/or get some type of fetal monitoring accomplished. Neddless to say, there was no time. The woman gave birth to her thrid child at 3:45am, only 10 minutes after I had arrived. That was not the most amazing part of it though-she gave birth standing up, not laying in a bed. It was the first birth that I had witnessed in a hospital that did not take place with monitors, IVs and the mama delivering on her back. It was, in one word (or two) amazing and inspiring. After 2 traumatic births, the woman finally had the birthing experience that she had longed for. She was patient, labored at home, just waiting for the sign that she was about to have a baby. She was very delighted that there was little monitoring ( a total of 5 minutes) and that she didn't get stuck with an IV. It was the most positive hospital birth that I have witnessed thus far.
How did I find myself in the doula profession?
-Well, I have always been fascinated with women, nutrition and birth. I met with a mentor of mine at school about a year ago and told her about what I wanted to do with my life and how much I wanted to help women. She recommended that I look into becoming a doula. After much research and attending birth conferences, I decided to go through the training. After aiding in the delivery of my nephew, Ezra, my passion for empowering women during their pregnancy and the delivery of their child was found. I realized that by being a doula, I can help women on a very personal level, and develop relationships that can last a lifetime.
