Doulas are incredible support not only in birth, but in pregnancy as well. How nice is it to have someone you can call or text any time of day to ask questions? Or how about after the entire pregnancy and birth are over you now have a friend who shared a very life changing event with you.
I was lucky to have a wonderful birth team. A birth photographer, who is also a doula was on my team. My personal doula, Karina, was there for my long birth process. And even a stand by doula, Meagan Heaton, who I also still get to be a friend with.
My doula, Karina, was wonderful. I specifically chose her because she had been through a c-section birth herself. Honestly, having a c-section scared me. I wanted to make sure that if I did end up having one I’d have someone who could keep me calm and walk me through the process.
My birth plan was to give birth at a birth center. I kept an open mind in that if something were to change so would my birth plan as long as both myself and baby were healthy. At the birth center there was a lot of help, but my doula was there constantly helping me with counter pressure, water, or just a hand to hold.
My birth plan did change. I had a long labor and needed some rest due to my contractions starting to space further apart. My midwife transferred me, with my consent, to a hospital to get an epidural to allow me to relax, and some petocin to start my contractions moving again. Karina helped me with the transfer and made sure as much of my wishes could be honored at the hospital. I forgot my birth plan at home and she had it with her. They were able to give it to the nurses there at the hospital. She helped get a mirror so I could watch the birth as much as possible. She made sure that our wishes for dad to catch baby came true.
My midwife was doing my placenta encapsulation. She made sure that the placenta was given to my midwife. There are a lot of little details that she just took care of for me. I didn’t have to think of anything. The best detail was the birth story that she wrote for me after the birth. It was so nice to read about the process and always have it dear to my heart.
I found out my incredible doula was pregnant after I had given birth. Much later after watching her pregnancy I read her birth story and saw her birth photography. I don’t know about other women, but I kinda look at doulas as super women. When I read Karina’s birth story, I realized she had a lot of the same feelings and fears as me going through the birth process. That helped me realize that hey, we all are superwomen, just the doulas get to see it on a daily basis.
FInd more about Karina HERE!
If you agree with Lyndsay and think doulas are incredible and you have a story to share please feel free to e mail Me and I would love to publish your story!
