Interesting ways to get clients.

Almost everywhere I go - I end up talking about birth. It just comes naturally to me. I usually have my 8 month old with me and people ask about her birth and then I ask about or if they have children. And it just spirals into me telling them about being a doula. It has become who I am.

The other day a guy came to my door trying to sell me some pest care for the outside of our house. I had Iris on my hip. He seemed nice. He told me his wife is 9 weeks pregnant. He showed me the ultrasound photo on his phone. He was so cute and excited about his first baby! So I gave him my business card. I told him how wonderful doulas are. I told him the advantages of having a doula. I told him how doulas are different from partners. 

I didn't buy the pest service. He never called me. But he still might! Heh! A girl can hope. 

I have had to put doula-ing on the back burner since I gave birth to my fourth child. But If I can find a client here or there, yay! They are always welcome!

My first three clients were all through my craft group. One was the son of a member' s partner. The other two were actual members of my craft group. My fourth was from my playgroup. I have another potential client I met last week through playgroup also. 

Another thing I want to do is go leave my business cards around the town. At the Y, at coffee shops, at play places and maybe the grocery store. I have been kind of shy about it. Doulas cannot be shy! I need to advertise. 

So far I advertise in my playgroup where there are LOADS of pregnant women. And on doulamatch, of course. 

If you are a doula - what interesting ways have you gotten clients? Was it a positive? I'd love to read your comment. 

What is support?

(this is my version of something written in my toLabor training manual.)

Support is unconditional. It is listening, not talking.
Support is offering advice.
Support is offering a gentle touch.
Support is offering a hug.
Support is offering a tissue.
Support is caring.

Support is helping you discover your feelings.....not to make your feelings go away.
Support is helping you identify your options....not telling you which options not to choose.
Support is discussing steps with you....not taking steps for you.
Support is helping you discover your own strength.
Support is not leaving you vulnerable.
Support is helping you discover you can help yourself.

Support is helping you learn to choose.
Support is not making decisions for you.
Support is helping you reach your goals.
Support gives no judgements.
Support understands how you are feeling.
Support is there for you.

Whooping cough

     Pertussis, also known as whooping cough has made a pretty significant outbreak in my state of Washington. My own midwife has suggested I get vaccinated for it when I am in the third trimester of my current pregnancy to protect the baby. The current vaccination schedule for infants doesn't have them vaccinated for pertussis until they are two months old.

     Here is a heart-breaking story of a newborn who died shortly after a healthy birth due to the disease. But there are also studies that show many vaccinated children are still getting it. More parents are still losing their children to pertussis. All of this information is completely heartbreaking to me!

     I have said this before and I still mean it - you should do your own research before deciding what to do regarding any health issue. And you should always discuss things such as vaccinations with your physician. I plan on telling all of my clients about this outbreak and encourage them to talk to their doctor or midwife about it. I vaccinate my children, I believe in them. If this is now how you feel, we will just have to disagree! I intend to get the pertussis vaccine again next trimester and hopefully it will protect my baby.

Eating the afterbirth

  Recently this subject has been what seems like everywhere and I was curious. As a doula, I am all for becoming educated on everything that has to do with birth. My own midwife asked me on Wednesday if I was interested in placenta encapsulation.

  I read articles like this one. All opinion and no actual facts. Sure a TV star ate her placenta, but what does that tell me? You can watch http://youtu.be/LGAYZyAHk-s this video of the story also. Doesn't really help find any facts, but it was entertaining.

  I decided to do some research myself. You know, to see if there were any truth to what a lot of other doulas are saying about ingesting the placenta.

  Here is an article of someone's experience taking her own placenta vitamins. She says she regrets it. Very interesting read.

  I found this very helpful article. It basically says there have been no reliable or valid studies to prove any benefits of a human mammal eating its afterbirth.

  So my conclusion is that eating the placenta may or may not be helpful. There have been no studies to prove it right or wrong. I will not be encapsulating my placenta. If I have a client that is interested in doing it, I would support her 100% and help her make this happen. I just suggest everyone do their own research before doing something such as eating the afterbirth.
  

Baby A.

  The second birth I attended as a doula did not turn out as any had planned either. (First lesson of doula-ing - birth hardly ever goes as planned!) And just at the first one, I learned SO much and am so grateful I got to be a part of this wonderful birth.

  Mama was about 36 weeks gestation when her water broke! The previous week she had found out baby was breech. She had an appointment to try to turn the baby that week. So when the water broke and she went to the hospital it turned into a C-section.

  Mama got to the hospital pretty early. Due to me being VERY ill-prepared and my phone not being charged I did not get there until almost 12. (Another lesson! Be prepared a month early! Just in case!)

  Mama was already frustrated with waiting for her baby to be born. She couldn't have anything to eat or drink. Then her Section was pushed back due to someone needing one more then she did. Besides me she had two aunts to support her. So we all sat around telling stories and laughing. Mama started having some pretty painful contractions and I wished their was more I could do. She was stuck in bed with the monitors for her and baby. Poor mama. I tried to be comforting.

  So we waited and waited. And almost an hour after they said they would take her back for surgery they FINALLY came and got her. Her aunt accompanied her to the surgery. Her other aunt and I waited in the waiting room. It seemed like forever to us! I was actually surprised at how long this surgery seemed to take. Most of the C-section birth stories I have heard or read seemed to happen so fast.

  A few minutes after she was taken to recovery we were allowed to join her. Baby was perfect! 6lbs 11oz and 18 inches long. At one point I got to hold her and she was so sweet and precious!

Baby T.

So my first client birth didn't go as anyone had planned. It was still amazing and I am so thankful I got to be a part of bringing baby girl T into the world. As my first birth as a doula, I learned SO MUCH. I guess that is what the 6 pre-certification births are for.

I had only met with Mama one time before labor/birth. She was the girlfriend of the son of a crafty friend of mine. That's right, I am friends with the Grandma. I met Mama when she was about 38 weeks and she was pretty miserable dealing with being pregnant with her first baby and a case of PUPPs. I should mention Mama is a small statured lady, an inch shorter then me! And I am 4'11''.

So a few days after baby T's due date Mama was finally in labor. I was not as prepared as I wanted to be! Mama was already at the hospital and had an epidural before I got to the hospital. Mama was at a different hospital then I thought she was delivering at. Had to drive to downtown Seattle (about 30 minutes from my home.) But I was excited and ready to help in any way I could!

When I knocked on Mama's room and I said I was the doula her nurse said, "She doesn't need a doula, she has an epidural." I was a little shocked. (This was a learning moment for me. I will probably be treated like this in the future also.) So I said as politely as I could that every mama needs a doula. It turned out that this hospital would only let 3 visitors in the room while a mama was laboring. Family were all chosen over me. (Which is understandable.) So I spent most of my time checking on mama and then waiting in the waiting room.

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed but not put out! I used my kid-free hospital waiting room time to study my doula textbook. And I got to visit my friend (grandma-to-be) whenever she came in the waiting room. And I got to listen to all the other excited families who were also waiting on babies to be born.

So the details on Mama's labor: She was only dilated to a 4 when she arrived at the hospital but was not dealing with the pain at all and so got the epidural to relieve that. After a while they gave her pitocin to hopefully help her dilate. Unfortunately she only ever got at a 6. Baby T's head was at an angle not preferable to an easy birth. Mama's cervix had started to swell instead of dilate.

This is when the doctors decided it was time for a C-section. They came in and talked to Mama about it. Then brought the surgeon in and talked about it some more. Mama just wanted labor over. (As would I!)  So they decided on a C-section. I tried to be as comforting and supportive as I could. I knew this decision did not come lightly. I hope Mama knew we(her family and I) all supported her and her decisions.

Some time after 6 Mama was taken to the OR. Baby T was born at 7pm on February 7th, 2012. She was 6lbs 6.9 oz. 19 inches. Just a cute little bundle of baby girl! 

Gosling Meme