Monday, September 19, 2011

Birth Doula

I have decided to go for a dream that I've had for a while. While I was pregnant with Gracelyn I had developed this passion for learning about pregnancy and birth. Although my birth with Gracelyn did not play out exactly as I had expected or hoped, I learned SO much from it. I don't think my passion would have developed as deep as it has if it weren't for my birth experience with Gracelyn.

I have decided to start my training to become a birth doula!

A doula is a support person for women during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Doula's help to inform women on their choices, support them through labor, help them plan their desires for their birth and accompany them during labor. A doula is not a medical professional, and cannot offer medical decisions, but rather helps to give the pros and cons to various decisions that need to be made, and help the pregnant mom to be informed to make a decision. Doula do not replace the husband, rather they can help assist the husband to know what to do during labor and what to be prepared for throughout the pregnancy.

I begin this week with my training and I am so excited for what is to come in learning. I should finish up in a few months with the training. I also have to assist 2 women through their pregnancy/birth as apart of my training. I am excited to see how God is going to use this passion and training in my future. Please pray with me as I begin my training. I am so passionate to help women understand the potential their bodies have, and how God created us.

"I think one of the best things we could do would be to help women/parents/families discover their own birth power, from within themselves. And to let them know it's always been there, they just needed to tap into it."
John H. Kennell, MD