I have been interviewing doulas to assist with our birth since our family is not in town. After reading all about doulas and meeting them, I swear I do not know why anyone would want to have a birth without them present. They help to increase the liklihood that you'll be successful having a natural vaginal birth by almost 60% because they are supportive of you, and help you and your family make educated decisions about your birth, rather than just be forced into a decision because a hospital attendant, nurse or doctor has scared you.
After long consideration, and after Mike and I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with my prenatal yoga instructor Patricia, we really loved her, however we heard what she was trying to tell us. She has two very young children herself and cannot devote all of her time to us when that time comes because she has her young children at home. As much as we love her, and I am so comfortable with her, I don't want to ruin our relationship as a teacher/student with a bad birth experiience because she wasn't available. So, the search goes on. Chapman Birthing Center has put me in contact with a couple of doulas, one which I had a brief telephone interview with already and I LOVED her. She was in Maui when I phoned her at 10AM this morning (so what, that's 6AM Maui?) and she still answered, still took the time to chat with me, even had a file already started on me WITH HER in Maui. I loved her bedside manners and spirit. We'll meet with her some time next week when she gets back into town. Fingers, eyes and toes crossed we'll have a doula soon.
I forgot to upload the most recent photos of Baby W and me. Here ya go.
