Yes, the title is a play on words. 🙂
I’m officially certifying again for birth and post partum doula, child birth educator, lactation consultant, and professional doula. Between homeschooling my three boys and my classes, I’m all “schooled” out. However, re-certifying is giving me an opportunity to refresh my mind on some of the doula basics we tend to forget and even learn some new tricks of the trade. Childbirth will always be childbirth. The way we view it, however, that will and should change.
Childbirth used to be something that just happened; it was a natural part of life and assistance wasn’t really needed except in emergent cases. Later, childbirth became scary and thus the need for hospital births was born. Now, we are getting back to our roots. We know that this is what God intended and made a woman’s body for. We are learning how to trust our bodies, and as a doula, I’m helping women learn to trust themselves.
The paperwork though…Oi! I have not missed writing papers or doing reports on terminology! Today though, I was able to do something different and interesting, thus the picture you see posted. My assignment was to take(or have someone take) pictures of my self doulaing certain positions with someone else. Basically, I’d be the doula (which I am) and someone else played the part of the pregnant, laboring mother. I had intended on a friend of mine doing this for me, but her little one has pneumonia (!!) , and obviously, she was needed elsewhere. Lucky for me, my husband is the best husband ever! He stepped in and took on the role of the laboring woman. I know the picture may look a little silly, and we did have fun practicing these techniques together. Looking at the pictures, no matter how crazy they may look, gives me such a sense of pride and accomplishment. I don’t have any pictures of me ever performing my doula duties. And while these pictures were staged and with my husband, it let me see what I do, from an outside viewpoint. I enjoy my job. I’m good at it. Seeing myself today in these pictures, have given me such resolve and fulfillment in what I do. So, if you doula….keep it up! ❤
*I’m certifying through Madriella.org in case you are interested in becoming a doula.
