A woman at church interviewed me about 3 months ago and wanted to consider me as her doula. (training of course…I still have my two studies to write up) I followed up with her many times to see if she had made a decision. She told me that her boyfriend (they have been together for 7 years but are currently broken up) was not comfortable with a doula. Ok…no problem. Some people are not comfortable with another person in the room.
On Friday she went into labor. From what I understand it was a difficult time. After all was said and done she nearly died and….her baby…her son died in childbirth.
I really don’t know where to go from here with this post. I cannot imagine the pain she must feel. I went to go see her today (because she was not accepting visitors Friday or Saturday) and my heart just went out to her.
Her boyfriend met me in the hall. When he saw me he sought out my arms to comfort him. He was so opposed to me being there yet he knew that my heart went out to him and E. He sobbed like he was a child. I could tell his heart was just broken into pieces. He was relieved when he saw mewhich was strange. It was like he knew he had to be strong for her yet he knew he could let his guard down with me.
When I walked into her room she was hysterically crying because they were trying to get her to make a decision on the remains. I could tell that she herself was drugged and not in the reality of the moment. When she saw me she tried to “suck it up” but ended up just melting down. I wound up sitting next to her in her bed and she laid her head in my arms. All she could manage to say was, “If you would have been here I know this would not have happened. ” and “My arms are empty. How can anything mean anything if my arms are empty?” Honestly, I did not know what to say.
Because I am not related obviously they won’t tell me what happened. I cannot bring myself to ask her how this could have happened.
Life is so so fragile. Being here in the states the mortality rate is so different in comparison too some parts of the world. With all of the equipment and technology they still could not save this little baby boy’s life. Most of the time there is a happy ending. The line between life and death is so fragile when a woman gives birth. The miracle is so wonderful yet it is a major event to the body of a woman. We never think that it can happen to us or near us. Reality is…there is not always a happy ending.

My condolences to E and her family. Your loss is so great and felt by all of us. Please know that our prayers are with you at this time.

We have been planning our trip to Europe for this summer. My husband has given me the responsibility to plan it all and tell him when to show up. YIPES…I’m nervous.
This summer we are flying into Frankfurt, the immediately flying over to Tallinn, Estonia. Then we are going to see our friends (foreign exchange student so they are family by our standards!) in Helsinki. After being in Helsinki we are flying to meet some other friends in Zagreb. From there we are going to go to Bosnia and go back to the seaside in Croatia. We may take a hopper over to Venice for a day. Right now I do not know because the prices are FREAKY for visiting Venice right now. After Zagreb we are flying over to Paris to see our other friends. (another foreign exchange student friend/family) From there we are headed by train to Brussels to revisit where we fell back in love. We will probably take the children to Brugge. I love Brugge. Then we will go home and need a vacation from our vacation!
Hopefully I plan this trip out right. I am looking forward to seeing all of our friends this summer. I wish Amber and Len were going to be there but they will be moving back to Scotland. We will miss them by a tiny bit. (2 days)
May be some day we will head to Scotland to see the Isle of Skye where Hula Hubby’s ancestors lived. Who knows? With all of our travels we may be able to do that some day.

At exactly 7:16 (at least by our clock) Mrs. G gave us a lovely wake up call. It went something like….
Mrs. G - “Can you come pick up the kids?”
Me - *in a fog “Really? Is it time?”
Mrs. G - “Yes! I believe it’s time!”
Me - “So you’re in labor?”
Mrs. G - “uh…Yes”

Ok so my snooze button became a bolt of lighning coming from above!! We’re going to have a new nephew today!! * fingers crossed

That was the extent of the foggiest conversation I’ve had in my life! WOOWIE reality just hit and we will have 5 children in the house today! Hula Hubby being the dear that he is is heading out the door right now. WOO HOO PARTY AT MY PLACE!

Genuine wants to chronicle the whole thing on his blog today. Let’s see how fast he can type. She generally has her babies REALLY fast.

So go over and wish Mrs. G a safe, healthy and pain free (as much as possible) labor and delivery. Wish Genuine steady hands to catch. (just in case it happens again)

Here’s to the NEW GENUINE BABY!! WOO HOO! (I am such an excitable auntie!!)

This morning my friend called me to go to the hospital for her baby’s delivery. I say a friend but she started out as a friend of a friend. In the last month in a half we have become friends.
8:45 was the time I was to meet her at the hospital. She called me about 8:30 and said that she was having trouble finding a sitter. I called a friend and she was able to watch their children at their home. So at 10:15 we met at the hospital. Her contractions by that time were about 5 minutes apart but very regular. She was at a 4.
She chose to do the delivery without any medication. (meaning no epidural and IV drugs) We worked through the labor pains as she started contracting about every 3 minutes. At around 11:35 we had to work really hard at keeping her focused. They checked her and her water broke. 20 minutes later a beautiful baby girl arrived. After having 3 boys they were so excited to have a little girl. Baby A weighed in at 8 pounds 1 oz 19 inches long.
This was my first delivery without knowing the mother before. Meaning I knew her but only about two months. It was still as wonderful of an experience for her and for me.
I am sitting here in awe. I hope that every birth that I attend I can sit back after it’s over and be in awe of the miracle of life.
Sweet welcome Baby A.

This morning I got the call that I have been waiting for! My friend is in labor. This will be the 2nd case study that I will do and turn in! Then I only have 1 more and I’ll be that much closer to the certification to be a Doula.
I will meet her at the hospital at 8:45. Here’s to another healthy delivery!

I have been talking with a woman that contacted me about 3 months ago. Tonight she asked me to attend her child’s birth!! Her due date is the 30th of November!! I am thrilled. This will be my second delivery towards my certification.
I find it interesting the way people find me to attend their deliveries. In the past they have been friends. Now the friends of friends are contacting me.
One of the things that I want to do for the births I attend is to write out the birth story for the child. I did that with my first birth that I attended and had all of the details down to the time that we got there to the time she went into transition to the birth and cord cutting. I also put in the story the initial interview with the parents. I don’t know. May be that’s overboard but I think that if would have been offered to me I would have loved it.
I start the lactation training after Christmas. I think while my children are young that this will be the way I go at the beginning because of the timing. That way may be I can set appointments and be able to still be home when my children are home.
So here’s to trying to balance all of the above!

Baby Girl born!!! YAY! 8 pounds 3 oz 18 1/2 inches long!!!!Everyone is healthy and happy!! No name yet! YAYAYAYAY!
They induced at 7:30 and at 3:45 the baby was born!

Today at 5:00 AM my friend is finally going to be induced. She has had problems with high blood pressure and they were afraid of her going toxic. Last night she finally agreed to be induced.
It has been a long battle for Mr. and Mrs. B. After getting married and wanting to wait to get pregnant and having an unexpected pregnancy that she lost this has been a long time coming.
They were married when she was 21. She was wanting to finish up her Doctorate in Child Psychology and did it. The plan was to become pregnant right after that. After about 1 year of trying they finally did and then around Christmas they lost that baby. They sought fertility counseling and in January of this year it took!
They wanted to do a non medicated without intervention birth. I tried to encourage her as it kept looking like it was not going to happen. Finally last night she called and told us that they were going to induce her this morning with as little intervention as possible.
So this morning as I go through my day, I know that a little person will be born sometime today or early tomorrow! I am always in awe of that.

I was e mailing back and forth to CC Jellybean and she had some wonderful news. A friend of hers is pregnant. This is a much planned and awaited little person!
Anyway CC was saying how everyone was telling this young lady horrible birth stories. I understand this. I unfortunately did this to Mrs. G before she had Genuine Girl. (I didn’t know she was expecting in all fairness) I did not mean to but after that experience I realized that instead of horrifying the new mommies they need a lot of positive encouragement and support.
If you have a beautiful experience to share…please pop over to CC’s and let her know. She is compiling these stories to print out and share with her friend.

Last night at 7:00 my friend called me to say that she thought that she was in labor. She was having contractions but nothing severe! She also thought her water broke. This was interesting because I did not know if I could find a sitter. (Thank heavens for good neighbors!!) I told her that she probably was in labor and if it was anything like her other children that it would be fast!
At 10:45 she called to say that they were on the way to the hospital. In the car her water broke. Her husband said that she started going into panic mode at that time.
I got to the hospital at 11:15 and checked her in so that they would have a bed ready for her. All she had to do was sign on the dotted line. When they arrived I had a wheelchair waiting and I whisked her away to her room while her husband parked the car.
When we got into her room and some what settled it was around midnight. She was at a 2 and 80%. First off let me say that the nurse she had was fantastic. She was very attentive to her.
Her contractions started speeding up when she went to stand up. I had to hold onto her and rock her back and forth. Her husband just let me do what we needed to do and offered words of love and support. He wanted me to help get her through the pain.
At 1:00 she laid back down and could not get control of her pain. From the beginning she had told me that she wanted an epidural. I supported whatever she wanted and asked her what she wanted to do and she said that she had to have it. They administered the epidural at 1:30.
Needless to say that epidural did not have time to do the trick. The baby was coming fast. I sent her husband to get the nurse. She came in and checked her and she was complete and ready to push.
The doctor on call was called in to deliver her. I could tell she wanted her own doctor but she was not going to get picky as the contractions took over her body and the urge to push came strong.
At 1:59 Little Man was born. He came with two small pushes.

Little Man
19 1/4 inches
6 pounds 11 oz
1:59 A.M.

I am still amazed and exhausted! The miracle of birth just astounds me.
I have a full day with my own children so…adrenaline please see me through today! May be we will all head to Bucky Stars! (what my daughter calls Star*ucks) I think I need a triple shot today!!