When I found out I was pregnant for the first time, I knew I wanted something different than the majority of the hospital births I had seen, so my husband and I sought out a birth center. At that point, I still had no clue what a doula was, but after that incredibly transforming birth experience, I knew I wanted to be a midwife. With our second, there was a very high probability that my husband would be deployed* and I knew that while I adored my midwives, I really wanted someone there just for me. Even though my husband ended up being home for the birth, I remember how much better I felt just knowing our doula was there! When I met with her for our postpartum visit, I wanted to just pick her brain! I knew it would be quite a few years before I could really settle into the study of midwifery, and I thought that being a doula would be a really awesome way to help women have more satisfying, more fulfilling birth experiences. Before our second baby was 2, I was a certified doula! I am now the proud mother of 3 children, and my husband is still serving our country in the Coast Guard. I am a member in good standing with DONA International, and my certification is good through October 31, 2013. I am also currently enrolled in Ancient Art Midwifery Institute's Advanced Midwifery Studies program and plan to continue midwifery work over the next few years. I volunteer with Birth Matters Virginia and serve as Chapter Leader for Tidewater; I am a former ICAN Chapter Leader.
I would say my biggest passions are home birth and VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). In June of 2010, I started working on an ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) chapter for Hampton Roads. We officially became a chapter on July 26, 2010 and closed in January of 2013. To help bridge the gap, I have started a Facebook page where local moms can connect and build a support community, and I am also offering a childbirth class tailored to cesarean information and prevention, and VBAC education.
I like to stay busy. We're usually out and about, doing something or other. If I have a choice about the way to spend a night out, hockey games are definitely in the Top 5! When I am home, my kids and I play A LOT. When they get tired of me, I sew, read, and on the rare ocassion, knit. I recently started making nursing covers because I loved the privacy mine gave me in the early days when I felt like I couldn't get it right if I wasn't all but topless. Now I sew these nifty little things so that other moms can nurse in public, even if they're not completely comfortable or wearing a nursing-friendly top.
For me, being a doula is the perfect job. It enables me to be home with my children 99% of the time, while still encouraging me to fulfill my dream of becoming a midwife. I am in constant awe of the families I work with, and feel very honored to be part of their birth experiences. Every birth teaches me something, or reminds me of something I had forgotten and I will always be grateful to the families who have allowed me to share in their experiences. I truly believe that a positive birth experience is possible for every family, and my life-long goal is to help every family have a positive birth.
What training have you had?
I am certified through DONA International. I have also taken the ToLabor workshop and may pursue future certifications through their organization. At present, I am certified with DONA International through October 2013. In order to become a DONA certified doula, I had to meet various requirements.
1. Attend a DONA approved Birth Doula Workshop of 16 or more hours in length. Certification must be completed within four (4) years of attending the birth doula workshop.
2. Read five books from the required reading list and the DONA International Birth Doula Position Paper. Download the Birth Doula Required Reading List
3. Purchase a birth doula certification packet. Each packet expires within two (2) years of purchase. Packets must be purchased prior to attending births submitted for certification.
4. Complete one of the following: A. Training in Childbirth Education or Midwifery (see list of approved Childbirth Education organizations) B. Work experience in Labor and Delivery as a Registered Nurse C. Observation of a 12 hour Childbirth Preparation series (not as an expectant parent) or "Introduction to Childbearing" class offered in conjunction with an approved DONA birth doula workshop.
5. Provide doula service to a minimum of three clients. All births submitted for certification must take place after the workshop and purchase of the birth certification packet. The births documented must meet the following criteria: They occur after you attend a DONA International-approved workshop of 16 hours or more. Labor support must begin before or at the onset of the active phase of labor. For certification purposes, active labor will be considered 4 centimeters. The three births combined must have the doula present for a minimum of 15 hours total. Your presence as the birth doula must be continuous. You must remain for the birth of the baby to provide immediate postpartum support. Every vaginal exam must be documented on the Birth Record Sheet’s Labor Progression Chart. Cesarean births may account for only one of the three required birth experiences.
6. Document each of the three births for which you provide labor support with: A. DONA International Birth Record Sheet (pdf) B. A 500-700 word account of each birth C. Client Confidentiality Release Form (pdf)
7. Provide good Evaluations of your doula services from at least three clients, three primary care providers and three nurses or midwives.
8. Read and sign the DONA International Code of Ethics and the DONA International Standards of Practice.
9. A type written essay on the value and purpose of labor support (500-1000 words).
10. Payment of certification processing fee.
11. Verify that you are a current member of DONA International.
In order to maintain my membership and certification, I must renew membership each year, and re-certify every 3 years. Re-certification is a completely different process that entails further client evaluations, as well as continuing education credits. I have been certified since October 2007.
Do you have a specialty?
*If I had to say I have a specialty, I would say I specialize in military families and VBAC mothers. I've been a military spouse since March of 2004. I am very comfortable and familiar with deployment schedules, MTF's, TriCare, and the whole military package! I understand how frustrating it can be not to know if or when your partner will be at sea, and if they're on shore, if they will be accessible. Approximately one third of my clients' deliveries occur in MTF's. Because of my own experiences, and experiences with several clients, I feel I am very well equipped to deal with challenges that many military families face.
VBAC is very important to me, both for mothers and their babies. As of December 2012, I have attended 11 VBACs, including one VBA2C. As a former ICAN of Hampton Roads Chapter Leader, facilitator of a Cesarean and VBAC Support Group for Hampton Roads on Facebook, and VBAC and Cesarean class instructor, I hope to continue to increase accessibility of information and options about VBAC and avoiding primary cesareans that are not truly medically indicated.
