I am officially starting my training as a doula very soon.
Childbirth is an area I am passionate about, after having some not so glamorous births I want to help women where I went wrong and maybe one day have another baby of my own and apply these changes into my own life.
Some call me a hippy mum because I believe in homebirths, I believe in a birth being as natural as possible, my children wear amber necklaces, I am a big believe in natural healing and the power of crystals and gemstones, breastfeeding is an important aspect of an infants life to me and I breastfed my twins for as long as they wanted it - in fact I was disappointed they self weaned at 8.5 months old my goal was 12 months, we baby wear when possible and we use cloth nappies - I could go on but I've made my point and yes I am a hippy mum but I am proud to be, I have researched and these decisions are ones that I believe are best for my family.
Though I understand not all of this is for everyone and that I completely respect.
My Births I believe giving you an insight into where things went wrong for me and what has driven me into becoming a doula will help you understand and appreciate my passion.
Anthony
Far from textbook, 25 weeks pregnant, in active labour - it all happened too quickly to stop anything, there is no known reason why I went into labour so early.
Anthony was a vaginal birth with no pain medications, waters broke naturally, he passed away 3 hours later in NICU
Claire
Pre-term labour at 26 weeks, thankfully this time the labour was stopped and caused by gestational diabetes as it was unknown I had it and so very poorly managed since I craved sugar!
41 weeks in hospital for induction but already dilating naturally, hospital decide to do an AROM (Artificial Rupture Of Membranes aka break my waters) contractions were INTENSE after that given pethadine - that stuff makes me vomit it turns out! 21 hours later another vaginal birth and a tear with 23 stitches.
Bellah
39+6 waters break naturally at exactly midnight, labour at home until mid-day when contractions become unbearable. Stupidity tells me I want to compare my last labour and have an epidural to see what all the hype is about - worst mistake of my life! My back still hurts where it was done. After labouring for 19 hours the baby is in fetal distress with a heartrate of 240bpm alarmingly high - whisked down for an emergency c-section, never really able to establish breastfeeding due to a tongue tie.
Lleyton and Jackson
You guessed it, twins! Had my first ever bloody show at 35+1, told to come into hospital for monitoring, the babies are in bad positions one is breech and one is transverse. I laboured for 7 hours before the hospital actually believed I was in labour (that's a whole new vent and quite a traumatic story) before being whisked off for another emergency c-section, the babies spent 15 days in SCN and breastfed for 8.5 months before self weaning.
Willow
Technically a late miscarriage, only 22 days ago. Born at home in the shower after labouring for approximately 2.5 hours, forever sleeping.
