Well, I have had a very busy last couple of weeks with traveling and school work, but apparently I've done something right because JUST as that busy-ness is ending, I've gotten my first prenatal client! It was a last minute call, but she has not yet gone into labor. This will be the first time that I even know of my client before she's 5cm dilated. We're meeting tomorrow, unless she goes into labor prior to that, and I'm just so excited to be able to get to know her, talk to her about her hopes, fears and expectations, and generally prep for this birth in ways I've never been able to. What a rush! It will be my first prenatal meeting as well though, I hope it goes well. I'm a little nervous about that part!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Midwifery in Mexico: shadowing opportunity, videos
Just a couple of weeks ago, a doula friend of mine (Saumya) told me about a really cool opportunity in Mexico. An organization called Aventuras Languages partners with a midwife in Cuernavaca, Mexico in order to create an opportunity for anyone to study with her. She takes on people with a variety of experience - those with no birth experience, those with doula experience, nurse experience, on up to midwife and OB/GYN experience. Naturally, I got really excited! I would love to go if I can make the money to do it!
Here's some videos of Angelina, the midwife, in action. She was trained by both her mother and her grandmother who were traditional lay midwives and she has also a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife). She seems to have an immense knowledge of holistic techniques and is trying to give Mexican woman a more personalized alternative to the hospital births that are the norm.
She seems to be combining the clinical care with emotional care and truly looking after the whole person: body and emotions. Constant presence with the mother offering physical, emotional, and informational support is what is so often lacking in modern labor and delivery care. It is the gap that we as Doulas try to fill. Angelina, however, seems to cover all the bases. It's really amazing. If you have a couple minutes, watch her in action!
If you liked that one, here are links to two more in the series!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3BlgwakL9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4iT8T-x5QQ&feature=related
For anyone interested, this is the specific page for this opportunity:
http://www.aventurased.com/Medical-Midwifery-Spanish-Immersion-Schools-Classes.html.
This particular partnership asks that you have a at least basic to intermediate knowledge of spanish since all communications will be in spanish. The great thing though for those who might need a little extra help is that the focus and strength of Aventuras Languages are Spanish immersion classes. So, if you need them, you can take them right in Cuernavaca as well.
Here's some videos of Angelina, the midwife, in action. She was trained by both her mother and her grandmother who were traditional lay midwives and she has also a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife). She seems to have an immense knowledge of holistic techniques and is trying to give Mexican woman a more personalized alternative to the hospital births that are the norm.
She seems to be combining the clinical care with emotional care and truly looking after the whole person: body and emotions. Constant presence with the mother offering physical, emotional, and informational support is what is so often lacking in modern labor and delivery care. It is the gap that we as Doulas try to fill. Angelina, however, seems to cover all the bases. It's really amazing. If you have a couple minutes, watch her in action!
If you liked that one, here are links to two more in the series!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3BlgwakL9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4iT8T-x5QQ&feature=related
For anyone interested, this is the specific page for this opportunity:
http://www.aventurased.com/Medical-Midwifery-Spanish-Immersion-Schools-Classes.html.
This particular partnership asks that you have a at least basic to intermediate knowledge of spanish since all communications will be in spanish. The great thing though for those who might need a little extra help is that the focus and strength of Aventuras Languages are Spanish immersion classes. So, if you need them, you can take them right in Cuernavaca as well.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Doula support
These are some lines from the DONA International birth doula training manual by an anonymous writer talking about the support doula's provide:
Support is unconditional.
It is listening...
not judging, not telling your own story.
Support is not offering advice...
it is offering a handkerchief, a touch, a hug...caring.
We are here to help women discover what they are feeling ...
not to make the feelings go away.
We are here to help a woman identify her options...
Not to tell her which options to choose.
We are here to discuss steps with a woman...
not to take steps for her.
We are here to help a woman discover her own strength...
not to rescue her and leave her still vulnerable.
We are here to help a woman discover she can help herself ...
not to take that responsibility from her.
We are here to help a woman learn to choose ...
not to make it unnecessary for her to make difficult choices.
It is listening...
not judging, not telling your own story.
Support is not offering advice...
it is offering a handkerchief, a touch, a hug...caring.
We are here to help women discover what they are feeling ...
not to make the feelings go away.
We are here to help a woman identify her options...
Not to tell her which options to choose.
We are here to discuss steps with a woman...
not to take steps for her.
We are here to help a woman discover her own strength...
not to rescue her and leave her still vulnerable.
We are here to help a woman discover she can help herself ...
not to take that responsibility from her.
We are here to help a woman learn to choose ...
not to make it unnecessary for her to make difficult choices.
- Anonymous
A beginning
So, I've created this blog for all my birth musings. My plan has been for the last little while to do all my blogging on my blog from before, however I just feel strange writing about birth and doula-y things on what has been my travel-centered blog. So, here I am. New blog.
I started doula training almost exactly 2 years ago now, but due to two study abroad experiences and my rather busy student schedule when I'm in the states, I feel like I'm only now truly getting started. This semester I've tried not to over schedule myself, so hopefully I can focus more time on birthy things!
I started doula training almost exactly 2 years ago now, but due to two study abroad experiences and my rather busy student schedule when I'm in the states, I feel like I'm only now truly getting started. This semester I've tried not to over schedule myself, so hopefully I can focus more time on birthy things!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)