Birth Stories
May 2009
I cannot begin to say enough about Michelle. As a first time mom, she was a great support during pregnancy, labor, and post partum. I can’t imagine a better person to have by my side as I made the journey to motherhood. I first met Michelle last January 2009; I am a shy person who takes a while to warm up to a new person and feel comfortable, but right away I felt that I had known her for many years. From the beginning she was receptive to what I had in mind as far as having a natural drug-free birth in a hospital environment. No easy task… you have to be on your toes so that the “normal” procedures didn’t take place. Even though the nurses, midwife, and OB had been told I did not want pitocin after I gave birth, even written in my birth plan, Michelle was there telling them that I didn’t want it.Michelle is a knowledgeable, resourceful, nurturing person, without overstepping or pushing any of her own opinions. One of my favorite things is how Michelle looks at the whole family, not only being my doula, but also supporting my husband while I was laboring. She would come to our home, doctor’s appointments, and even to meet us out for lunch.Two weeks before my due date, my baby decided to turn breech on us. Since hospitals don’t willingly do breech births I was ready to panic. All of the sudden the OB wanted to schedule a c-section for the coming Friday, it was a Tuesday. I was very overwhelmed and felt cornered into something that I wanted no part of. I called Michelle up and told her what was going on; she was able to talk me down from my panic and sadness of the possibility of a c-section. She reminded me of what I wanted and that I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t want to. Then she reached out to her community of doula’s and midwives and gathered a wealth of information of things I could do. Meanwhile, I told the doctor that I didn’t want a c-section and asked if we could try an external cephalic version. He said he would schedule one for Friday and that if it didn’t work, then I would have a c-section that day. Michelle had gotten together a list of numbers for chiropractors, sometimes a technique they do can help turn baby head down. I made an appointment for the next day. Meanwhile, Michelle was a big support while I was in turmoil over the situation. As new things to try came to her, she would call or text me the info. Two trips to the chiropractor, lying inverted, going in a swimming pool, and talking to baby; Friday morning came and still breech. Michelle was with me and reassured me once again, that they couldn’t make me have a c-section. She was by my side as they did the version and helped me stay focused through the pain. By a miracle the baby turned and we had no c-section! Michelle’s words of comfort, encouragement, and praise were wonderful to hear.When my labor started I was at the hospital and Michelle was already with us. When I needed her help to stay focused she was right there holding my hand and talking to me and reassuring me. Whatever I needed she was there ready for it. Our baby was a little blue at birth, so my husband went with the baby to the nursery. Michelle stayed by my side until I was able to go see my baby, and felt comfortable enough for her to go home.Having Michelle as my doula has been such a rewarding experience and I couldn’t imagine anyone better. My husband and I still talk about her and what she did for us to all of our friends and family; even strangers. I love that Michelle not only was my doula, but became my friend.
Sincerely,LeAnna 1st time mom
April 2010
When
I first found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to go natural. My
mother had birthed 4 of us naturally; my sister a 9lb baby! I just
knew I wanted to go about it drug free. Being in the military, I am
stationed away from my family. My husband and I were clueless on what
to expect or how to go about any of it. I knew a little about Doula’s
but not enough to really understand. I started talking to people,
Doulas and my doctor (who is a midwife) and I was refereed to a few
doulas. In the end, a final reference led me to Michelle. What a
blessing. Our first meeting was wonderful. My husband and I knew
right then that she was our Doula. She might not have known it, but
something, or someone, inside just told us that this women needed to
be involved. We had a few meetings, on my terms and when I had the
time. She was always just a phone call away. I went into a full week
of “early labor;” what is called false labor, but according to my
doula “There is no such thing as false labor.” I loved her
approach to everything. It was always with an open yet firm mindset.
When I went into ACTUAL labor she came over and we waited, and
waited, and waited. We went to the hospital and I was only 2 cm. we
went back home, and Michelle and our wonderful doula-in-training went
home with a promise that I would call them if things changed. At 3am
I was screaming for drugs. I went into my bedroom where my husband
was sleeping and began crying hysterically claiming I couldn’t do
it; it hurt to much. His response? “Call Michelle.” So I did and
what did she say? “get in the bath, I’m on my way.” She came
and helped me so much by getting my breathing back, and getting me
back into control. We labored at home until I thought it was time.
Michelle never pressured me to stay at home or to go to the hospital.
She left it up to me. When we went into the hospital, I was squatting
down and leaning against my husband while getting a back massage in
the middle of a contraction when an anesthesiologist walked by with a
smug attitude and had the nerve to say “I can get rid of that
pain.” We all just looked at eachother. I will never forget that.
It was an emporwering moment for me. I told him no, and I ment it. I
was doing this how we had planned. Drug free. Everything that
happened next was a blur. Michelle was there every second though.
Right next to me, giving me encouragement. Just her prescence was
encouraging. While I was in bed, the doctors and nurses tried to tell
me to stop pushing, crazy I know, but Michelle just told me to go
with my body. I did. She was the only person I was about to listen
to. With her and my husbands help I birthed my beautiful daughter,
drug free, and on all fours. I did what my body told me. It was the
best expirence. I know I can do it, so there is no question that with
my next child, Natural birth is on the agenda. Having a Doula is
honestly the best decision we made during my pregnancy. I was so
informed on everything, and learned a lot. Breast feeding went
wonderfully, and I owe it to Michelle. Without her, I feel that I
would have been lost. My doula expirence was simply amazing.
Lisa~1st time mom
April 2010
Since I was young I always had this idea of giving birth in a water
bath. I loved the idea of bringing my children into this world drug free
and as natural as possible. When we found out we were pregnant I began
doing research. The more documentaries I watched and the more books I
read the more convinced I became on having a natural birth. Honestly, it
consumed me. I believe in personal responsibility and as much as I
respect doctors and their knowledge, being informed and making my own
decisions is not only my right but my duty. We connected up with
Michelle in my sixth month and it was the best decision we could have
ever made! After a trial with another doula and a few interviews with
others Michelle came in and blew everyone else out of the water. She was
so calm, confident and educated. She’s exactly the type of person you
need when you’re in the trenches of labor land. As a first time mother
access to her was imperative to our sanity and nerves. This is
especially true because we’re in the military and all of our family is
back east. Having Michelle with us every step of the way eased the
minds of mine and my husband’s mothers also. We had frequent sessions
with her where we discussed and developed our birth plan, went over pain
management techniques, incorporated valuable massage and listened to
the baby’s heart rate in preparation for the big day. I went into labor
at 1:30 in the morning on April 14, 2010. The plan was to labor at home
for as long as I could and that plan worked! The beginning stages of
labor were a breeze. We were watching stand up comedy and laughing.
Michelle came by and talked with us for a little while. Everything was
exciting! Now is when everything becomes a blur. I had been in labor
all day, with no sleep, and the contractions weren’t really getting
closer together. I was beginning to think the baby was never coming out!
The pain was intense. I remember thinking, if I were at a hospital I
would take the epidural. I knew that I would later regret it but if the
meds were close, I was taking them! The mind is very powerful and giving
in would have been easy had I not prepared myself. What I learned, with
Michelle’s help, is that I control my mind. It doesn’t control me. For
me, laboring at home for as long as possible was key. Finally, we made
our way to the hospital around midnight. Michelle was right behind us.
She encouraged me and kept me cool with wet rags around my neck and
forehead. She didn’t stop from the time she got there until the baby was
born making sure I was drinking water, breathing, changing out the rags
and eventually taking pictures of everything. Having her there allowed
my husband to be able to support me, hold my hand and just basically be
there for me without worrying about anything else. Water births were not
allowed at this hospital and I ended up delivering on my side. At 3:40
am Gianna was born! My husband caught her and announced that she was a
girl (we had opted not to find out the sex beforehand). What a glorious
moment! Instantly the pain of labor was gone and pure love washed over
me. 26 hours of labor and our 9 pound 9 ounce baby was finally here!
Michelle continued to give expert advice as the baby was having a hard
time latching on and she asked the nurse to get us a nipple shield. I
had never heard of one but it was a life saver in the beginning months
of nursing. She visited a few more times after the birth, offering
guidance and answering questions. Having her was by far the smartest
thing we did for this pregnancy and if we weren’t moving to another
state we would have her there for our second child who is due July 14,
2011. Our bodies were perfectly created to birth without interventions.
I’m not a superhero. I am woman. Peace and love.
Sarah Scibetta~1st time mom
January 2012
Before my wife was pregnant, I had only a vague idea what a doula did. I knew that they were associated with the birthing process, but that’s it. We hired a doula because my wife wanted one. My son was born after seventeen hours of labor. Having watched my wife and our doula (Michelle) interact for those seventeen hours, I get it now. Prior to the birth, Michelle met with us several times to answer our questions, talk through what to expect during the birth, and teach us some techniques for pain relief during the birthing process. My wife’s pregnancy was more complicated than we would have liked. We ended up going to the hospital to get induced a week before the due date because of health concerns. Michelle was there shortly after we arrived at the hospital. During the labor process, I tried to provide as much emotional support as I could, however, I felt constantly under qualified for the job. It was like I was being asked to coach a rookie team in a sport that I’d only read about. There’s a world of difference between reading about something and actually experiencing it. As a guy, I simply had no frame of reference for the birth process. It was, and is, completely alien to me. Were the pains she was feeling normal? Were they in the right spot? Did we need to do something? I couldn’t answer any of those questions. So I held my wife’s hand, whispered words of encouragement, and felt helpless. Michelle, on the other hand, has experience both in the laboring and helping women labor. And it showed. She helped my wife work through the pain, find positions that felt better and moved the labor along, and provided a continuity to the labor that otherwise would have been lacking. You see, the nurses there also provided some similar services. They shared similar words of encouragement and suggested different positions. But when their shift ended, they went home. And a difference nurse stepped in. And that different nurse had different ideas. To stretch the coaching analogy a bit farther, you don’t change coaches in the middle of a game and expect the team to do well. My son is eight days old as I write this. Both he and my wife are happy and healthy. Looking back on the labor, I’m very grateful for the expertise and comfort that Michelle was able to provide my wife before, during, and after the labor.
~Tom (first time dad)
