A neat little childbirth story. =)

www.dona.org

the official Doulas of North America site.

they basically care for the laboring mom and family, doing all manner of things to help them cope with and enjoy the birth of their child. They are versed in non-medical techniques to make labor and delivery more comfortable, enjoyable and relaxing for the laboring family. Check the site out,very informative.

Everything that SmilinBluEyes said... go to www.dona.org and find out more. We provide non-pharmacologic coping skills to moms going through labor and we also support the dad as well. We are a sounding board, we provide information to the couple, present various options. We do this from an objective standpoint and ususally get to know the couple ahead of time.

Right now I work as a volunteer doula at our local hospital, but I have my own business doing this. Studies have shown that having a doula decreases the requests for pain medication, reduces the chances of a c-section by 50%, the mom has better support and success breastfeeding, and better overall satisfaction with her birth.

Until I become a nurse (and that's popping up on the horizon again), it's a great outlet for me, although I explain my role to the nurses and let them know that I'm not a "junior nurse", and not there to take the place of her role.

I would also like to say, it's a highly fulfilling and rewarding job and I get to see what it's REALLY like to be an RN working in L&D. If you have any questions about it, please free to send me a PM.

Sorry for the double, but I would also like to add that we supplement the nurses role, and we NEVER take the place of a nurse. We do not monitor FHT, don't do SVE's. We are there to support the mom in the non-medical aspects of labor. We are well versed at massage, position changes, and other non-pharmacologic methods of turning an OP baby (only with physician approval and only if I know the couple ahead of time), we have ways of progressing labor that has stalled. It's a fascinating field and I invite everyone to check out www.dona.org.

I love what I do until I can get my RN degree. Yes, I know that I probably won't be doing doula stuff as an RN, but I can help couples who want a more natural childbirth.

But unfortunately, I think that the RN degree is going to take a bit. Got to figure out how I'm going to pay for it w/o taking out any more loans.

All births are memorable but this story is great!

That is such a precious story! Seriously! I'm all weepy! Congratulations to you and your family.

Thanks for sharing! I had tears in my eyes!

RealNurseWitch, stevierae, BabyRN2Be, and SmilingBluEyes

These stories are so good.

:Melody: I enjoy remembering the feelings (and impatience) of the nine months, then the labor...then the baby in my arms...so very good.

Thank you.
Angels’

Wow, that was so cute and neat.

Wow! Here's another story one of my CNAs (LTC) was having her baby by emergency c-sect-she had general anesthesia- she woke up to find another CNA from the same facility at her bedside (doing her Ob clinical). She woke up wondering where in the world she was at. Work or the hospital!
I had another CNA we had to practically drag away from work because she still wanted to work even though her water had broke.