DONA Certification

You are expected to complete your certification within two years of taking the training. My pregnancy and nursing interrupted my doula practice for almost a complete year. I took my last client when I was five months pregnant and started up again when my baby was almost 6 months. I ended up getting a 6 month extension. We last Wednesday after frantic typing, retyping, photocopying and compiling, I mailed in my certification. I had most of the required reading completed before I took my training. I have had ten clients and fortunately very positive reviews by Doctors and nurses, clients too! I wrote three birth stories and submitted documentation for each birth. I wrote an essay on labor support as well.

I am so excited to have it all completed and eager to advertise as
Laura Finnegan CD(DONA)

I have an amazing support system: my husband who is beginning to accept that births happen and I have to run, my friend and an English teacher who proofread and edited my certification essay,as well as my sister and mother-in-law and father-in-law who are on-call child care when I go on call. I am so grateful to them each. Being a doula requires lots of family support. Thank you!

I have about a two month wait while my packet is reviewed.

I am working on a doula co-op or partnership. Most doulas who practice in town are private practice. I am eager to start a doula group. There are two of us now.

33 Weeks

I am so grateful to be able to serve young families through Doulas Supporting Teens.
www.doulassupportingteens.org

Last night I supported a beautiful mama deliver her little daughter. Mom was only 33weeks along and had high blood pressure and preeclamsia. This lead to an induction and lots of different medications and procedures. The Labor and Delivery nurses were absolutley amazing to work with. I have very little more than book knowledge on these complications and have no experience with NICU and ity bity babies. The nurses were so kind in explaining different procedures and interventions through out the entire day. I really learned a lot during this labor. Stephanie, Devora, Rosemary, and Anna thanks for taking the time to teach me! I made calls to her other doula who is a fountain of information too. Thanks for your support Lisa.

Little girl weighed 3.15 so tiny! Mom did a great job and is doing well. Her doula came down with the flu so I did back up for her. Lisa will take over now and support her through pumping and caring for her premie.

I am blessed to have the support of my in-laws to take the kids for me. My brother is in town for Christmas and came over to babysit for a while too. Cody had the kids after work till I got home late. Wow I have a great family!

H1N1 restrictions lifted!

I heard today (I have not verified yet) that the restrictions at River Bend have been lifted. Until today they allowed only 2 support members in the room with moms. The same 2 were the only ones allowed through out the entire stay. I wonder how many moms wanted to get home sooner to show off the new arrival.

I had a huge group in my labor suite last year. My mom, MIL, Husband, DOULA(duh), dear friend, sister, and daughter. Shortly after the delivery a neice, FIL, and son piled in the room. Then off to the mother baby side where lots more folks stopped in.

I am a fan of having visitors at the hospital. They don't stay too long and when you get home you can hunker down with the new one without having to "entertain" the addoring masses! Everyone is different in their preferences. That is just what worked for me.

8 a.m.

8 a.m.
I saw a missed call.
Do I want to go to a birth today?
Ya! Of course!
Mad rush to find a sitter.
Don't have my bag and paper ready!
Rush. Rush. Rush.
Drop off the kids.
I am on my way.
We have never met.
I am here to help.
You are doing so good.
Wow. You are amazing.
Here he is.
You did a great job.
He begins to root.
Look at him nurse!
Beautiful mom.
Healthy son.
Happy dad.
Proud grandma.
Bless you all.

Grants Pass

Two weeks ago I got a call from my mom to see if I could come down and help a young mother. She was 8 days over due. I went down not knowing how thing would go or if she would even have her baby before I had to go home. I love my husband for understanding why I wanted to go help someone I have never even met. He drove my oldest two out to my sisters to stay the weekend(he worked) while I packed up the baby (13mo.) and drove down. I had about a 20 min. phone conversation where I wanted to make sure she wanted my help (my mom offered/suggested). She did. She had a Dr. appt. I thought they might induce but they were confident she would have her baby in a day or two. I got to my parents home and put my lil guy to bed then I met with the couple for about 2 hrs. They went home and called at 4am to say she was headed to the hospital(I missed the call because my phone was dead and I brought the wrong charger). I got there at around 8 am (I introduced my self to her nurse and was answered with "oh good, she is ready for you") she was in the tub and looked like she was ready for some "doulaing". She did so well, calm breathing. I loved how willing she was to move and try different positions. The dad was a great support and she was really using him for strength and support. There was a point where the daddy to be say her dozzing off and woke her and said not to fall asleep. I guess he thought she might not wake up for the birth?!?! LOL This beautiful mama was fully dialated but didn't feel the urge to push. I suggested she go pee (she hadn't for a while and had an doula who kept offering her water!) the nurse didn't mind and let her wait till she felt like pushing. She did start feeling like pushing after a while and we went back to the bed. She did an amazing job of pushing her lil baby out. The nurses and Dr. were so great to work with. The Dr. had the most soothing voice, she was calming and comforting her. She said after the mom let out a scream that it was ok to scream but she wanted her to save the screams and scream them out her bottom! I loved that! I just stood quietly holding her leg while the 2 nurses and Dr. did the "Doula talk". She had so much positive encouragment and support from those women. I loved being there and seeing that.

I am very grateful I had the opportunity to serve this young family. How neat that we were able to meet and go over a birth plan and that she had her baby when I was there.
I grabbed the wrong charger for my phone and it was dead. The mom was supposed to call me on it. She called my moms house instead. We were headed out for the morning to get a charger and do some shopping in town when she called and asked me to come to the hospital. I could have missed it completely had she called 5 min. later. I believe in God and feel that he was looking out for this family and blessing them during this time. Each birth I am able to attend and support I feel like Heaveny Father is blessing me. I believe he has blessed me with a talent to nurture laboring mothers. I am grateful for this blessing and love to be able to share it.