My Other Life Calling

A few weeks ago, I was a doula to a dear from for her first birth. For those of you who don't know, a doula (pronounced doo-lu) is a professional labor support person. You can hire them or they can simply be a close friend or family member of the mother. The idea is that this knowledgeable person is there "to mother the mother." These dear friends of ours, Sam and Jessica Selby, surprised and delighted me when they said, "So, guess who we put as our doula on our hospital paper work?....YOU!" (I admit I jumped up and down a  few times.)

In preparing for Eva's arrival, Birth and all things to do with it (especially a more natural approach) has become rather a passion for me.

At 41 weeks and 5 days past her due date, Jessica agreed to try castor oil as a last ditch effort to avoid a hospitalized induction. It worked! And I was able to help her through hours of super contractions until she asked for an epidural at 6 cm. Then we all took naps until it was time to push and I was able to help there too! (she said I had earned that  right.) I also helped them both get the hang of breastfeeding, something Jessica was worried about.

Gabriel Selby is a pretty darn cute newborn in my opinion. he didn't have a scrunched up water bloated face and was wide-eyed and alert as soon as he came out.

This whole thing was such a wonderful experience for me, I felt so...useful! I was able to do all the things I had learned to help Jess through labor and witness her as a goddess, a true daughter of God in her strength and glory. It was awesome.