I have been trying to decide what I should write about for this day. I mean yeah, I could go on about WHAT a midwife is, the history if midwives and just rant and rave about what jacked up deal midwifery has gotten in the last 40+ years.... OR I can talk about what I know and think and have experienced first hand with midwives.
I personally think that what we know today of midwives has changed in the last 5 years alone. Due 100% to the amazing power and wisdom of women and their desire to get the word out, their desire to demand something different, or knowing in their hearts there has to be a better way. Don't get me wrong, WE NEED OBs!! We need them for a medically assisted birth. Women who are too high risk for their pregnancy to be called "normal" or "healthy." OBs are WHY in many cases women and babies live through their birth experiences. OBs are trained surgeons. OBs can get a baby out faster than I can say "Harry Potter."
We also know that OBs ARE GREAT at handling serious women's reproductive issues. They are medically knowledgeable individuals who can take a potentially life threatening, fatal situation and heal it. So, NO I am not dogging our OBs, I am dogging our DEPENDENCY AND CONDITIONED SINCE OF NEED for them in the perfectly healthy, normal conditions of womanhood, pregnancy and birth.
Midwifery is not only about birth, it about the well women care you receive. It is ensuring that the woman is cared for through all her reproductive years and sometimes beyond. It is ensuring that women are able to retain what nature has placed before them. The ability, the right and the wisdom to make, grow and have babies as they desire; as they should. Making choices for their families and the future people of society, our children.
I feel that those who do not choose midwifery care for whatever reasons are actually unaware of the true ability and capability of a midwife. For so long it has been assumed that if you use a midwife, your having a homebirth. If you use a midwife, you do not get ultrasounds (have the option). That if you use a midwife, you don't get pap smears. If you use a midwife, you cannot get an epidural. That you cannot use a midwife if you have gestational diabetes or high blood pressure. That you cannot use a midwife if you have had a c-section. Basically, you cannot or should not use a midwife if there is anything in your medical history that required medical attention when it came to your last birth. Well, you CAN'T use a midwife if you don't have a vagina. ((shrug))
Midwives are trained and are able to manage all of the above. All of the above to a certain degree of course. Certain level of risk that is. Midwives have access to and carry oxygen, pitocin and other medically necessary items that maybe required during a birth to stop a hemorrhage & to stitch a parineum. The truly uncommon-common things that happen during a birth or after a birth that are beyond her scope of practice, most midwives HAVE OBs in their pockets! Meaning, a midiwife can pick up the phone, get a client into a car or walk down a hall and find a backup of the trusty OB persuasion.
I have YET to meet a midwife that does not hold herself to a high safety standard. I have yet to meet a midwife who attends home or hospital births who has me questioning her genuine knowledge and competence. I have yet to meet or read about a midwife that regularly loses mothers and babies. We have ALL heard the stories of So-in-so who had a midwife who did not have xyz or did xyz during her birth prenatal care. We hear the stories.What about the stories of women who walk away from thier birth experience in awe amazed and emotionally WHOLE ready to start their new life as mother knowing it is and was because of the care they received from their midwife? In my world, MANY.
There is always a person in the crowd your speaking with about your awesome midwife or your amazing homebirth who says "What happens if...." or "Women died ALL the time in childbirth at home"
There will ALWAYS be a "What happens if" person and there will ALWAYS be a "Women died all the time in childbirth at home" person. Its still true. Women and babies die EVERYDAY in the year 2010 during childbirth. FACT.
Here in the US, that number is HIGHER than the rest of the industrialized world and we also have the MOST medicated hospital births. I could spit stats at you all day, but that is not the direction I want to take this.
Back in the day, women died, babies died because they did not have a choice. There were no OBs and hospitals. If there were, they would have what we call "risked out" meaning, the would have been properly evaluated before being taken on by a midwife OR the chain of events during her pregnancy or labor would have put her in the NOT-SO-QUALIFIED category for a homebirth and she would have been sent to an OB to be cared for or transported to a hospital during her labor due to the fact she had a MEDICAL CONDITION that required MEDICAL CARE. (hows that for a run-on sentence!?)
Now, just imagine, if in America, we did it like the rest of the world and saw midwives for NORMAL, HEALTHY, well woman, pregnancy and birth and were ONLY referred to an OB when a serious medical condition came up? Do you suppose we would be less afraid? Do you think we may be less conditioned in society top accept what we are told about our bodies, our pelvises? Will we be quicker to question ourselves or our doctors? Know what questions to ask? Perhaps we maybe more open to our births or the births of others? Less open to elective c section? What would we tell our daughters about being a woman, about their bodies and about birth? Do you think that the rates of breastfeeding maybe higher? Do you think that the rate of unwanted pregnancy may go down? Do you think that because of the knowledge women will then carry with them perhaps the choice to abort a baby may be more of a thoughtful decision? Do you think America would see women as the decision makers for birth, bodies and choices in womens care? Would we see the unborn a precious little people; our futures and not unfeeling, unknowing and unconscious beings?
I'd like to say, something as important as midwifery care having such an impact on the grand scheme of things is absolutely possible. I'd like to say, it will happen as we reeducate our women and our law makers, that it will be a no brainer. I'd like to say, that its possible with out a fight.
I would like to ask every woman today, if anything, question your own perception of Midwifery Care and learn more!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
"Confidentiality" What do I think?
This month's issue of "eDoula", a publication put out by DONA, was in my inbox yesterday. They are doing a 'back to basics" series and they are talking about the "Code of Ethics for Birth Doulas," touching on a couple of areas of interest.
Well, have read the code of ethics a couple hundred times. Most of it common sense in my opinion! Ya know, primacy; my obligation to my client. My fee; make sure I am clear and show, in writing, what my services are. Reliability; do I have to explain this one? I mean, seriously, its just basic work ethic ((shrug)). Well, this article's subject this time was "Privacy and Confidentiality"
I am thinking to myself as I skip over the email "no brainer, I'll read it later"
I went to birth the next morning and then here I am this evening and I decide to check my email and there it is again, unread.
I open it and skim through it and it makes some very good points.
Some of those points are about the way we communicate these days. The social networking, blogging etc and where we as Doulas draw the line about what we share with others and what does a confidentiality violation look like? What do you need to do for your client to maintain their anonymity, to respect their privacy, while still being able to be free to tweet, blog and facebook your life as a Doula?
The article talks about ensuring we have releases signed etc. That our close relationships with our clients are not a license to share their personal experiences. As Doula's, to have pride for those you serve in their successes and trials during their births because we can become so emotionally invested is only natural! I often time leave a birth feeling like I have gained a new family! The reasons are variable or course but 100% it is because sharing what you share with the families you serve, how can you not? So, it is only natural to want to share the good news, especially as a new Doula.
Some of the things I have always practiced as a Doula is the (what seems like endless) signing of releases. Personally, I think a release should be signed for photography (for example). Whether you offer it as a "service" i.e part of your fee or you are just capturing moments because you feel like its a nice perk as Doula. Your clients reserve the right to know your intention with their information and likeness (pictures). Do you post their birth story in a blog or do you tweet a play by play for out of state family members to follow? Do you put pictures up on a blog (like me) and give small details if any at all? Brochures? Anything you have gained from a client in the way of personal knowledge, birth story, pictures are, in fact THEIR property legally unless they release it. Recently, I started requiring a release to be signed, pics or not simply "just in case". Of course the overall "Confidentiality Release Form" is always signed. Which simply allows me to sent my stats to DONA every year (which I probably should start to do...hrrmm)
Upon signing the photo release for my services, my clients are the owners of their pictures. The release dictates that. The client also dictates what pictures they are comfortable with me using and not using. I also make efforts to contact clients before using their pictures and/or story.
I dunno, I suppose I get a little soapbox-y when I read stuff like that. I mean, there has to be "inspiration" somewhere when she wrote the article. I guess there are those who just don't personally, I am not willing to risk my reputation or my relationship with the peers or clients in my community over some dang pictures and some notes on a FB page. If you do not utilize the practice of signing releases, DO SO!
In closing, I include some very much non related, released for my own use, photog "fluff" taken by my sister in law at MY birth
Well, have read the code of ethics a couple hundred times. Most of it common sense in my opinion! Ya know, primacy; my obligation to my client. My fee; make sure I am clear and show, in writing, what my services are. Reliability; do I have to explain this one? I mean, seriously, its just basic work ethic ((shrug)). Well, this article's subject this time was "Privacy and Confidentiality"
I am thinking to myself as I skip over the email "no brainer, I'll read it later"
I went to birth the next morning and then here I am this evening and I decide to check my email and there it is again, unread.
I open it and skim through it and it makes some very good points.
Some of those points are about the way we communicate these days. The social networking, blogging etc and where we as Doulas draw the line about what we share with others and what does a confidentiality violation look like? What do you need to do for your client to maintain their anonymity, to respect their privacy, while still being able to be free to tweet, blog and facebook your life as a Doula?
The article talks about ensuring we have releases signed etc. That our close relationships with our clients are not a license to share their personal experiences. As Doula's, to have pride for those you serve in their successes and trials during their births because we can become so emotionally invested is only natural! I often time leave a birth feeling like I have gained a new family! The reasons are variable or course but 100% it is because sharing what you share with the families you serve, how can you not? So, it is only natural to want to share the good news, especially as a new Doula.
Some of the things I have always practiced as a Doula is the (what seems like endless) signing of releases. Personally, I think a release should be signed for photography (for example). Whether you offer it as a "service" i.e part of your fee or you are just capturing moments because you feel like its a nice perk as Doula. Your clients reserve the right to know your intention with their information and likeness (pictures). Do you post their birth story in a blog or do you tweet a play by play for out of state family members to follow? Do you put pictures up on a blog (like me) and give small details if any at all? Brochures? Anything you have gained from a client in the way of personal knowledge, birth story, pictures are, in fact THEIR property legally unless they release it. Recently, I started requiring a release to be signed, pics or not simply "just in case". Of course the overall "Confidentiality Release Form" is always signed. Which simply allows me to sent my stats to DONA every year (which I probably should start to do...hrrmm)
Upon signing the photo release for my services, my clients are the owners of their pictures. The release dictates that. The client also dictates what pictures they are comfortable with me using and not using. I also make efforts to contact clients before using their pictures and/or story.
I dunno, I suppose I get a little soapbox-y when I read stuff like that. I mean, there has to be "inspiration" somewhere when she wrote the article. I guess there are those who just don't personally, I am not willing to risk my reputation or my relationship with the peers or clients in my community over some dang pictures and some notes on a FB page. If you do not utilize the practice of signing releases, DO SO!
In closing, I include some very much non related, released for my own use, photog "fluff" taken by my sister in law at MY birth
Terry, Me and my Doula Erica Smith at work (24+ hrs in) just before
heading to the OR to push!!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
We are UPDATED!
Well, the Willow Doula.com website is officially all updated! If you have had a birth with me from May 2009 to present, its up! YAY!
Thanks to Lloyd Thompson, my trusty "web master" ball of awesomeness! He created, built and has hosted my site for 2 years! The back ground on the site was hand painted on to a canvas for me (I have it). The updates are great!
See the background? The pregnant willow tree? He painted that!
There is also an '"Availability" Tab! I am able to keep this one more current! That way when potential clients are looking for a doula, they know whether or not I can be available to them during their due date. Before, I was sending it to Lloyd and I was having to rely on him to be timely with it. Though he was great at it, with his new baby coming, I am quite certain, I won't be squeezing much of anything out of him when she gets here!
There is also an updated "photography" tab that has some of my VERY armature work there. Slide shows for both birth photography and family/children's photography. A tab for the blog and a tab for resource links!
I chose to "get rid" of the Willow Store tab. I ran into a quality issue with my filler for my heat packs and have not found a filler that I like, so I won't be selling them. HOWEVER, I am making rice tubes. They are great for short term heat (20-30 min) Still come in cute fabric choices and are good quality and last for sometime!
There is also a place where you can add your testimonial if I have been your Doula!
I am pretty stoked about this feature as I have gotten cards and letters before, emails and little gifts. I have no way to put them out there (comfortably) as a testimonial until now. Thank you to everyone who has submitted one, gives me warm fuzzies to see that I have been a blessing in other's lives!
I am hoping the changes allow me to rely less on poor Lloyd for my changes and additions. As of now, all I will need to call on him for is adding a new birth to the site when it comes up!
In closing.....
If there is anyone out there looking to dip your toe in the water and get a website going, Lloyd is your guy. I have Microsoft Front Page and could have done it myself, however, I lack the time and true skill set to do that, which means serious lack of patience to boot. Hes very fair with prices and prompt!! http://www.invisiblesoul.com/ and you can also find him Facebook!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
My Pictures...er Photography...
I have, for years, taken pictures. I can remember as far back as 6th and 7th grade being the girl who brought the camera to school every year on the last day. I would take tons of pictures- to the point my friends were no longer smiling in them. I would make my mother drive me to our neighborhood Eckards drug store or Walmart to get them developed via one hour.
I would seriously thumb through what had to of been maybe 100 pictures every year and choose the best and either make a collage or slip them into whatever flip book I begged her to buy me. Strangely, I never took up scrap booking. ((shrug))
In high-school, my senior year, I took a photography class. I learned about shutter speeds, f stops and all kinds of stuff. I borrow my mothers old school manual 35mm Nikon. I learned to develop my own pictures in a dark room . It was awesome and I STILL love looking at the book from that year. As matter of fact, my mother STILL has the framed black and white picture of our cat that I took! LOL
6+ years ago I received a Sony Cyber-shot camera as a Christmas gift. It was my first *real* digital camera..4.1 mega pixles people. HOT HOT HOT ;-)
Pictures, tons of pictures..on a memory card that held 50 pictures... oh man...
Fast forward to 2o months ago, I saved up and got myself my Canon Rebel XSi ((insert chorus of angels here))
I love this camera with every inch of by being. It is my baby.
THIS is the VERY FIRST picture (swear to God) that I took with it. My newborn 5lb nephew Cohen. AKA "Favorite." My sister in law was so cool to let me come and just bombard this sweet tiny thing with my over zealous energy and my new camera. Imagine... 1st time aunt + new toy = well, look at his grumpy face!!!
As I came along, and continued to take pictures of this sweet boy (bless his heart) I got better. I and still learning and still finding the time to do little shoots. I am NO PRO, and I have days where I think I am capturing what I want and when I look, it is not AT ALL what what was wanting. I have blurrs, I have well, moments where I ask "What in the HELL were you doing!?!"
Hes now 18 months and a running, blabbing ball of energy. A far, long, cry from the pictures above...
I do photography for my clients during their births. I do maternity shoots... I am learning to do a lot. It challenges me. Though I never promise perfection, I promise them I will capture a moment (or two) that they may have forgotten. Hopefully moments of time that evoke emotion.
Snap shots of labor and birth moments are fuzzy and even distorted by the hormone bathed mind of mom and adrinline rushed brain of a father or partner....I truely hope, that ALL of my clients find somthing in their pictures, no matter how UNperfect the photo. That they have a memory that their minds may not have kept otherwise.
I would seriously thumb through what had to of been maybe 100 pictures every year and choose the best and either make a collage or slip them into whatever flip book I begged her to buy me. Strangely, I never took up scrap booking. ((shrug))
In high-school, my senior year, I took a photography class. I learned about shutter speeds, f stops and all kinds of stuff. I borrow my mothers old school manual 35mm Nikon. I learned to develop my own pictures in a dark room . It was awesome and I STILL love looking at the book from that year. As matter of fact, my mother STILL has the framed black and white picture of our cat that I took! LOL
6+ years ago I received a Sony Cyber-shot camera as a Christmas gift. It was my first *real* digital camera..4.1 mega pixles people. HOT HOT HOT ;-)
Pictures, tons of pictures..on a memory card that held 50 pictures... oh man...
Fast forward to 2o months ago, I saved up and got myself my Canon Rebel XSi ((insert chorus of angels here))
I love this camera with every inch of by being. It is my baby.
THIS is the VERY FIRST picture (swear to God) that I took with it. My newborn 5lb nephew Cohen. AKA "Favorite." My sister in law was so cool to let me come and just bombard this sweet tiny thing with my over zealous energy and my new camera. Imagine... 1st time aunt + new toy = well, look at his grumpy face!!!
As I came along, and continued to take pictures of this sweet boy (bless his heart) I got better. I and still learning and still finding the time to do little shoots. I am NO PRO, and I have days where I think I am capturing what I want and when I look, it is not AT ALL what what was wanting. I have blurrs, I have well, moments where I ask "What in the HELL were you doing!?!"
Then, I get a good one. I see all the things I have captured. Moments in my life that I look back on my computer and say "Oh, wow I forgot about that" I have more pictures of this little boy, than I do of anyone else I know. No lie...
As you can see, its gotten better. I am learning.
I do photography for my clients during their births. I do maternity shoots... I am learning to do a lot. It challenges me. Though I never promise perfection, I promise them I will capture a moment (or two) that they may have forgotten. Hopefully moments of time that evoke emotion.
Moments you don't try so hard to remember.....
Moments you think you don't want to remember.......
The moments you beg to never forget.....
Snap shots of labor and birth moments are fuzzy and even distorted by the hormone bathed mind of mom and adrinline rushed brain of a father or partner....I truely hope, that ALL of my clients find somthing in their pictures, no matter how UNperfect the photo. That they have a memory that their minds may not have kept otherwise.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Doulas Supporting Teens
Doulas Supporting Teens - by Jessica Atkins
" Founded in 2003, Doulas Supporting Teens (DST)—a program of the Collective—was created to address the needs of pregnant and parenting teens in the Lane County area, with a focus on education and support throughout the first year of parenting."
This is a great article. Teen pregnancy, though not an illness, IS epidemic proportion here in the US. Most teen never intend on becoming pregnant, never intend on using welfare let alone be apart of the system. Child abuse cases of children abused by parents who are teens is on the rise. What can we do as a community to ensure we taking care of our pregnant and parenting teens in ways other than $$?
Its starts in pregnancy! Teaching, growing and nurturing these girls into women who know their bodies, who they will be as a mother, to love and nurture thier babies and give them the skills do what they are being asked to do earlier than society intends...
Long time no talk!
Hello again!
I am guilty of starting something and not finishing it. Imagine that?!? Life has surely gotten in the way of my attempt at blogging and putting myself out there!
I still Doula and have undying passion for birth! Over the last year and a half I have become an aunt to my three perfect, favorite littles! A niece and 2 nephews! I am super lucky to have sister-in-laws who put up with me and my addiction! I was able to witness 2 of the 3 births! The one I missed took place out of state and I sadly, I don't see them often, but see lot and lots of pictures!
Being an aunt is the bees knees!!
Of course, when I thought things could not get ANY better, I too, become a mother in November 2009! I now have 3 1/2 month old twin boys! It was almost a 10 year journey for me to become someones mother, but I am glad I stuck with it. Of course, my boys are super cute lady killers, super smart and can melt the heart of anyone! Don't get me started on daddy. Talk about LOVE! The man is beside himself in love withhis sons! I could not be prouder (is that a word?).
I have to say, they will nicely fit into the cousin trio that began the year before they were born! It will be interesting to sit around with my 3 brothers watching our children run around. ALL of which are a matter of months apart! YIKES! 5 kids all in the span of 14 months! WOW. We created a gang....
Through all of the crazy, I did manage to take a few clients and develop some wonderful relationships in Doula Land. I saw some awesome birth and I continue that momentum almost every month with someone new. I have had a bunch of memorable births to say the least!
Amy, for example. WOW. VBAC AFTER 2 c-sections!
She is now on the path to be a Doula herself! I also met Katrina! Wonderful woman! Her husband was deployed for the birth of this little man and it was an emotional day for everyone. If I remeber correctly, he was on the phone as the baby was born!
We met up last week and at 7 months old, her boy is a ball of energy and wonder! He such a little lover too!I could go on an on about the great births and great people I have come accross! I will eventually blog about them and you will hopefully see WHY I have the best job in the world!
I am also attending school to receive my RN! Its been a slow road, but I imagine I will finish very soon and make somthing of it! I say I am on the 15 year plan.... I still have that need and desire for midwifery! I know the door will be opened at the right time!
I have to say, in the world of birth and education, I am the luckiest girl alive to have such opportunity. Yes, opportunity provided by a mass of student loans with a dash of pell grant, but hey, we all have passions! We gotta get there by any means possible! All in the pursuit of happiness!
I will work hard to catch up here as its been a crazy ride!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
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