I have a doula now! :-) (and debt forgiveness as a baby present)

shaindelr · February 2011

A friend who was at my shower yesterday who used to work as a doula (she just hasn't recently because she has four kids) said that she'd be willing to be our doula for a work trade, so Jared's going to do 15 hours of construction work on their house in exchange for her doula services.

Here's what her services include:

Access to her library, as well as creating a birth plan.
She would be on call for two weeks before my due date until baby is born.
House-call anytime I go into labor and provide emotional and physical support until after the baby is born.
Breastfeeding support.
Follow-up visits at one day and then at three days.
Write up a little birth story from her point of view to keep in baby's book.

And an older friend who wrote me a substantial check last year so I could hire a lawyer and get away from my abusive ex (then let me live in her house for a month while he got kicked out of my house), wrote in the baby card that I have more important things to put my money toward so not to worry about paying her back.

I'm just a little overwhelmed at people's generosity...And excited about having a doula for a work trade since finances are tight.

I hope things are falling in place for everyone else! Happy Sunday!

ellaNu630 · February 2011

Yay to good things!!!!

irelandsangel81 · February 2011

shaindelr:

A friend who was at my shower yesterday who used to work as a doula (she just hasn't recently because she has four kids) said that she'd be willing to be our doula for a work trade, so Jared's going to do 15 hours of construction work on their house in exchange for her doula services.

Here's what her services include:

Access to her library, as well as creating a birth plan.

She would be on call for two weeks before my due date until baby is born.

House-call anytime I go into labor and provide emotional and physical support until after the baby is born.

Breastfeeding support.

Follow-up visits at one day and then at three days.

Write up a little birth story from her point of view to keep in baby's book.
And an older friend who wrote me a substantial check last year so I could hire a lawyer and get away from my abusive ex (then let me live in her house for a month while he got kicked out of my house), wrote in the baby card that I have more important things to put my money toward so not to worry about paying her back.

I'm just a little overwhelmed at people's generosity...And excited about having a doula for a work trade since finances are tight.

I hope things are falling in place for everyone else! Happy Sunday!

What an awesome gift and friend! I"m glad everyone was so generous to you!

shaindelr · February 2011

irelandsangel81:

What an awesome gift and friend! I"m glad everyone was so generous to you!

Thank you... I'd been sending her pathetically small amounts each month to pay her back, but since being PG with doctor's appointments co-pays, etc., I hadn't been able to send anything. I'm sooo less stressed now. I *hate* owing people money, but I hope that when I'm able to, I can help people out, too.

irelandsangel81 · February 2011

I'm like this too. I hate owing people money but like that when I can I can help them out.

vilaro · February 2011

Your good karma is coming back to you, lady.

jteneback · February 2011

That is awesome! I found having women experienced with birth in the room with me incredibly helpful. DH was really fumbling in there!

GHBEA · February 2011

Thats wonderful!

My SIL is a doula but I never knew and she didn't offer her free services until last week. I declined but the door is open if I need her she said she would drop everything.

Since this is my 3rd I didnt want to pull her from her own job to basically sit there. I know she is there to help me and speak for us for our birthing plans and other issues. But I am up tight about noise as it is (people talking) when I'm in pain or tired, I already worry about DH talking too much because he is worried and nervous, I know him and I know me.

genaruthp · February 2011

shaindelr:

A friend who was at my shower yesterday who used to work as a doula (she just hasn't recently because she has four kids) said that she'd be willing to be our doula for a work trade, so Jared's going to do 15 hours of construction work on their house in exchange for her doula services.

Here's what her services include:

Access to her library, as well as creating a birth plan.

She would be on call for two weeks before my due date until baby is born.

House-call anytime I go into labor and provide emotional and physical support until after the baby is born.

Breastfeeding support.

Follow-up visits at one day and then at three days.

Write up a little birth story from her point of view to keep in baby's book.
And an older friend who wrote me a substantial check last year so I could hire a lawyer and get away from my abusive ex (then let me live in her house for a month while he got kicked out of my house), wrote in the baby card that I have more important things to put my money toward so not to worry about paying her back.

I'm just a little overwhelmed at people's generosity...And excited about having a doula for a work trade since finances are tight.

I hope things are falling in place for everyone else! Happy Sunday!

Honestly, that made me tear up. It is so cool to hear where you have been, and most importantly where you are now (and where you are going!). And that you have these friends who love you and help you (especially in such horrible times). You are a pretty lucky woman!

shaindelr · February 2011

jteneback:
That is awesome! I found having women experienced with birth in the room with me incredibly helpful. DH was really fumbling in there!

I know! I was hoping to have my friend Michelle (who hosted the shower as my doula), but she suggested to Jared that we ask this friend. To be honest, my reasons for not asking her seem silly--other than financial reasons. She's this gorgeous six foot tall goddess woman, and she always makes me feel self-conscious. So I was thinking, "Omg. Do I really want her to see me at my worst?" (Naked, sweaty, possibly pooping during labor, etc?) But my friend who hosted the shower has even said thinks our doula friend is so pretty that women are mean to her, and that makes HER insecure. She's really down-to-earth, etc.; it was my own insecurities keeping me from asking her.

I read your post when you said your DH was "basically useless" or something during labor and thought, "YIKES! Maybe I need a woman who's been through it as labor support." I was confident with Jared until on the hospital tour, he asked what to do if he thought he was going to pass out. Eeep! :-)

shaindelr · February 2011

genaruthp:
Honestly, that made me tear up. It is so cool to hear where you have been, and most importantly where you are now (and where you are going!). And that you have these friends who love you and help you (especially in such horrible times). You are a pretty lucky woman!

Thanks so, so much... She's a retired minister who is the Director the Domestic Violence Shelter here, so she always told me to think it was like I was staying at a nicer domestic violence shelter across town ;-)

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I have a doula now! :-) (and debt forgiveness as a baby present)

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