An honest and open review about the demonstration. I remain skeptical that any doulas were consulted or had a seat at the table, despite our numerous meetings and phone calls. There are only so many people one can speak to before realizing they all seem to lead back to the same individuals.
In recent years, the demand for doula support has surged, thanks in part to increased insurance coverage and growing recognition from larger companies. With the ease of access provided by the internet, doulas are becoming a familiar resource for expectant families.
With a passion for empowering military spouses and a career that can follow you from one duty station to another, my initiative provides not only valuable skills but also a sense of purpose and community by offering a transformative opportunity through labor doula trainings.
I had one LONG and INTENSE contraction the whole time I was up and quickly went to go lay back down. I was feeling pretty sick and started to wonder if I wasn't going into the transition phase as I remembered feeling that way with Hayes. But I thought that surely it couldn't be the case as my contractions were still so inconsistent and not quite 2-3 minutes apart. I was definitely starting to lose control of my emotions. Nate was airing up the birth pool and I was feeling pretty concerned about everything that was happening. Just as I was having another contraction, my sister stepped in the door. I felt my water break, which I immediately told her, and I felt the baby’s head drop.
For as long as I've lived in Okinawa I should be fluent in Japanese now. Sadly, I am not. Over the years I've learned to understand and pick up on what most conversations are about. But don't ask me to speak it back. So far I have been able to maintain with my version of "Janglish", a terrible combination of broken English mixed with small phrases in Japanese.
Maybe you’ve heard of a doula. Maybe not. When I first meet a woman and begin to explain what my role as a doula is, I usually get the comments of, “So you’re like a midwife.” Or “My friend had a doula and she left because she got an epidural.” (Insert tounge in cheek and continue to kindly smile as I pull together my thoughts and prepare for a more in depth discussion of the do’s and don’ts of doula services).
