What My Doula Meant to Me - A Client’s Experience

I had the same doula for both of my births, and God willing, she will be there for all my future births. Our first experience with her was as our birth photographer, and I had a hard labor. This labor was so intense that I couldn’t walk or talk for the full 13 hours. There was a moment that I will never forget: My husband stepped out of the room to get some rest. My midwife monitored me & said she would return in about 15 minutes. I was in the room alone, and labor was getting the best of me. My photographer walked around the bed where I could visualize her. I then realized I wasn’t alone. Although she was there as my birth photographer, she took the time to help me breathe and regain my limited composure in those few minutes. In that moment I knew that I would hire her as my doula for my next birth. Doulas became irreplaceable to me.

21 months later, the same doula/ photographer attended my second birth. The experience was completely different. The laboring process was much easier. I was able to cope well & pushing time only lasted about 15 minutes. My entire birth lasted 4.5 hours from start to finish. I surrendered to my birth experience, letting each contraction pass as I would breathe through them. She was still amazing through this labor. Although I managed contractions well without coaching, she supported me by reminding me to trust my body, giving relaxation cues when I seemed tense, and suggesting new labor positions. Birth happened beautifully in the way I dreamed it would. It was such peaceful and wonderful experience. My doula was encouraging throughout, but not invasive. Shortly after my baby was earthside.

I believe women should read positive and encouraging birth stories, because fear can make labor more intense. So please protect your peace.

After my birth, I encountered some complications. I had a retained placenta that resulted in postpartum hemorrhage. This resulted in a hospital transfer for immediate surgery and later a blood transfusion. My doula blew me away with her kindness and support. She went above and beyond to support my husband & waited in my room until I got out of the OR. She selflessly walked to my car to bring items in that I needed and was the epitome of a “woman who serves” (Greek origin of the term “doula”). My doula checked in on me and communicated my status to my midwife. I was deeply thankful I hired her again.

To me a doula means that I need to prioritize my emotional and mental care as much as my physical care.

So thankful for all that doulas do!

Written by Christine Judy

A Life in Bloom Birth Services client & forever friend.

What Is A Birth Doula?

The dictionary definition of a doula is “a person, typically without formal obstetric training, who is employed to provide guidance and support to a pregnant person during labor.”

You would say that it is a pretty self explanatory definition correct?

There is so much more to a doula than your basic textbook definition.

Think of me as your very own birth best friend. The person you can ask any pregnancy & birth related question; & if I don’t know the answer you bet i’ll find one for you! The person you can vent to when you have that annoying aunt who terrorizes you with traumatic birth stories. The person you can build your birth plan with & make sure nothing is left unsaid. The person you can count on to build you up and give you all the confidence you need to birth your baby.

Doulas make a difference in the way they care for their clients. The end goal is to make you feel supported and equipped to tackle on your birth journey, however that may look like.

I will hold your hand through every contraction. Hip squeeze until my arms fall off. Give you sips of water & remind you to sit on the potty for a while. Give you all the positions in the book to help baby wiggle right down your pelvis. Remind you that you are strong as hell and no one can do it better than you.

You will catch me busting through an OR if I am given the chance. Holding your hand and reminding you that you are capable & full of strength to get through this. Wait patiently in recovery and help you hold your brand new baby while your body heals. Process any feelings of anxiety or stress that can overwhelm you before or after your birth. I will walk with you though each and every step of the way so you leave your birth feeling empowered.

I will wipe the sweat off your forehead and encourage you to get some relief after countless hours of active labor. Be ready to offer up my hand and help you hold still as you nervously get an epidural. Give you the space to rest & hold your leg up when you’re ready to push your baby out! Remind you that those hours full of sweat and tears will never go unnoticed & that YOU ARE UNDENIABLY STRONG.

I refuse to be a textbook definition of a doula. This blog doesn’t even come close to explaining the value a doula holds, but you get an idea.

I want to be your friend, your personal birth hype chick, one who brings you peace and stillness into your birth space. The person who empowers you to take control of your birth & watch you absolutely rock it.

Can I be your birth bestie?

Jackson’s Birth- An Emergency C-Section Story

Written by Kristen Davis

I experienced a lot of anxiety surrounding my second pregnancy & birth experience and was worried going into what would be my first planned c-section.

At 19 weeks, we received some concerning news. First, that I had placenta previa and would without a doubt need a c-section. I was also told my son had a single umbilical artery. My sister in law experienced the same thing months prior, so I was already familiar with the condition. Many who have SUA go on to have normal healthy deliveries. In other cases, fetal growth can be compromised and early delivery is required.

At 30 weeks pregnant, my son was measuring right at 4lbs 6 oz. He seemed to be doing great. My specialist promptly discharged me as a patient, saying I did not meet criteria that would deem me as high risk.

I expressed my fears & worries to my OB. Although prior tests said he was healthy, I had a gut instinct that something wasn’t right that lingered my whole pregnancy. He listened to my concerns, and made a care plan of increased fetal monitoring in his clinic. He mentioned that he never doubts a mother’s instincts.

At 34 weeks, I went in for what I expected to be one of my weekly routine visits. I was having frequent NST’s & ultrasounds to monitor Jackson.

As the nurse weighed me in, I immediately knew something was not right. I had lost 6 lbs in one week.

He failed two stress tests. so my OB decided to do an ultrasound. I could tell by his demeanor that he was extremely concerned. He turned to me and said “you’re not going to want to hear this, but you’re having this baby today.” He explained that his growth percentile had decreased drastically & my amniotic fluid was critically low.

I waited in the local hospital for my husband to arrive so we could transfer care to the hospital in Fort Worth with a NICU.

My OB was very holistic minded and was very encouraging about having a positive birth experience. I realized every plan we had made to have a gentle c-section was going out the window. The ride to the hospital I played the song No Longer Slaves and held onto the simple promise in that song that my son would also be chosen from his mothers womb to be loved and reborn again one day. 

Once we arrived the process went rather smoothly. I was given my IV and informed on who my new doctor was. I researched the process of a c-section during my pregnancy so I was mentally prepared for what was coming and that made all the difference.

As I was getting prepped for the OR, I repeated this simple prayer “Just please let him cry when he comes out.” 

I remember the nurse grasping my hand as I got my spinal tap. It wasn’t just to help manage the pain though, (there wasn’t any really), it was a form of comfort from one mother to another as I sat in a room full of strangers. I’ll never forget that small kindness that eased my anxiety at that very moment. After a few moments, I was prepped and they walked my husband in, hair net hat, scrubs and all. He was able to sit next to me throughout. I could not imagine how I would have managed without him. 

I remember reading that you would feel tugging but nothing else really. For me I felt pressure. They told me it would feel like a man was sitting on me for a minute and it did. There were a few moments where I felt as though I couldn’t breathe because of it, but it subsided fairly quickly. 

It went by so fast. So fast that I was shocked whenever I finally heard my son cry. To this day, that cry is by far the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. I knew it meant he would be alright. 

Jackson only weighed 3lbs 8oz & was 17 inches long at birth. I was a day shy of 35 weeks. That really put into perspective how little he was thriving in utero.

The hardest part of my birth experience wasn’t having a c-section, or that I felt robbed of my plans of a gentle c-section, because I wasn't. The hardest part was not getting to hold him the moment he was born. I knew he needed to receive immediate care, but it was a struggle non the less. They did however, let me see him in his incubator before wheeling him off. 

Before my c section, I worried if I would still experience the same “feel good” hormones as you do with a vaginal birth. I worried about wether or not I would feel attached to my son. I worried about having that same magical feeling that I had before. That strange and beautiful phenomenon I experienced with my daughter three years prior was just that, but it was nothing compared to the amount of peace and calm I felt after my son was born. Even though he was in the NICU for 11 days, I never experienced that same anxiety I did while I was pregnant. Instead, I only experienced peace, calm and an overwhelming joy that he was alive. My bond with him is just different- we lived through something crazy together. 

I heard so many horror stories about c-sections before I had mine. It almost felt like a positive c-section experience was impossible… especially an emergency one. Most of their stories were of pain, sadness and trauma. I however will tell you the opposite. My experience with my emergency c-section was a positive one filled with kind people, an overwhelming peace and happiness and a need to share that not all emergency c-sections have to be traumatic. 

My son’s name is Jackson which means “God has been gracious”... and He was. My son was chosen from his mother’s womb to live to tell the story and one day be born again.

Liam’s Birth Story

Liam’s Birth story is an example of when your birth plans don’t happen the way you hoped for them to. It is also a beautiful example of the importance of having a wonderful support team that can walk with you through those changes.

At my 20 week anatomy scan the doctors found some concerns. One being my umbilical cord only having 2 vessels. Typically, umbilical cords are made up of 1 vein and 2 arteries. My cord only had one of each. Our midwife, Kari Herman, referred us to a specialist to keep an eye on Liam throughout my pregnancy.

I began having weekly NST’s & BPP ultrasounds starting my third trimester. As my due date began to approach, Liam began decreasing in his growth percentile. He was passing all of his other tests so we were able to wait and schedule my induction once I was 38 weeks.

I had already done some doula training at that point so I knew I wanted an unmedicated birth. When I was told I would need an induction, I knew my goals of that were gone. I had no confidence. Pitocin is no joke!! Y’all, surround yourself with positive people! My doula friends & friends rallied around me and gave me so much encouragement. I was so ready to tackle this birth!

Induction day rolled around. I had a foley bulb catheter placed the night before. The plan was to start Pitocin early the next morning.

The catheter dilated me to 4-5 CM overnight and they started pitocin around 8:00 AM the next day. My midwife came in and broke my water around 9:30-10. She encouraged me to get up shortly after to really get things going. My contractions began to intensify around noon. I was really having to focus and breathe through them. At that point we decided to call in my doula, Chonna.

Once she arrived, we walked the hallways, bounced on my birth ball, and labored on the toilet. Bless her, for her amazing counter pressure, back labor is no joke. And my husband & bestie Kara, for rotating through scorching hot towels for my back. Im almost positive they suffered some first degree burns.

Kari was working clinic that day, so I had Morgan checking in on me that day while Kari ran back and forth. She’s an absolute gem. Morgan came in to check me at 3:00PM and was only 5cm. At that point I was definitely in transition and was slightly discouraged that I was only 5cm. Chonna was really encouraging & gave me that extra push I needed to get through. Kari came in shortly after and re-checked hoping that I would be further along. The pressure was so intense, I felt like he was going to fall out at any moment. I was 7cm at that point. WOW. With the encouragement of everyone in the room, I kept going and labored on the toilet the rest of the time. While on the toilet my body started involuntarily pushing. I remember Lane and Chonna telling me that I needed go back to the bed to get checked again. I refused being so scared that I would get checked again and only be 7cm. I was not a fan of cervical checks. I knew knowing that number would send me to a breaking point if it wasn’t what I wanted it to be. They practically dragged me back to the bed & called the midwives so I wouldn’t have a baby in the toilet.

I was being so stubborn. For some reason I kept my legs crossed and wanted no one to touch me. I remember Chonna telling me, “Nimsi you have to open your legs so he can come out!” They helped me uncross my legs and sure enough you could see his head. I gave 3-4 good pushes and Liam was out. Y’all, that toilet works wonders. He was born at 3:45pm, shortly after my last cervical check. We soaked up that golden hour of skin to skin and enjoyed our baby boy.

I spent so much time doubting myself. Especially after we planned my induction. This gave me so much confidence and the desire to help families in their birth space.

My whole birth still seems a blurr. We laugh about all the people I had in that room to this day. My husband, Doula, friend, MIL, two of my SIL, & my mom. Not to mention the hospital birth team. I was so in the zone, I don’t even remember anyone in there if i’m being honest.

The few things I do remember so clearly is the amount of time I spent in prayer during every contraction. It was such a sweet experience feeling Christ so near.

My first born. This birth sparked my passion of being a birth doula & photographer. Not only do I adore my forever doula, but I will treasure these photos for a lifetime.

References:

Photography: Photography By Legacy Imaging

Video: Kristen Davis Photography

Doula: Chonna Colbert

Midwives: Kari Herman & Morgan Estes at Ascension Providence Midwifery Team

Check out my birth video in the Instagram link below!

Why Should You Hire a Birth Photographer?

My birth photography journey began almost 5 years ago when my best friend asked me to photograph the birth of her son. I had just begun photographing solo after training under two relatives who are amazing photographers. She wanted her birth photographed, and I felt confident that even if I absolutely botched her photos we would still remain best friends! So I went for it,

Fast forward to the birth. As a previous nursing student I had witnessed numerous hospital births, but this was my first time setting foot in a birth center. Everything progressed so smoothly. Her husband, family, and midwives were so supportive. Her birth team was absolutely incredible. When it came time for her to give birth, I was able to capture the entire process of bringing baby earth side; then, she experienced some complications, and I was able to witness as she received exceptional and lifesaving care from the midwives.

She had a long recovery and we were able to use the birth photos to process her birth. There were many moments throughout her birth where she expressed she did not remember what was going on around her. Those photos allowed her to piece her birth together and process all the emotions that followed the experience. It was a moment of healing that gave me the passion to keep documenting these journeys for families.

So thats the little backstory of how I got into birth photography. The birth of your children is a BIG day. There are many things you won’t remember. Life pauses for a moment and you are not guaranteed that you will remember one of the most influential days of your life. I want to be the reason why someone remembers such a powerful day that might not be remembered without a photograph.

So why should you hire a birth photographer?

Your partner should have the opportunity to be fully present, supporting you, with no distractions. Did you know studies have shown that taking photos actually decreases the ability of your brain to remember what you are photographing? When you take a photo you are counting on your camera to remember the moment for you. Remember that.

It is a once in a lifetime moment. Just like your wedding day, you won’t get it back. Hire a professional. We know the ins an outs of lighting and good angles. It’s not an easy task.

Birth photography doesn’t have to be about vaginas and placentas. They tell a story of you bringing your baby earth side. They capture the highs and lows. Strength and perseverance. The pride of a new dad. The excitement of a big brother or sister.

It gives you the ability to heal and process. Having these images can be empowering. These photos allow mothers to be able to see things they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to see in the moment.

First breath. First cry. First glance. First touch. First kiss. All of these evanescent moments and more, that are so precious and irreplaceable, and for me to have the privilege of capturing them for families is a gift. These moments that pass with a blink of an eye, I get to freeze them in a split second for the images to be kept for a life time.

~ Noleen Thurman

If you are considering having your birth documented, Contact Nimsi today!