do-what?

it's no secret that i'm a doula, but i get a lot of questions about what exactly that entails. so here is a little info that hopefully will help. being a doula means that i provide emotional, informational, and physical support for my clients during labor and delivery. but it also means that i begin work long before the baby comes. we make birth plans, discuss nutrition and exercise, and more! it takes long hours, but it's worth every minute of work when that beautiful baby is born. when a woman goes into labor, she gives me a call and i meet her either at her home or the hospital, depending on what her plan is. we practice breathing, relaxation, visualization, and a number of comfort measures. comfort measures include massage, positioning, music, lighting -- basically anything that will make Mom more comfortable. i do this work for my clients at the agency, but i can also do this as a business. doulas in the okc metro area can make upward of $250-500 per birth! i also do some volunteer doula work for people referred by the children first program. lots of opportunities! it truly is an amazing experience to witness such a miraculous event -- icky stuff and all. i've assisted at four births so far and can't wait for my fifth, which should actually be this week for wes and kayla! if you want more info about being a doula, you can check out DONA and DACO. let me know if you're interested in getting information about the upcoming doula training workshop that will be held in oklahoma city on october 8, 9, and 10!