Life as a Doula – Being on Call AKA JICIAAAB

This is the most challenging part of being a doula for me.  I can’t commit to anything except my expecting moms.

A friend calls and asks, “I have a dentist appointment on Wednesday.  Can you watch Logan?”

I respond, “Sure.  Unless I am at a birth.”

This leaves my friend in a quandry.  Does she hope I am not at a birth and risk being stuck with her son at the dentist, or does she find someone else?

Then there is the craziness of the fact my husband has a job of his own, which occasionally requires him to go out of town.  He will now suddenly be gone Sunday night through Monday night.   Apparantly my job doesn’t trump his and I am on my own to figure out what to do.

So I call my friend, “Are you willing to be on call to watch my kids on Sunday and Monday, just in case I am at a birth?”  She is kind enough to say yes, but I imagine she is praying that none of my moms birth Sunday-Monday.  She would double the size of her family,  potentially for 2 days.

“Just in case I am at a birth. ” I say that SO much,  I should really make an acronym for that phrase.

JICIAAAB

Pronounced, JickieAhb

Sounds like Hickie Saab, With a J and Without the S.  Getting a hickie in a Sabb could lead to a birth.

Though I think I more frequently say, “Unless I am at a birth.”

UIAAAB   Oooo EEE ahhh B

This really doesn’t sound normal at all.

I really like JickieAhb though.

Maybe this post should really be titled, Weird Acronyms and the Potential Problems Associated with Being Friends with a Doula.

Tomorrow I am heading to the Aquarium with above mentioned friend.  She says, she is happy to be my friend, but might be angry tomorrow if after paying $25 to get into the aquarium, we have to leave and drive home because someone is having a baby.

Hmm, maybe we will take 2 cars.