Life As A Doula – Silly things I think and do.

I wonder how many other doulas think and do these things…

Preparedness or the lack thereof can prevent or cause births

If I am going somewhere I don’t want to have to leave for a birth, I make sure I have my doula bag, a change of clothes, an extra car.   Basically I am completely prepared to leave at a moments notice.  I somehow think that by being THIS prepared, then mom WON’T have her baby.

If I am going somewhere not as important, I leave my things at home, thinking it increases the chance of mom needing me.

Murphy’s Law?

It has proven true, in that one time my normal back up mom was busy the next day, in fact I was supposed to be watching HER son.  I didn’t find other back up and of course I got a call at 6 AM.  I said “Good luck honey!” to my DH and called my friend on the way out and said, “Sorry!”   It all worked out of course, but it was a little more stressful than normal. 

Ringing Phones

Almost every time the phone rings I wonder, “Is this a mom?”  I try not to think it, because then it will be a mom, whereas if I think it is a mom, then it isn’t. 

My cell phone has special rings for my doula clients, which helps.  But we don’t have caller id on my home phone, so it rings like normal.   So then I am guessing. 

Eating a LOT, just in case

I am a low blood sugar kind of gal.  So one of my biggest fears is a long birth with no food.  So far I have been able to eat during my long births and of course I have snacks in my bag.  But I seem to eat MORE when I am on call, JUST IN CASE.   I can see no benefit to this, because when I do get called, I seem to find more to eat and eat on my way to the birth. 

I am just so worried I will get hungry!

When will this baby come out? 

Sometimes I do think, this baby will never be born!  I tend to think this if my DH has a campout planned for a weekend and in my mind I want the baby born before the campout, so I don’t have to worry the whole time my DH is gone.  As the clock ticks closer and closer my mind gives up.  Baby staying inside forever. 

But we all know that baby’s are born when THEY want, not when we want!  I had 2 moms due a week apart and I would pray every night, let me make it to both births and I would like a good night sleep between the 2 births. 

Well, I did make it to both births, but no good nights sleep between them.  (This is the 3rd time it has happened to me) That was a really long couple of days.

I have 3 moms due now and I am praying for a week between them.  Maybe that will get me at least a nights sleep between them.  🙂

Again a great reminder that we have no control over when a baby will be born! 

Seriously, being on call makes me a little crazy!

I just love it when it IS a mom calling and her birthing time has started and I get to go to a birth. 

That is what I LOVE best about being a doula and it makes it all worth while!  (Even when I don’t get a good nights sleep between births)