I have done two births so far! The first one was special b/c I know the teen mom soaked up what I told her and really wanted what was best for her baby! She and I got to meet before the birth and even got to talk a few times on the phone, so we had a “relationship” by the time of the birth. Her mom did not really want to be part of the birth, so she really needed a doula! for my Birthday she commented on my facebook page “happy birthday my doula” Such an awesome feeling knowing you impacted someone so young! My biggest accomplishment with her was breastfeeding. She did not know much about it and was not planning on breastfeeding. The baby’s dad’s mom kept telling her to give the baby a bottle. That the baby did not want her boob. When I did my postnatal visit, she was still breastfeeding THAT MADE MY DAY!!!
My second teen mom had an amazing support system with her family! I bet there were 20 women in that delivery room! But when I walked in, they welcomed me with open arms. They TRUSTED me! I gave them facts to questions they had and they all felt empowered. That teen mom was so strong, and I did not feel I was doing her any good, until the baby was born and she looked over at me with teary eyes and said “Thank you” in her sweet innocent voice. Her family thanked me over and over. It was such an amazing feeling! Each birth was different, but both moms told me they were very thankful to have a doula attending their birth. I love to do volunteer work, and I love babies! This is the best job anyone could have! And when you get to see that baby that you helped deliver, you have instant gratification!
I met with a mom expecting her fourth baby yesterday. She is living at a halfway house, and BirthWell Partners has arranged for me to be her volunteer doula. She hopes to breastfeed this baby, and to mother him the way she didn’t/couldn’t with her other three. As we spoke I was amazed by her strength as she works to do the right thing for this baby. I was also amazed at how alone she is. I will be the only person who stays with her throughout her birth. When I rubbed her shoulders to show her what I could do to help her during labor, she said she had never had anyone massage her before.
It’s such a simple thing to support a women and show her love. And it has the potential to do so much for her and the baby she is carrying.
I did a birth with an amazing 16 year old mother. I met with her and her mother a few times before the birth and also went with her to a natural childbirth class. We spoke on the phone several times before the birth as well. I genuinely liked her and was really excited to attend her birth.
When it was time for her Birth Day, we were all ready and full of excitement. It was a beautiful experience that I was honored to be a part of. She was amazing. She also breastfeed her daughter, which was awesome. At our postpartum visit she was doing really well. She has stayed in school and is balancing that with motherhood. I am so impressed with this young woman.
We have stayed in touch and spoken on the phone several times since. I feel that this experience and this mother have enriched my life. I am very honored to have been a part of this. I look forward to doing another teen birth again in the future.
3 comments
Erin Johns
June 4, 2011 at 6:09 pm (UTC 0)
I have done two births so far! The first one was special b/c I know the teen mom soaked up what I told her and really wanted what was best for her baby! She and I got to meet before the birth and even got to talk a few times on the phone, so we had a “relationship” by the time of the birth. Her mom did not really want to be part of the birth, so she really needed a doula! for my Birthday she commented on my facebook page “happy birthday my doula” Such an awesome feeling knowing you impacted someone so young! My biggest accomplishment with her was breastfeeding. She did not know much about it and was not planning on breastfeeding. The baby’s dad’s mom kept telling her to give the baby a bottle. That the baby did not want her boob. When I did my postnatal visit, she was still breastfeeding
THAT MADE MY DAY!!!
My second teen mom had an amazing support system with her family! I bet there were 20 women in that delivery room! But when I walked in, they welcomed me with open arms. They TRUSTED me! I gave them facts to questions they had and they all felt empowered. That teen mom was so strong, and I did not feel I was doing her any good, until the baby was born and she looked over at me with teary eyes and said “Thank you” in her sweet innocent voice. Her family thanked me over and over. It was such an amazing feeling! Each birth was different, but both moms told me they were very thankful to have a doula attending their birth. I love to do volunteer work, and I love babies! This is the best job anyone could have! And when you get to see that baby that you helped deliver, you have instant gratification!
Dalia
June 19, 2011 at 2:09 am (UTC 0)
I met with a mom expecting her fourth baby yesterday. She is living at a halfway house, and BirthWell Partners has arranged for me to be her volunteer doula. She hopes to breastfeed this baby, and to mother him the way she didn’t/couldn’t with her other three. As we spoke I was amazed by her strength as she works to do the right thing for this baby. I was also amazed at how alone she is. I will be the only person who stays with her throughout her birth. When I rubbed her shoulders to show her what I could do to help her during labor, she said she had never had anyone massage her before.
It’s such a simple thing to support a women and show her love. And it has the potential to do so much for her and the baby she is carrying.
Kate Hogeland
June 27, 2011 at 4:49 pm (UTC 0)
I did a birth with an amazing 16 year old mother. I met with her and her mother a few times before the birth and also went with her to a natural childbirth class. We spoke on the phone several times before the birth as well. I genuinely liked her and was really excited to attend her birth.
When it was time for her Birth Day, we were all ready and full of excitement. It was a beautiful experience that I was honored to be a part of. She was amazing. She also breastfeed her daughter, which was awesome. At our postpartum visit she was doing really well. She has stayed in school and is balancing that with motherhood. I am so impressed with this young woman.
We have stayed in touch and spoken on the phone several times since. I feel that this experience and this mother have enriched my life. I am very honored to have been a part of this. I look forward to doing another teen birth again in the future.