150 things I've done as a doula
I’m celebrating five years as a doula this month so I took a trip down memory lane…what a journey!
Here’s a 150 things I’ve done since becoming a doula…
Held a second old baby
Caught a baby
Sieved poo
Ran for ice to cool a placenta
Not seen my family for two days straight
Had my car towed
Got a parking ticket
Said the word vagina within minutes of meeting someone
Attended a birth when I wasn’t the doula
Attended births for free
Put my family second
Got covered in Vernix
Got covered in amniotic fluid
Missed special events
Checked my phone A LOT
Left my house in the middle of the night
Worn the wrong top and kept my jumper on for an entire birth (hospitals are warm!)
Forgot to pack my snacks
Not slept all night
Massaged most body parts of a woman
Rubbed backs while they were being sick
Held their hair when they were being sick
Helped a Mum shower
Cleared up sick
Cleared up poo, cleared up blood
Got blood out of the carpet (cold water!)
Blown up a birth pool
Put away a birth pool
Cooked for a family
Cleaned for a family
Looked after twins
Supported the birth of a preemie baby
Supported single mothers'
Been the only birth partner
Bought baby gifts
Brought home made food
Been shocked
Been surprised
Been in complete awe
Connected like minded Mums
Flower arranged
Supported Mums for their first and second babies
Supported sisters
Felt that cosmic energy shift just before a baby arrives earthside
Used oils to soothe
Wrote thank you letters
Put cold flannels on hot heads
Doulaed by phone
Poured water down a woman’s back
Hidden from a labouring woman’s eyeline
Witnessed miracles
Witnessed pure and utter strength
Transformed a space
Climbed on beds
Pulled down blinds
Moved beds
Never left her side
Cried
Laughed
Hugged
Kissed
Been kissed on the lips
Fed a woman
Fed a man
Eaten a lot of trek bars
Been cared for by my families
Been appreciated
Blended in
Played music
Cut the cord
Met my tribe, doula sisters you rock!
Walked the halls of hospitals
Snuck a Mum out of hospital to go home to see her other children
Spoken up
Made friends
Opened my heart
Opened my mind
Been called ‘a broom to my curling stone’
Listened to traumatic birth stories
Performed the Rewind technique to support birth trauma
Given one on one yoga sessions
Ran my own yoga classes
Ran birth confidence workshops
Read relaxation scripts
Used my voice like a script when her headphones broke
Held hands
Held legs
Supported lotus births
Made placenta smoothies
Transported placentas
Recorded my voice
Been present
Listened
Shared stories
Been vulnerable
Seen women look so beautiful during birth
Found my calling
Put on the tens machine
Dimmed the lights
Ran the bath
Sat outside the door
Slept on the floor
Slept in a chair
Built relationships with midwives
Seen bad practice
Seen unbelievable acts of kindness
Meditated
Filled the water bottles
Got the tea
Taken off knickers
Put on knickers
Taken off bras
Been allowed to see people vulnerable
Been trusted
Supported with breastfeeding
Ran a Positive Birth group
Joined the Kingston MVP
Became the rep for Doula UK Kingston
Been there
Loved
Watched romcoms
Had a movie night
Put on warm socks
Stroked
Held
Been a human chair
Met incredible families
Not got the interview
Nearly missed a birth
Missed a birth (only once!)
Had two births in a week
Had two births in a day (only once!)
Watched needles go in
Supported ALL types of birth
Been in recovery
Changed a baby’s first nappy
Been peed on
Calmed nerves
Held baby’s hand
Grabbed a blanket
Watched a family be born
Read A LOT of birth and parenting books
Been exhilarated
Been exhausted
Been honoured
Given everything
Missed my family
Met beautiful women
Always trusted birth
Supported nearly 40 births
Had a baby named after me (the highest honour!)
Been so grateful to have found this work
Ok so I went a bit over…If you’re interested in becoming a doula, I can highly recommend it. I trained with the lovely Maddie McMahon at Developing Doulas.
Bring on the next five years!
Doula love
Jenna
xxx
@theminimalistdoula