Are you having a baby?

First, did I tell you about my doula??? We hired her a couple of weeks ago. She is fabulous. She's my prenatal yoga instructor, has the most soothing and friendly persona, and I think she'll be a great asset to our birthing "team".

Anyway, when T.J. and I met with her, she was telling us about the burst of energy women get before going into labor, and told T.J. that if I get wild ideas for cleaning that he should suggest that I nap instead because it might mean we're getting close. Haha.

Any time I have started cleaning in the last week, T.J. asks me if I'm going into labor. Unfortunately, this is no nesting instinct, it's survival instinct! I *wish* I would start nesting, our house is a wreck. We should be having our home visit next week, so I told T.J. that we needed to do some serious cleaning and organizing this weekend, along with marathon shopping to finish our purchases for labor and the baby.

I wish there were some 3- or 4-day weekends coming up, I could use an extra day off here or there. Maybe I should play hookie on Friday after my appointment and go home to start working on stuff.

What is a Doula?

"Doula" is a Greek word that means literally "a woman who serves".

A doula is a woman who is trained in helping other women through childbirth. They are there to be the emotional support for both mom and dad. Typically they spend more time with you than your doctor or midwife through your labor - especially if you are in a hospital.

For a hospital birth, they would help you through early labor, help advocate on your behalf with nurses at the hospital, and help you cope with labor pain. Most doulas are involved to help you through a drug-free childbirth, and their success rates are quite impressive! From http://www.dona.org:

"Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
• reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals"

All of these things are true for a home birth, though typically the midwife is on the same page as you, so the advocating part isn't needed as much. In addition to all the things listed above, they help you get ready and set up, get you food and drink if you need it, support your spouse in supporting you, give you encouragement, and helps clean up after birth.

They are basically there to meet your emotional and physical needs and comfort, while the midwife's primary responsibility is to care for your health. I love the idea that a doula will support T.J. as well. I think it'll be well worth it.

I think I'm in love

With a yoga instructor. Today I was browsing online at yoga classes in Atlanta (I love being done with taxes) and saw that a particular studio was hosting a free intro class tonight! So I went and had a lovely time. As soon as the women leading opened her mouth, I thought, WOW - this lady should be a doula. Her voice is so soothing!

After the class, I told her that, and she got all excited and said "I AM a doula!" So I told her about our planned home birth, and we talked about that for about 10 min. I love her. I want her at my birth. I hope she isn't booked!

So I'll be starting prenatal yoga next week, and I'm SUPER excited! Cross your fingers that she can be our doula!

PS. More on what a doula is later. I have LOTS to tell you all now that busy season is over!