Women remember their birth stories. It is an experience that will remain with her forever and one that can influence the rest of her life. Women tend to remember a few aspects of labor or birth extremely vividly. There are other things they may not even be
aware of. Time is often skewed during labor; hours usually go by very quickly but some minutes can drag on forever. It can be helpful to keep a simple record during the process about times and events. Most doulas take notes to help them be aware of patterns or progress. Many doulas provide birth notes or a birth story to the mother. This is a positive remembrance of the happenings of that very important day. It can also be important for a mother to record her own impressions of the day; how did she feel, what was she thinking? These can be priceless gifts to the babies who will one day grow up.
Whispers of Hope: Nurturing Life Amidst the Shadows of Loss
This time of year has me thinking of a bittersweet story in my doula career. We had a client who was due with her first baby in mid-February. On December 21 she presented with preeclamptic symptoms that warranted an early induction at 33 weeks gestation. This client...
