2022 Reviewed

33 babies (32 clients- one had twins)

27 hospital births, 5 home births

27 vaginal, 5 Cesarean

1 VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean)

12 unmedicated, 20 epidurals

24 with midwives, 8 with OBs

9 inductions

Smallest baby: 5 lbs, 4 ozs

Biggest baby: 9 lbs, 11 ozs

Longest gestation: 42 weeks 6 days

Shortest gestation: 36 weeks 1 day (two clients)

First birth: 14

Second birth: 15

Third birth: 2

Fourth birth: 1

Shortest labor support time: 3.5 hrs

Longest labor support time: 41.5 hrs (twice!)

Average labor support time: 13.5 hrs

Location of births: Baptist Health Lexington 3, Bethesda North 1, Home 5, Saint Joe East 1, UK 22

Individual provider who caught the most of my clients’ babies: Angie Chisholm, UK Midwife Clinic (5 babies)

Practice whose providers caught the most of my clients’ babies: UK Midwife Clinic (18 babies)

Professional development: Became Birth Becomes You Certified Photographer and Body Ready Method Certified Professional, renewed as an NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) Provider

While doulaing in a pandemic continues to prove challenging, I started to feel a little more in my groove after a long break this summer. I entered both my 40s and my sixth year of doula work in April and I have to say that that combo has been pretty wonderful in terms of my confidence in advocacy and informational support for clients. I’m also really embracing that one of my greatest skills as a doula has been relationship building with providers and nurses. If you know me outside of doula work (I’m an extrovert who doesn’t particularly like people) that may surprise you, but it’s something that has made this job more enjoyable for me and made experiences better for my clients.

2022 was a record breaking year in some fun and not so fun ways. Super grateful that I was chosen to support 32 families as their 33 babies were born! And that was with my summer off call! I had the most repeat clients that I’ve ever had at nine and one of those was my first threepeat. A repeat client birthed the biggest baby girl I’ve seen (and third biggest doula baby on record). I supported my oldest doula client, but that record won’t stand for long as I have a slightly older client in 2023. At the end of this year, one of my clients was knocking on the door of 43 weeks gestation as she carried her son for 42 weeks and 6 days. That’s basically a month longer than the majority of my clients want to be pregnant! I surprisingly had four clients with gestational diabetes (3 diet controlled, one insulin controlled); all had vaginal births. And a doozy for me was attending not one, but TWO births, for my longest support time ever of 41.5 hours; both were inductions and both resulted in vaginal births of perfect baby girls.

Notable occurrences also abounded this year. The one I’m most proud of is that I was chosen as the doula for two other doulas and one OB! It makes me feel like I’m doing a lot right when other birth workers ask me to be their doula. I was also super excited to add birth photography to my services this year; I hope that even more families hire me as their doulatog next year. Something interesting that happened with several repeat clients was that their second birth was more challenging/had more interventions than their first. Most of the time, second births are “easier,” but you won’t catch me making any guarantees about that, especially after having so many this year that did not take that path. Here are some more notable facts from 2022:

• I got to support my second twin birth.

• Two of my clients had successful ECVs (both at UK).

• Thirteen of my clients went past their due dates. Considering that the majority of my clients gave birth in the hospital and how high induction rates are, this feels like a win.

• Three baby names that were chosen twice by my clients: Eleanor, Henry, and Seraphina.

Thankful as always for the clients that chose me, the nurses, doctors, and midwives that provided patient centered care, and the community and family members that supported me so I could show up for my clients. Looking forward to new and repeat clients as well as beginning my partnership with Amy Jessie in 2023! Cheers to all the relationships grown and lessons learned in 2022 and to all that 2023 will bring!

2020 Reviewed

21 births

15 hospital births, 6 home births

20 vaginal, 1 Cesarean

1 VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean)

14 unmedicated, 7 epidurals

9 inductions

15 with midwives, 6 with OBs

Smallest baby: 5 lbs, 9 ozs

Biggest baby: 9 lbs, 1 ozs

Shortest labor support time: 3.5 hrs

Longest labor support time: 34 hrs

Average labor support time: 13 hrs

Longest gestation: 41 weeks

First birth: 10

Second birth: 9 (6 repeat clients!)

Third birth: 1

Fourth birth: 1

Location of births: Baptist Health Lexington 1, UK 9, Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center 1, Frankfort Regional Medical Center 2, Norton Women’s & Children’s 1, St. Joe’s East 1, Home 6

Individual provider who caught the most of my clients’ babies: Sarah Hood, Home Sweet Home Midwifery Services (4 babies)

Practice whose providers caught the most of my clients’ babies: UK Midwife Clinic (7 babies)

Professional development: Became an NRP Provider (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) and started childbirth educator training with Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings

2020 ended up being my busiest year yet. It started off beautifully, with my first repeat client giving birth at home (her first baby was born at a hospital) under the care of a midwife. Three more babies came before the pandemic, with one being born the week before everything started shutting down in KY. I had planned off call time in April due to a spring break trip (that got cancelled), so thankfully I was not dealing with the initial insanity caused by frequently changing hospital policies and had time to prepare for the possibility of supporting clients virtually. Thankfully, I was able to support ALL of my 21 clients in person. I had one client switch from hospital to home birth because of the pandemic, but others considered it.

My clients’ induction rate went down to 43% (9 of 21) after last year’s 50%. Not surprisingly, my longest continuous support time of 34 hours was at an induction. Even though I tell clients to expect inductions to last days, it’s hard to wrap your head and body around what that feels like until you’re in it; exhaustion is typically a huge factor in the process. Out of the nine inductions, there were only two that I would consider elective (although I don’t know that that is how they were labeled by the providers).

Some other stats that I want to highlight are that one of my clients had a VBAC (100%) and that six were born preterm (2) or early term (4). Both of the preterm births were originally planned home births, but transferred to hospital care- one for hypertension/preeclampsia and the other for imminent preterm birth at 35wks 1day. Not surprisingly, I had a COVID exposure at one birth (that I know of). The hospitals stopped rapid testing at some point and unfortunately, we found out that a client was positive two hours after baby was born. Thankfully, I did not get infected and the mom and her baby are healthy! Also, I had a Leap Day doula baby this year! He was born at 12:48am on February 29, 2020.

The year was hard for lots of reasons, but I feel that it was the one in which I’ve grown the most as a doula. It no longer feels difficult to share confidently about my value when talking to potential clients; I’m really good at doula work. Thank you to the providers and nurses who provided over-the-top excellent care to my clients during some seriously stressful times. Thank you to the six families that allowed me back into their birthing spaces this year and to the fifteen others who welcomed me for the first time. You all have provided some of the brightest moments of 2020!

Attracting doula clients that are unlike me

I’m not the doula for everyone, but I am the doula for a lot of you. I was looking back at birth data for my clients and thought, “I wonder how many of these people have ever or will ever cross paths? How many of these people would I have ever met or supported had it not been for doula work?” Not many was the answer to both, but especially the second question. I am not a social butterfly, so that’s a factor for sure, but also the majority of my clients have been so much different than me.

The reason that I attract such a varied population is because I know that your birth experience is not about me and everything that I do is in accordance to this belief. This is not to say that I have no beliefs, preferences, or personality of my own. I seek to be myself always.

Thank you to all of my previous (and future doula clients) who’ve shared pieces of themselves with me and trusted me with their stories and care. Our relationships have been examples of health and growth, where we both give and both take and both end up better because of them.

In birth, ignorance isn't bliss

The exact path your birth will take is unpredictable. With so many variables in the process, it can feel overwhelming to attempt preparation for all of the possible twists and turns you’ll encounter during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. While it may seem like the best (only?) option is to go in without expectations and follow the lead of your care providers, I want to encourage you to take the reins on your body and your birth experience. You absolutely cannot control every aspect of your birth, but you can educate and prepare yourself for the experience.

When meeting a potential client, I always ask what your plans are for childbirth education. I want to know what you’re going to know about labor and birth. I provide informational support during pregnancy and birth, but that does not replace childbirth education. And not all childbirth education courses are created equally. If you haven’t already booked classes, I’m happy to provide referrals to instructors/courses that will meet your needs.

One of the advantages to preparing yourself for childbirth is that you’re more likely to have an empowering experience when you feel confident about your decisions. You’re in a totally different state of mind during labor, and having to learn about an intervention for the first time when you’re laboring can be distracting and unnerving. It’s hard to really take in the information that’s being shared (or ask for it if it’s not being shared) when you’re laboring. If you’re prepared for what may come, you’ll be clearer on what’s best for you in the moment and in the long run. And all of that education and preparation will hopefully lead to a more positive birth experience and a stronger start into parenthood.

Intuition in pregnancy and birth

In my experience, as the baby grows and your body changes in pregnancy, so does your intuition relative to the wellbeing of yourself and baby. And while many people seem keenly aware of and reactive to what their gut tells them in other aspects of life, some find it hard to do so when they’re pregnant. I think part of this may stem from the fact that everything is so new with a first pregnancy, so you tend to rely on books or others’ advice to decide if what you’re experiencing is normal. I strongly suggest trusting your gut and bringing any concerns and questions, no matter how silly they may feel, to your care provider. Of course, you can also run them past your doula first if you feel like you need a filter for all of the questions that may arise. Your care provider should be willing to listen to your concerns and answer questions. If you feel like you’re not being heard, it’s never too late to consider interviewing and possibly switching providers.

During labor, being in tune with what your mind and body are telling you is also important. For example, maybe you’ve been on your back in the bed, but you feel like you should get up and change positions. It could be that your baby is trying to move to an optimal birthing position and your body wants to help the baby along. Listening to your body comes into play during the pushing phase of labor. ACOG states: “In the absence of an indication for expeditious delivery, women ... may be offered a period of rest of 1–2 hours (unless the woman has an urge to bear down sooner) ...”* This means that some people will rest before they begin the pushing phase, and there are cases when it is okay to do so. Most of the time, you can also listen to your body in terms of how you push. Again, from ACOG: “When not coached to breathe in a specific way, women push with an open glottis. In consideration of the limited data regarding outcomes ..., each woman should be encouraged to use the technique that she prefers and is most effective for her.”*

So while books and Facebook groups may be your first stop when you have questions, don’t forget that each pregnancy is unique. Your intuition is important and you should always feel safe sharing information with and asking questions of your care provider and birth partners. You know best how and what you’re feeling- it is your body, your pregnancy and your birth.

*https://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/Approaches-to-Limit-Intervention-During-Labor-and-Birth