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!

Recently, my doula friend, Mother Well Doula Services, held an amazing webinar on birth options in Central KY. It was so wonderful, in fact, that I am offering the replay to any client who wants more information before they choose their birth location/provider. If you’re in the process of making these choices, hospital statistics and “amenities” can be very helpful in informing your decision. There’s also a really good chance that your friends, or even complete strangers, have told you which providers they’d recommend (and maybe you’ve gotten their full birth stories ((unsolicited?)) as well). Maybe the stats and recs lead you to meet with a provider, or even consider them your chosen provider. You go to your first appointment and your gut is raising red flags, or maybe it’s saying that you are safe and heard. So, what do you do with all of this information? What do you listen to- statistics, opinions, or your intuition?

Honestly, it’s a question that I cannot answer without knowing A LOT more about you. In general, I’d say that all of them matter, but the one that deserves the most weight will depend on your individual needs and plans. As a doula mainly serving folks birthing in Lexington, KY, I have worked with a lot of professors from local universities and colleges, including UK, Centre College, Transylvania University, and Lindsey Wilson College. Some of these clients are very data-driven and pay close attention to the statistics. For these folks, it’s important to know a hospital’s numbers, and likely more important to know the numbers specific to their provider’s practice. Many of us are also influenced by our peers’ opinions. Spend 20 minutes in a parents’ group on Facebook, and you can probably gather as many provider recommendations. Then, there’s also the feeling you get when meeting with or looking into a certain practice or birth location. It’s a lot to process, especially if this is your first baby.

As of Monday, I have watched 30 different providers catch/deliver babies. I’ve been to all of the hospitals in Lexington, most in Central KY, and a couple in the Louisville area. I’ve also been to home births with three different professional midwives. So, I’ve seen what the statistics look like in person/action. I know the offerings of most local hospitals. I have a really solid sense of how the different practices operate and which providers are most in line with your desired birth experience. Maybe your friend says Dr. X is amazing or that Midwife Z is such a good listener, but to who are they comparing these providers? I cannot emphasize enough how valuable my experience with so many different hospitals, OBs, midwives, doctors, and nurses is to you when you choose me as your doula. While protecting specific client details, I promise to be transparent about what I have witnessed as a doula.

You’re likely to hear a lot of noise in terms of opinions when you’re pregnant. It’s rarely helpful and often causes you to question your own intuition. While there are certain professionals who are incredibly knowledgeable about the medical side of birth, or the statistics and evidence around birth, as a doula I have a broad perspective on birth experiences in Central KY. I also do my best as a professional to remain unbiased and provide information that is specific to you and your needs. I also feel best aligned with clients who are able to tune into their intuition about providers. You know better than anyone what is best for you, your baby, and your body. Did you feel rushed and ignored? Listen to that. Were you surprised that your blood pressure stayed normal and that you didn’t feel embarrassed asking all of the questions you put in your phone notes before you left home? Wow- that’s meaningful. I’m here to listen to you and provide unbiased informational support.

Every birth I’ve supported has been different in so many ways. Yours will be different from those. I hope to help you quiet outside noise (and even noise in your own brain) and help you focus on what is important to you. I don’t have a list of recommended birth locations or providers and would never blast a recommendation to the general public because everyone’s needs are different. Your situation is unique and I’m ready to support your decision making with unbiased informational support and active listening. I will never doubt that you know better than anyone what is best for you.

2022 Reviewed

How do I choose my care provider? Statistics, Opinions, or Intuition?