My first appointment at the Birth Place was a blood test, so I was going to have to be there for an hour. When I showed up, the atmosphere was so welcoming. It is a small “practice”, and since I’ve been going more regularly, I often see some of the same women often taking appointments. The waiting room is friendly and people are chatting; there is a woman who is their “resident childbirth educator” who sits in the waiting room talking through some factors of labor and baby care. She also does specific classes, but she takes advantage of your waiting time to talk, answer questions, etc and help people be educated and informed. This was a drastic difference from sitting in the waiting room at my doctor’s office, not often communicating with anyone, and reading a magazine or watching what was on the food network. My time is so much more valued I feel, and my education important to these women who want to make our experience the best it can be.
The staff there is wonderful and I look forward to continuing to get to know them. I have been continually affirmed in our decision with each visit there, and continue to grow familiar with the idea.
More details coming together
As a continued bonus, we were leaning towards working with the first doula we interviewed, but some various things led me to call a woman named Kathy who is a midwife in the area of good repute. After some communication and conversation, we felt that God honestly put us together, and she offered to serve as our doula if we wanted at the birth center. She has had two births there herself of her five, and has a good relationship with the midwives there. I’m really excited for her being an additional piece to this. I feel like her credentials far exceed what we were hoping for in a labor assistant. We have already had some very encouraging conversations and she has encouraged me spiritually as well as we share a common faith. That was a huge part of my decision process and I had not yet felt peace about it. So I’m really thankful for her part in this story — still mostly yet to be determined!
This description here just covers a fraction of all we’ve been venturing through in the past couple of months. The factors here are really just the pragmatic and intellectual decisions. Much of the decision process was based on a spiritual and emotional journey. That’s something I’ve already partially discussed, but deserves another later installment.
My overall experience in the last couple of months has changed from anxiety and fear of delivery, to an excitement for a birth experience that I will cherish. Of course there is some understandable anxiety still lingering; I’m not that naive to think some of it won’t have it’s scary factor, newness, and intense pain. But those who will be on this journey with me are commrades I am excited about.
