The Inaugural Doula Birth

My original post today will have to be postponed, because I was awakened at 2:30 this morning by a phone call from the husband of my first doula client. She had given me a heads up before I went to bed that she was having mild contractions, so I showered before bed and made sure my ringer was extra loud as I cradled my phone in my hand and tried to sleep a little. She was 10 days early, which I did not expect from a first-time mom, so I was pretty excited!

At 2:30, he checked in and said, "well, she's having contractions about every 4-5 minutes lasting about a minute, and she's definitely moaning. What should we do now? What's the game plan?" I asked to speak with her and tried to gauge how she was feeling. She was super calm, and didn't seem to be in a rush to go anywhere. I told her, well, if you are doing fine and want to keep doing what you are doing, then I'll come to your house now, but if you are getting uncomfortable, how about we just meet at the hospital. Well, she didn't seem to have a preference, and I was thinking maybe I would just head to their house. Then, she said, "oh, I'm having a contraction!" So I waited a bit and she came back. And then she said, "Another contraction!" And she handed the phone to her husband. He said, "So what are we doing?" I could hear her loud and clear in the background and those contractions were not four minutes apart, so I said, "As soon as that contraction is over, get her to head to the car." I knew what those imminent moans meant.

I met them at the hospital, and after she was admitted and checked, it was clear that it was time for her to be there- she was completely dilated! And after an hour and twenty minutes of pushing, a beautiful baby boy shot out and caught all of us, including the glove-less, gown-less midwife by surprise.

After a lot of after-baby poking and prodding, the new family was left to get to know each other. The dad raised the blinds, and we watched the sun rise and greet the new little soul as he snuggled his mama. A precious way to start the day.

And an exciting morning to embrace and realize that I am a doula.

I was able to go back home in time to give morning snuggles to my own babies and take Dmitri to school. And then Damon and I took a little nap. I can't believe this is my life and that I get to be a part of something so beautifully enthralling, and simply crazy.

I. Love. It.

And I love that my husband sent me this text this morning:

...BABIES! I LOVE BABIES.....(said in a Julia Child's voice).

(I think he might be making fun of me just a little. But he knows how to make me laugh).