Say 28: Do Your Civic Duty -- Hire a Doula (or Two)

Just good, old-fashioned, doula praise! Sometimes it doesn't get better than that! The doulas shared here are Coleen Salazar and Avira Wenn. 

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In the beginning of my pregnancy, I didn't even know what a doula was. I honestly met a doula while serving on a jury. While on a break in Visalia, CA, Coleen approached me. I was reading Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, and it peaked her interest about me. We began to talk about birth, my pregnancy, and the struggles I was having with trying to get my OB on board with the natural birth I wanted. We talked at great length, and I loved everything about her so much that I kept in contact with her. 

In addition to being a doula, Coleen was also a lactation consultant at a hospital in Tulare, so she invited me to a free class she was teaching on breastfeeding. I went to the class and found out the it was part of a local birth network. From that day on, I became very involved in the birth network. I began to educate myself on natural birth, breastfeeding, and various other birth related topics. In my third trimester, I also left my OB and switched to a midwife who was totally on board with the way I wanted to birth. 

Although I had learned a great deal about birth, and switched to a midwife, I still wasn't sure I really needed a doula. However, I really wanted Coleen at my birth because she was the first person, throughout my entire pregnancy, that made me feel completely confident in my decision surrounding my plan for a natural birth. When I asked her about being my doula, she told me about her friend, Avira, who was finalizing her doula certification. She needed to attend births in order to fulfill her requirements. Coleen encouraged me to be open to the idea of having two doulas. 

After meeting Avira, I couldn’t say no! She had such a calming presence that proved to be amazingly beneficial during my birth. I feel very fortunate to have had two doulas by my side. Although I hired them late in my pregnancy, they still came to my house to discuss their role in my birth, nutrition, my birth plan, and further educate me on birth options I didn’t even know existed (delayed cord clamping, passing on standard but unnecessary needle pokes, etc.). I was on a tight budget, but they were committed to helping me have the birth I wanted and worked with me on payments. 

Both Avira and Coleen were by my side through my entire labor. Avira literally supported me through some of my contractions and massaged my back during the most intense parts of my back labor. She knew just what to say and how to touch me. Coleen knew just how to motivate me when my contractions were tough. She encouraged me, kept me hydrated, helped me with positioning during contractions, and helped me know when I should transfer to the hospital. 

Their job as doulas was to be completely in tune to my needs, and they were. I consider my doula experience completely invaluable! I really don't know what I would have done without either of them by my side. My daughter had better care due to my doulas, I had the birth I envisioned for myself, and I was able to successfully breastfeed my daughter due to Coleen’s breastfeeding expertise (still going at nearly two)! 

I had amazing postpartum care as well. When I needed anything, or had questions, they were there for me. They both came to my house and stayed with me while having some issues with my daughter nursing. They helped me through some of the toughest times I’ve had. The only other person as fully devoted to me throughout my entire experience was my husband. I'm so glad I made the choice to have a doula, and I don't plan on birthing anymore babies without one. I will be forever grateful to both of them for supporting me through such an amazing time in my life.