I am not sure how many people will read this blog, but I am going to tell this story because I think it is time. I am a birth worker. I am a certified birth doula with DONA and a certified childbirth educator with Lamaze. I teach pregnant women how to dance as a certified Dancing for Birth Instructor so that when labor comes a woman is comfortable moving her body in such a way that helps her in labor and birth. I have ALWAYS been attracted to birth. I have always loved pregnancy, motherhood and family. I didn't realize I was actually called to doula work until I had a dream on Tuesday January 11, 2005. Let me share the dream with you;
"This morning I woke up and had a vivid dream about laboring women and their children. I remember myself and another woman walking through the community with a pregnant woman accompanying us. The streets were filled with so many people. It looked as if there were some type of protesting or a riot going on. We had to weave ourselves in and out of the crowd to try to get this laboring mother to the hospital. It seemed to take forever. Finally, we got to the hospital. This hospital was a maternity hospital. I remember seeing a room that was very long almost like a hallway. The laboring rooms were separated by a thick curtain. I remember thinking that the place was not very cozy. It looked like an old hospital from the 1800s. Their were midwives all around taking care of sick pregnant women. one mother was extremely mean, disgruntled and unhappy. I remember standing back and looking at the environment. It seemed as if a lot of preparations were being made for an influx of births. It seemed like I was a midwife in the dream but not a medical midwife. I remember having to be quiet and discreet so that the staff would not ask me to leave. One woman got up from a chair she was sitting on and said she had to use the bathroom. I knew it was time for the baby to come. I followed her into the bathroom. She ended up birthing one of the babies unassisted. I remember telling the Mother to squat and push for the second baby. Her back was towards me. I went through the process of coaching the mother through the birth. When the baby came out it was covered in feces. I knew the baby was in trouble. I took a towel and rubbed the baby vigorously to stimulate movement and crying. The scene changed and the infant was swaddled, clean, beautiful, strong and healthy."
I did not understand the dream back in 2005 like I do now. I was a doula in that dream. Please know that doula's are not medically trained and do not give medical care or advise. A birth doula provides physical and emotional assistance as well as educates the mother regarding childbirth. I have never caught a baby before but should an emergency ever arise outside of the hospital, I would call 911 and prepare to catch a baby.
I want to raise up community workers to help with doula work. A community worker is defined as, "Workers within the community that help to improve the lives of disadvantaged individuals and groups by facilitating change and providing the means for self-help within community settings. A background of working with groups experiencing social exclusion and young people would be an advantage." WOW! Yes, please! Let me make this declaration, I WILL raise up community doulas so that pregnant women in our community can have the support she needs before, during and after pregnancy. I will teach the community about childbirth education and inform them about the importance of being culturally sensitive.
Dear lady or man reading this blog, A Woman, A Wife, A Mother Ministries is a non profit organization geared towards teaching the woman, honoring the wife and establishing joy in mothering. As a non profit organization we need donors that will partner with us. We want to continue raising money to offer classes to those who need it. We offer childbirth education classes, dancing for birth classes, mentorship classes, parenting classes, grocery store tours, a full body detox and healthy eating class and more. Please consider becoming a donor to help up empower and educate women, wives and mothers. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, "You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
Shalom Aleichem
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