"I wish my birth plan was to have a good birth"

These are the sweet words from former student. She met with me one morning for coffee to discuss postpartum doula support. She took my hardcore natural birth class a couple of years ago. Nothing about her birth or postpartum went as planned and her views on birth and parenting have completely changed since her experience. Thankfully, so have mine.

I will keep my narrative of her experience to a minimum because it's her story to tell not mine.

She was a woman who did everything within her power to have the natural birth she desired. She followed every recommendation from her provider. She took the long natural birth class (mine) and she hired a doula.

She shared with me that her doula didn't seem attuned to her feelings. During her difficult labor, she seemed more focused on the outcome of the birth (natural and avoiding a cesarean) than anything else. 

My student knows that I provide non-judgemental support and she wanted me as a doula. However, she had already commited to the other one and felt a sense of loyalty to her. (Though I secretly wished she hired me too, because I knew I could have served her best).

Long story short, she delivered her baby via cesarean section. To her surprise, it was the best part of her entire birth experience. The one thing she feared so much became an amazing and empowering experience for her.

She was able to do delayed cord clamping and skin to skin in the operating room. She was respected and listened to by her providers. They did everything within their power to attune to her needs as they changed over the course of the day.

Her focus has changed as she prepares for the birth of baby number two. It's changed to simply enjoying her birth...no matter how or when it happens. She's open to the flow and possible changes and is being proactive about having people around her who support HER.... not a single outcome.

Fort Worth Doulas and ProDoulas want what you want. We support you. We learn to adapt and attune to you in each moment, whether the plan stays the same or it changes. Our goal is to help you have a GOOD and positive birth and postpartum birth experience. There is no black and white definition for that. It's different for everyone and it often changes as things progress.

We offer non-judgemental support. We want to help you define what a good birth means to you.

No matter what kind of birth you plan to have, natural, epidural, cesarean, or anything inbetween, we are here to support you in each moment with compassion and understanding. We recognize that plans can change and promise to deliver support that you will feel amazing about. 

Fort Worth Doula,
Abbey Robinson

Fort Worth Child BEST doula 2014, 2015, & 2016

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