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World Doula Week, March 22-28

May there be more doulas to help and support every pregnant woman 

to have the birth that she desires, especially here in the Philippines.

May there be more awareness of the kind of work that doulas do...

preparing and accompanying pregnant women in the sacred journey 

of pregnancy and  birth.

BETTY SAN LUIS

The Filipina Doula

http://www.worlddoulaweek.com/default.html

A NATURAL AND EMPOWERED BIRTH STORY

Supporting a couple in pregnancy, labor and birth is always an exciting and transforming experience for me as a doula. It's like entering the sacred space of this family. I am always privileged to be part of such an intimate moment..Here is one birth story that I'm so happy to share with you. This mom is truly amazing! Her optimism and her firm decision to give birth naturally is admirable. Despite the hard work and very challenging labor, she and her husband made empowered and informed decisions along the way.I also commend her husband for being the calm and loving guardian of the birth space. Hurray and congratulations to you , Jenny and Joe!

My Birth Story

by Jenny Foltz

The decision to attempt a natural, unmedicated birth was easy for me.  For many years, I have been concerned with pesticides, additives, preservatives, and all other forms of chemical junk added to our bodies for convenience and profits of others. After spending two years in a rural African village, living closely to the level of the people, with no running water, no electricity, and no processed foods, I realized how important it was to take care of my body naturally. So, the decision to not have my body injected with chemicals to take away the normal pain of childbirth was obvious. I wanted to have the full experience, pain and all, and bring my children into the world the way women had for all of time, and the way women did in my rural African village everyday.

For my first daughter's birth, my husband and I took a natural childbirth class to prepare us with ways to cope with pain, and to get a more realistic idea of what a natural childbirth entails. It was a great way to practice different laboring positions, talk about plans to cope with pain, and discuss ways he could provide support. We also found a doula.  Probably the best decision we made was to have someone help us prepare for the birth, make a birth plan, and support us both during labor and delivery. I also kept my body in shape with yoga, walking, swimming, and hiking to keep up with the physical demands of labor.

Fast forward to 2013. After I found out I was pregnant in March, I immediately decided to fly back to the U.S. for the birth. But then the logistics of taking a two-year old across the ocean, finding a place to stay, jet lag, bringing our nanny (??), and being without my husband for many weeks made me change my mind. I talked to several women who had great birth experiences right here in Manila. So, I decided to stay. Just like Baby #1, I looked for a doula to assist us, and I found the only (or one of the few) in Manila--Betty. We had two sessions during my pregnancy to prepare for the birth. My favorite part of those sessions was probably drawing a picture of what we hoped the birth would look like, and including words like "calm" and "breathe." My daughter even added some decor to the drawing.

My second daughter's first ultrasound had a December 9 due date, but all sonograms after that showed December 2. As the days passed December 2, I became more anxious and discouraged.  I tried to stay positive, but the 16 weeks of morning sickness, months of chasing a toddler, and body aches had taken their toll and I was ready to deliver my little girl. I worked until December 5, then decided to stop with the hope that a more relaxed mind and body might trigger labor. That whole weekend I did everything to encourage labor - evening primrose oil, pineapple (lots and lots of pineapple), spicy food, lunges, walking, dancing, you name it. On December 8, I woke up to some bleeding and light cramping - the show was finally starting! I had mild contractions throughout the day, so back to the dancing and lunging. Sunday night was a little uncomfortable, but I managed to get some sleep.  My doula, Betty, spent the night and in the morning massaged my feet and back.

On Monday morning, we went to see my Doctor and I asked her to strip my membranes. I am all for letting things progress naturally, but I was so ready to get things moving. The strip was painful and within 45 minutes I was in active labor. We never even went home, just got wheeled to the birthing suite.  

The birthing suite was big with nice natural light from the windows and a couch that I glued myself on all fours to for a few hours. Contractions were coming less than 5 minutes apart, and it felt really good to moan "ohhhh," imagining my body opening. Betty and my husband took turns applying counter pressure to my back during the more painful contractions. I was still in good spirits and even able to joke with my Doctor.. But then the pain started getting worse.  At seven centimeters, I moved to the hospital bed.

During my first daughter's birth, I tried lots of different positions, but this birth was different. Everything was faster and more intense. Kneeling on all fours was the only comfortable position for me. Switching to my back to check for progress was almost unbearable. My husband was amazing--encouraging me to keep going, to bring our little girl into the world, to breathe--I couldn't have done it without him.  

I was stuck at 8 centimeters for two hours and started to feel tired and a little desperate.  Moans weren't cutting it anymore, I started to scream, and there were times I thought I just might pass out.  My Doctor offered to break my bag of water, I agreed, and after one huge contraction I was fully dilated. Everyone was ecstatic, but no one more than me. Then I had to push. Honestly, there are no words for that burning an stretching pain.  I stayed on my knees and after a few good pushes her little head came out, but her shoulders were stuck.  My Doctor had to reach inside and literally pull her out. Because I was on all fours, I had to turn around to see her. Luckily, Doula Betty caught that moment on film because the look of joy and love on my and my husband's faces is really beautiful. My Doctor placed her on my chest. We let the cord stop pulsating on its own, then my husband cut it.

Relief, joy, euphoria, happiness, everything at once. She was so alert, looking around, and nursed right away.  Then a few more contractions for the placenta, a few stitches, and I was left in peace to just be with my little girl--all 7 lbs 13 oz, 19 inches long of her.

The memory of the pain doesn't fade away, but is it supposed to? Everything that I felt during the labor and delivery were created by my own body. There was so much more than pain, there was trust, and love, and excitement, and hope, and strength, and the overriding belief that my body knew exactly what to do. Bringing my girls into the world without chemical intervention has easily been the most empowering experience of my life.

How Birthing Should Be

I just want to share with everyone the letter written by one my clients which she posted in her blog.  Her letter captures the deepest desire of every pregnant Mom.  It is also why it's so critical for every expectant mother to choose the right care provider/doctor for her to have a fulfilling birth experience.  Thank you for this letter Ria!

HOW BIRTHING SHOULD BE

3 February 2014

Dearest Doctor, 

I do not fear pain.

I trust my body's capacity to give birth. 

I trust that my baby will find her way out of me in the right time.

What I fear is that you will tell me my hips are not wide enough so you will have to open me up to get baby out of me. 

I've heard this happen to too many women, I'm beginning to wonder what has made our hips so narrow nowadays that our babies can no longer come out of us vaginally. 
 
I fear that at some point in labor, you will tell me that my baby is taking too long to come out and you will have to induce my labor through drugs. 

Maybe if you help me and my baby feel more relaxed and confident instead of pressuring us about the time, my labor will continue and my birthing will go just fine.

I fear that you will keep me strapped to a monitor or IV in bed, when I know that moving around will help me deal with my contractions and that gravity will help baby come out with ease.

I fear that you will prompt me to decide about interventions that I don't really need when I am already in so much pain and no longer thinking clearly. 

I know you are the expert and you have the capacity to save my life and that of baby.

Still, I appeal to you to trust me and my body's process too.

I understand you want to be on the "safe side."

But I believe birthing is a safe and natural process.

God perfectly designed a woman's body for it. 

We don't have to treat it like a disease that needs to be arrested urgently.

I've heard of too many stories of women not having a pleasant birthing experience in hospitals due to interventions. 

Many have been traumatized and they spread the word about how dreadful birthing is among other women. 

I believe it is not the pain of contractions that traumatizes us. 

It is how we are made to go through birthing feeling helpless and powerless. 

So please dear doctor, allow me to feel empowered in my birthing. 

Assure me that you will be there not to save me from the pain or to hasten my labor, but to help me and my baby have a beautiful and enriching birthing experience. 

I believe that is how birthing should be.

(Ria Pangan, "Everyday thoughts of a soon-to-be mom", http://tatapangan.weebly.com/)

SCHEDULE OF WORKSHOPS FOR 2014

Choose the best date that fits your schedule. Our one day classes are very suitable to the busy moms and dad- to- be!

Schedule for 2014

THE BIRTH BASICS WORKSHOP
January 11
February 8
March 1
April 12
May 10
June 14

THE INTERMEDIATE BIRTH WORKSHOP
March 8
Other schedules to be posted later

Venue: Partnership Center, 59 C. Salvador St., Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Time:   8:30 am to 5:30 pm

Contact Betty through mobile 09165205787 or send her an email at beasanluis@yahoo.com for more details and reservation.

THE INTERMEDIATE BIRTH WORKSHOP

For those who have gone through "The Birth Basics Workshop", this is the next level class for you. It will help you to further understand and confidently practice the Instinctive & Engaging (I&E) way of birthing, which was introduced to you during the first class. Through a combination of different methodologies, such as: - Interactive Lectures - Birth Art - Mandala Affirmation - Body & Relaxation Exercises - Practice of Labor and Birth Positions - Sharing of Positive Birth Stories - Viewing of Relevant Videos - Role Playing - Fun games ...this workshop will definitely help you to be more prepared and equipped for the kind of birth you desire. So enroll now and learn more how to effectively empower your BODY, encourage your HEART, enlighten your SPIRIT, and educate your MIND—the four elements of a fulfilling childbirth experience!

Benefits of Attending the Birth Basics Workshop

Birthing is a Blessing—The Birth Basics Workshop is designed to educate, empower, encourage and enlighten expectant mothers (and their partners) for the extraordinary journey of pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood.

It aims to help participants to understand the power and life-long impact that birthing offers and to see it as a source of joy and blessing. 

The workshop is holistic--integrative (informative) and transformative, and it builds a foundation for active and positive birthing. 

Finally, this workshop series hopes to prevent or minimize emotionally difficult births through a compassionate, honest and even spiritual preparation.

Benefits of the Workshop

1.Our class will build your confidence in your body’s ability to give birth.

2.You will get invaluable support from our Childbirth Mentors and from other expectant parents who share common concerns about giving birth and early parenting.

3.You will know about the benefits, risks and alternatives that you have when it comes to medical procedures, thus, you will be empowered to make informed choices.

4.The father/partner will know his role in taking care of you during your pregnancy, how he can support you in your labor and in the birth of your baby. You may find that attending the program together will create a special bond—not just with each other but also with your baby.

We hold classes every month. Contact Betty at 09165205787 / 9861546 for more details.