My toddler turns two on Wednesday. Two! Fourteen and a half years ago I gave birth for the first time and then did it again four and a half years later with my second-born. Life was moving along at the usual pace of a busy family of four, and then I turned forty. And I found out I was pregnant. After the initial shock wore off, we were delighted to be entering the world of babies again. Despite all the information and research out there that supports older moms having more potential prenatal/postnatal issues, I am grateful to say that I did not experience these in any capacity. In fact, of my three pregnancies, labors, deliveries, and postpartum periods, baby number three was by far my easiest. As I approach my "baby's" second birthday, I've been reflecting a lot on how it's different being a mom at 42 than it was when I was 28. Here's what I've learned and what I wish I could go back to tell my 28 year-old "new mom" self. 1. The baby phase is so fleeting. Time pauses for no one, and a baby that stays tiny is no exception. So rock that baby a little longer, worry less about the pressing chores, and inhale that sweet baby smell just a little longer. Repeat. 2. This too shall pass. My wise grandmother said this to my mom who has often said it to me. (I'm sure I'm not the only one who has heard these words!) "I know it's hard, honey, but this too shall pass." When the sleepless nights seem as if they'll never end, when the tantrums seem more frequent than you'd like, when you're pretty convinced your teenager will still be wearing diapers because they insist on using them instead of the toilet, when your pre-adolescent rolls their eyes at you and then hugs you lovingly two minutes later, this too shall pass. When you're downright convinced you are completely screwing up this parenting thing and are thinking that they'll likely turn into juvenile delinquents, just remember these wise words: THIS. TOO. SHALL. PASS. 3. Enjoy the little moments along the way. They are only little once, so take time to go exploring, sit on the floor and build blocks with them, go to the petting zoo and see the animals, read lots of great books with them, and live in the moments of life with them. Seeing their wide-eyed wonder at discovering this world has meant so much more to me this time around than it did fourteen years ago. I feel like I spent those early years just trying to survive! 4. And finally...don't sweat the small stuff. Now that I am the mom of a teen, a tween, and a toddler, I am learning to let go of the things that I cannot control. {True confession: I am a MAJOR work in progress where this area is concerned, as I have notoriously been a control freak.} I have learned that it's a terribly unhealthy way to live and I'm not doing my family any favors either. The biggest life lesson that I feel I am learning now is that I have focused WAY too much on things that have no eternal significance. In the day to day, the little stuff (that often seems SO BIG) is truly so petty when I stop long enough to consider the bigger picture. Relationships matter. Listening matters. Kids matter. If you're a new mom, an expectant mom, or a seasoned mom, I encourage you to soak up all the moments today. Life is so fleeting, and the time so short. That little hand will not always be safely held in yours. Many moms are experiencing their not-so-little ones flying the nest at this time of the year. With tears in their eyes, they might look longingly at your baby or wee one and say something like this: "Enjoy them while they're little. One day, they'll be gone!" As always, thanks for reading! ~Happi
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"Why should I hire you to be my doula?" This is a common question I have heard when potential clients interview me, and it's one of my favorite ones to answer. If a mom has been doing her research, she's likely learned that women who had a doula at their side have reported better birth outcomes (significantly reduced interventions and lowered risk of cesarean birth) and higher satisfaction with their birth experience. In addition to those very important reasons, here are my top 5 reasons why I believe hiring a doula to attend your birth is a good idea. 1. Your doctor/nurse cannot be with you the entire time. If you are planning a hospital birth, you will likely be one of many patients that your doctor and nurse are tending to on a shift. And as much as they want to be with you the whole time, they simply cannot due to the other demands on their time. If your birth happens to cross over into another nurse's shift, then there is a chance that you will have the "change-over" during your labor, thus leaving you in the hands of another nurse just as you were feeling comfortable with the first one. But as your doula, I will never leave your side. I will not be tending to anyone but you. You will have my full and undivided attention from start to finish and I will not leave you until I'm certain you are settled and ready to have those first quiet bonding moments with your baby. 2. Your partner may need support too. Many partners find that they need a break and/or support at some point in the delivery of your baby. It can be very overwhelming at times, and a doula will be there to guide you both through the process. I will suggest specific ways that your partner can help you, while also being respectful of the fact that this is your moment as a couple. 3. I will bring my unconditional support to you. After you've selected me as your doula, we will meet a couple of times to thoroughly discuss your wishes for the birth. You will share all your hopes, concerns, and potential worries with me about your upcoming delivery. You will have the promise of my non-judgmental support and attention 24/7 (whenever you need it) from the time you hire me until baby is born. By the time baby comes, you will feel comfortable with me and know without a doubt that I'm there to support you. 4. I will help you navigate the unknowns of birth. Together, we will create a birth plan that you are comfortable with, knowing that flexibility is key. It is rare that a birth goes exactly as planned, but as your doula, I will help you navigate the unknown factors that may arise. I will answer your questions and help you make informed decisions. 5. I will provide you with comfort measures. As your doula, I have received specific training to help you through the hard work of labor. I know effective techniques for positioning, relaxation, breathing, and easing back labor and pressure in your body. I know the importance of emotional and physical support through every stage of the birth. I will bring you my head, hands, and heart and provide you with calm reassurance when needed. As a mom who has given birth three times, I totally understand the process and can completely empathize with you. I will support your birth choices completely, and I will be with you every step of the way. As you navigate all the details of your pregnancy and birth, I know there is so much to think about. It is my hope that hiring a doula is one of the things you are considering. I am so overjoyed to know that more and more women are learning about the importance of having a doula at their side at this most intimate and pivotal time. I consider it a great honor and privilege to serve all of my clients. Thanks for reading! ~Happi The pain of sexual abuse is a topic many people don't often connect to childbirth, but there are profound implications for a woman that has endured this type of abuse. She may be approaching childbirth with great fear and trepidation because of something painful that took place in her past. She may be absolutely terrified of the pain she is likely to feel in the most private areas of her body and mind or she may have very real fears about being totally exposed in front of others that she barely knows. As I surveyed women, this topic came up as did the worry about having a doctor who would be "gruff," harsh, or insensitive with them. (I'm thankful I never had this at any of my births, but I have heard other stories from women who sadly did not have the same experience.)
Childbirth is a profoundly intimate time, which is one reason why I am always so honored to have the opportunity to serve women at their births. But in cases where a woman has endured sexual trauma, my role as doula is even more crucial. If you are reading this and you relate to this topic, I'm so deeply sorry. My heart aches for you and what you have gone through. Here are a few things that I hope and pray will help you as you prepare to deliver your baby. First, and I think most importantly, seek professional counseling, but only from someone that specializes in sexual abuse and trauma. Seek out recommendations. Make sure you check on insurance to know how much they will cover and how many sessions are included in the coverage. A good counselor will walk you through some dark rooms of your past that may have been locked for a long time, or perhaps you may have even thrown away the key a long time ago. He or she will take your hand, and together you will unlock the door, walk into the room and begin to bring those painful memories to light again. This will not be easy. It will take courage. But I promise you, healing will come if you do the hard work of unpacking your feelings and talking through the pain and fears that you may have kept pent up inside for a very long time. This is an important step in your journey (maybe the first one you've ever taken) toward healing that pain. The pain never will completely go away, and you will never forget, but healing is possible with the right help and support. Next, you may find that reading "When Survivors Give Birth" by Penny Simkin will be very helpful. There are other books like this, but this one truly helps women understand the triggers that pregnancy and childbirth can bring up in a survivor. Finally, consider the following factors when preparing for the birth:
If this post has resonated with you personally, it is my sincere hope that it has been helpful to you. I wish this topic didn't have a place in our world, but sadly, it does, and far too many people have been affected in this way. Please feel free to send me a private message via my facebook page (Happi Birth, Doula). I would love to continue the conversation with you. As always... Thanks for reading! ~Happi In today's fifth post in my series on birth and fear, I am going to cover the next two common fears that women have in childbirth. The first is the fear that the baby could die during childbirth and the second is the concern that the baby might be born with genetic birth defects. The fears listed above were cited by several people that I polled about their fears in birth. Death of the baby is more common a fear than people like to talk about. I think every mom/couple has had these concerns roll around in the back of their minds at least once during pregnancy. It's a very real fear, especially to those who know someone personally that this has happened to or who have experienced it themselves. It's a terrifying reality for far too many, and my heart truly goes out to those whose lives this kind of loss has touched. Nothing can or will ever prepare a parent to endure this kind of loss. And no parent should ever have to walk such a difficult road. I am so thankful that there are organizations out there whose sole purpose is to work with bereaved parents. Some great ones that I have learned about are Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and Share Pregnancy and Infancy Loss Support, Inc., Sufficient Grace Ministries, and a Facebook support group called Pregnancy After Loss. For those who find themselves plagued with fears about losing a baby, I would encourage you to talk to your healthcare provider about "counting kicks" as is described here. Sometimes, just counting the kicks of baby can provide an enormous amount of reassurance when those fears seem to be overwhelming. ***Please note: It is very important to remember that babies DO NOT move less in the final trimester. Many people believe the myth that as baby "runs out of space" they move less. This is not true. This is why counting kicks and being vigilant about staying aware of baby's most active periods of the day during pregnancy is very important. In addition to counting kicks, I have also known some expectant couples that purchased their own fetal monitors as a way to provide added reassurance so that they didn't have to wait for the doctor's appointment to hear baby's heartbeat (but not before 10 weeks as it is very hard to detect!). Again, this is something important to discuss with your provider. Just know this: It's okay to take those kinds of measures for you and your spouse/partner if you need to! You are not crazy and you are carrying precious cargo. It's perfectly normal to worry about the well-being of your baby! Concerns about birth defects are also very common among expectant moms and couples. For this discussion, I am referring mostly to those who chose not to have any genetic screening prior to the birth of the baby. Some parents opt out of the screening/testing because they would not choose to do anything differently if there were something abnormal. They would not terminate the pregnancy and would continue to carry the baby until the time came to deliver. Some people choose not to do any testing because they fear it's invasive and would rather not take the chance. In either case, the fear that something could be wrong with baby is a very real one. And the choice not to have testing done is very personal and should be respected by all providers. The only words of wisdom I can offer to help ease the fear of something being "wrong" with baby are these: The word "surrender" is extremely important when talking about issues relating to pregnancy and birth. It's a word I use with my clients in birth when transition comes or the pain seems to be too much to bear. I think the same parallels can be drawn here. As we surrender, we relinquish control. We give in to a greater Power than what we have within ourselves. And we trust that things will work out for the greater good of ourselves and those we love. Also, trust is the opposite of fear. My mom often says that much of what we fear never comes to pass, yet we can often spend endless energy worrying about things of which we have no control. And fear adds stress which isn't good for mom or baby. So if you have decided not to have the testing done, can I encourage you? Your baby is going to be born in perfect form and fashion according to how he or she has been made in the womb. As you carry your baby to completion, until the designated time has come for him or her to be born, trust that all is well until or unless there is reason to be concerned. I hope you've found these blog posts helpful. Please stay tuned for the next edition in this series on birth and fear, and as always... Thanks for reading! ~Happi As I continue my series on birth and fear, it is my hope that these posts have been helpful to my readers. I have received some wonderful feedback, so thank you to those that are reading! Today I will address another one of the top 10 fears in childbirth: Interventions and complications. As I talk to pregnant women, I am very aware of the fact that there are different views of how women want to birth their babies. Statistics tell us that most birthing women choose to have an epidural and I want to be clear that I support women no matter how they choose to go about induction, pain relief, etc. Many women are completely fine with having interventions in their births and their outcome is still a joyful one. They aren't bothered in the same way that a woman desiring an intervention-free birth might be. I believe that birth choices are very personal and I hold no judgment toward those women who choose a medicated birth, desire to be induced for whatever reason, or even opt for an elective cesarean! To be clear, this post is not an advertisement for choosing intervention-free births, but rather a place for me to address this fear that I heard repeated often as I surveyed moms who are currently pregnant or who have recently had babies. This fear is common among first-time moms who are walking into the birth experience with a blank slate as well as seasoned moms who have had one or more intervention-free births or those who feel that their previous birth(s) was "less than ideal." For moms who sought to have as natural a birth as possible (meaning they desired to not have any medical interventions such as pitocin, an epidural, cesarean, etc.) but ended up with a birth that was filled with them, they may have ended up feeling less than satisfied with their birth experience, if not downright upset. In these cases, women need to be validated and heard. Having well-meaning people say things like, "Well, at least your baby is healthy....that's all that matters," is not always helpful. Birth choices are very personal, and these kind of comments can be hurtful to women who desired to have things go a certain way. They may feel like they failed, or that their body failed them. They may have significant feelings of loss. They may be at risk for postpartum depression or at the very least, have experienced a period of time that they had "baby blues." They may have had trouble bonding with their new baby and maybe even experienced resentment toward him/her. For these women, a repeat of this experience is a very real fear. For both groups, I want to offer what I hope will be helpful advice. First, I encourage you to have a birth plan. I have discussed that at length in a previous post in this series here. Make sure your support system and your care provider(s) know exactly what your wishes are. By being pro-active in this way, you are helping yourself and those around you know what you desire and what alternatives you prefer to pursue before you go the medical route. Second, educate yourself. Read, study, and ask questions of your providers and doula. Know the statistics of interventions, what causes them, and what you can do to prevent them as much as is in your control. Birth is extremely unpredictable, but there are quite a few things that we can control, so knowing what those things are and making sure your support system knows what they are is so incredibly helpful and important. Finally, if you haven't already done so, hire a doula. (I'll bet you didn't see that one coming, did you?) :) There is a great article here on the evidence of how having a doula resulted in more positive outcomes for women. Have a wonderful day! And as always... Thanks for reading! Happi "Everyone Poops." That's the title of a book my sons always enjoyed reading when they were younger. It's also one of the greatest fears women have in childbirth. I often get asked the question, "What if I poop when I push?" Boys laugh at potty humor. In fact, in my house, that conversation is pretty commonplace. But women tend to be more...discreet. If you deliver in a hospital, you may already be anxious about the point at which all modesty goes out the window when you're on the table with bright lights and doctors, nurses, doulas, and the like in your private space. Add in the possibility of having a bowel movement during all of that flurry of activity and that may be enough to make you want to run for the hills and just not do this whole birth thing. Trust me when I say that one of the things that all professionals in the field of labor and delivery wish women knew was that poop is really not a big deal. It happens. It's as normal and natural to them as sneezing and nose blowing is to us when we have a cold. And doctors are super quick about getting rid of it as if it never happened. They get it. And they aren't freaked out by it. Let me put it this way: If you poop when you push, it means you are doing it absolutely RIGHT. In fact, doctors and nurses will often remind women of imagery associated with having a bowel movement to describe HOW to push effectively when the time comes. So please, dear reader. Do not fear poop. Everyone does it. At least once a day. :) Thanks for reading! Happi I have spent some time asking for feedback from moms about what their greatest fears were (or are) regarding childbirth. There are several that came up again and again, and today's post will address one of those as I continue this series on birth and fear. Fear Number 2 is this: "What if my wishes are not respected? What if no one listens to me and what I want for my birth and my baby?" Childbirth is deeply personal, and most women, as soon as they are aware that they are expecting, begin to feel very protective of that little person growing inside of them! After all, this baby is not only part of you, but you are feeling the weight and responsibility of taking care of yourself in a totally new way! This is the first step into motherhood: You are responsible for another human being! Here are a few ways to help you have some control over the birth process (because let's face it, birth is completely unpredictable!) and help make your wishes known and heard. Have a birth plan. Let me first preface this point by saying that there is no way to completely plan for childbirth. If there's no necessary reason for a planned induction or cesarean section, then the expectant mom is watching the days tick by on the calendar wondering if today is the day her baby will arrive. This can be a grueling time as her body aches, she's hardly sleeping, she's filled with nesting urges (sometimes at the oddest times) and is feeling the need to get her bag packed (if she's having her baby in a hospital or birth center) and the nursery stocked. The good news is pregnancy lasts approximately nine months, so there's lots of time to plan and prepare! A birth plan is one thing a mom can do in advance that will help her feel more "in control" of what happens to her and her baby once the delivery is imminent. Birth plans are a great tool, and most doctors and nurses are respectful of them if they are kept "short and sweet." By that I mean that it's not always a great idea to walk into the hospital or birth center with three typed, single-spaced pages of details for them to try to follow. Many women don't always realize that doctors, midwives, and nurses are often tending to multiple patients on their shift, and so they really won't have time to read every detail. Here are a few pointers regarding the birth plan:
Stay flexible. As I stated before, there is absolutely nothing that is predictable about birth. So many things can and will happen that may alter your perfectly laid plans, and for those of us that have a hard time "letting go" this can be very difficult to handle. Let me share a personal story with you to underline this point. With the birth of my second child, I had a plan. Everyone knew my wishes, and I expected that it would pretty much be a repeat of my first-born's birth. It was the drug and intervention free birth that I had hoped for, and I assumed all would work out the same with my second. But as the birth progressed, it was becoming abundantly clear that my baby boy was not going to cooperate with that plan! After hours and hours of no progress and doing all I could naturally to bring on contractions (by now my water was already broken), it was clear that using pitocin to stimulate labor was necessary. The pitocin definitely brought on more consistent and strong contractions, however, my doctor soon realized that my baby was not in good position because of the immense pain in my lower back, nor was his head in optimal position to help further dilation (I was "stuck" at 4 centimeters dilated and he was apparently stuck too in poor position!). After a couple hours of pitocin, I was not progressing and was getting frustrated by the minute. The time came when the doctor knew that I was getting exhausted. I wasn't coping well. The baby started to show signs of distress. I was not tolerating things well. This whole progression of events was something I knew could happen but I was not prepared for it happening to me. At that point, I was at a fork in the road. The doctor suggested an epidural, in hopes that I could relax a little and rest, but even more, that my pelvis would relax and the baby could descend. I'm grateful to say that the epidural was effective. Had the final stages of birth gone any longer or gotten any harder, I would have likely ended up having a cesarean section (the doctor said I was moments away from needing one). It was not what I had planned. I had very mixed emotions about how things went with that birth and it took me a while to reach a place of acceptance for what it was instead of what I wanted. The point is this: I was so thankful I had a support system of people who took my hand and said, "We need to be flexible. What you are trying to do is not effective and we need to change course. You're not a failure. You're doing the best thing for you and your baby." As it turned out, an epidural was the best thing for me and my baby. And flexibility was key. Have support. You may notice a recurring theme here, and it's not just because I'm a doula. The fact is, birth outcomes are significantly better and more satisfying when you have a doula at your side. A doula, along with your partner, will know your wishes before the birth takes place and be able to support you every step of the way. She will assist you as you navigate the birth process and help you make informed decisions as things progress. She will encourage you and be your biggest supporter as she partners with your care providers to help you and your baby receive the best care possible. She will make sure you feel heard and respected, and will encourage you to find your voice when you may be afraid to speak up for yourself. I believe that if you are proactive and you've taken the time to formulate a birth plan, commit to being flexible through the labor and have an excellent support system in place, you can be confident that you will be heard and your wishes will be respected when the time of your little one's arrival is upon you. Thanks for reading! ~Happi Often, when I meet with clients, especially new parents, the topic of fear comes up. It is such a normal thing for thoughts of birth to invoke anxious thoughts. In general, I think most people fear the unknown, and birth is almost always unpredictable. Many people don't know that there is a link between fear and pain in childbirth, and so I thought it may be helpful to address the top 10 most common fears moms have. In the next 10 posts, my desire is that I can make some suggestions on how to best cope with those fears as they creep in, in hopes that it will encourage my clients and readers in their own pregnancy and birth journey. Fear #1: What if I can't cope with the Pain? One of the number one concerns that breeds fear in moms is the concern that they won't be able to manage or cope with the pain that comes with childbirth. For first-time moms who have probably heard many "horror stories" from well-meaning friends and relatives, this is probably one of the most anxiety-producing concerns throughout pregnancy. Perhaps she's had a baby already, and the memories of a traumatic birth still play over and over in her mind as she remembers it. The last thing she wants is a repeat of that experience. Maybe she's endured abuse in her past and the fear of experiencing pain in such a private place in her body has her completely dreading the experience. And so, as mom's due date looms, she is becoming increasingly preoccupied with fearful thoughts, and sometimes she may even feel as if they are overwhelming her mind and keeping her awake at night (as if she needed any more help with this!). She may worry that she will become so distraught over the pain that she won't be able to keep going or want to give up altogether. If she's wanting a drug-free birth, she may fear that if she ends up asking for an epidural, it will make her appear weak or that she's failed in some way (more on this topic to come!). The reality is, pain is part of childbirth. There's no way to escape it, but there are ways to manage it. Knowledge So what's a mom to do when those fears of pain become a reality in labor? First, managing pain comes before the labor begins. One of the greatest antidotes to fear is knowledge, and so I recommend that pregnant women become voracious readers and researchers on all things birth. Some of my favorite books on the subject are "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin, "Birth with Confidence" by Rhea Dempsey, "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer, "Birthing from Within" by Pam England, "Childbirth Without Fear" by Grantly Dick-Read, "The Birth Book" by Dr. Bill and Martha Sears, and "When Survivors Give Birth" by Penny Simkin and Phyllis K. Klaus (more on the topic of sexual abuse survivors and birth to come as well). As a woman gains knowledge, she becomes armed with important information and, most importantly, affirmation, as she wades into the waters of the unknown. Daily Affirmations Secondly, she can begin to positively affirm herself on a daily (or hourly!) basis. She may want to post things around her living space where she is likely to be the most. Simple 3X5 index cards with encouraging words written around her may prove to be very empowering. A few ideas to write: "Women all over the world are birthing with me." "My baby and my body are working together in harmony for a safe and gentle delivery." "I have complete confidence that my body is working perfectly." "I believe I can and so I will." "The power and intensity of your contractions cannot be stronger than you, because it is you!" "I trust in my ability to birth my baby." "The pain that you've been feeling can't compare to the joy that's coming (Romans 8:18)." "My courage is stronger than my fear." "It is not pain. It is power." As she begins to break the cycle of fearful thoughts and instead replace them with affirming, empowering thoughts, she will find that she begins to feel more peaceful instead of worrisome. If she prays or has people she can pray with, prayer is a powerful tool that can turn those fearful thoughts off instantly. If the fearful thoughts return, repeat as necessary! Talk Next, she can talk to trusted friends, relatives or professionals to help her work through her fear of pain. Sometimes, saying aloud the things we have kept hidden inside can be one of the most healing things we can do. As she works out her fears in a safe place with people who will love and not judge her, listen and not try to give advice, she will find that her fears begin to abate and peace will hopefully replace where the fear used to be. If sexual abuse has touched a pregnant woman's life, I strongly recommend she find a great counselor who has experience in working with pain and trauma from abuse. Hire a doula Finally, she should hire a labor doula. Doulas are skilled at helping moms before, during, and after the birth in processing their fears, especially those related to pain. If pain is a major fear for the pregnant woman, a doula is a necessity. Her job is to encourage, provide comfort measures, and be a support system throughout the entire process for the woman. A doula will serve her well and be a strong guiding force throughout the birth and beyond. What are your fears, past or present? I would love for you to share your thoughts by leaving them in the comments of this post. Stay tuned for the part 2 as we talk about fears relating to being out of (or losing) control in childbirth. Thanks for reading! ~Happi Every year as Mother's Day approaches, I'm always reflective. My husband and boys always give me cards and seek to make the day special in some way for me. I have to be honest and tell you that I always seem to look back on the previous year of Motherhood and question myself. Was I good enough? Attentive enough? Did they know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I love them unconditionally and sense by my words and actions that I do? Was I enough? If you're a mom, you know what I'm talking about. I know you do. Because every one of us feels this at some point in our journey of motherhood. I don't know a single mom that feels they are doing it all right. We've all felt the sting of harsh words we've spoken, regret over the way we handled a situation, the pull of priorities as we go about our day, the guilt of just wanting to fall into bed when they want just one more snuggle, mom. The list could go on. You can fill in your own blank: I wish I had ______________________. It's hard. It's so, so worth it. But it's hard. Nobody can prepare you for how very hard it's going to be. This is where having a community of other women around you, who understand this journey, becomes so crucial. I hope that you have friends or family around you who support and encourage you. If you don't, may I gently suggest that you reach out to groups around you, whether you find them at your local church, mom's play groups, mom's support groups (such as breastfeeding/babywearing, etc), or in your own circles. If there isn't a group that exists, maybe you could consider starting one. It doesn't have to be fancy. Perhaps it's simply a small group of you having coffee together while the kiddos play in the back yard. The truth is, we were never meant to be islands. We are hard-wired for community, and we need each other. We need people around us who won't judge us when we tell them, through tears, how much we are struggling. We need to know we aren't alone, that we are safe, and cared for. And we need to know that we are enough. Mom, you are more than enough. Your kids have been chosen for you, and you for them. And while there are many days that you are painfully aware of how imperfect you are, let me reassure you: You are perfect for them. Happy Mother's Day! I recently served as Doula for a sweet couple at their home birth. What an awesome privilege to walk with Brett and Karis through such an important journey. Karis was so focused and calm as she labored. Her husband Brett was a wonderful, attentive support, attuned to her needs and there for her every step of the way. I was so blessed to be a part of the process as Karis pushed little Theodore into the world. She did such a great job, and I was so proud of her!There was great joy in the room as sweet baby Theodore was born. Such joy!
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AuthorHappi loves serving families in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago as a labor doula and childbirth educator. When she's not at a birth, she loves spending time at home with her loving husband and homeschooling her sons. She also finds great joy in serving the Lord at her church and teaching children about the love of Jesus! Archives
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