After several months of contemplating whether or not I wanted to pursue becoming a doula, helping Laura and her family through this special time in their lives was the final push that I needed to make my decision. It felt like I had a calling and it proved that my passion for this work went beyond that of my own life experiences.
Laura's Story - December 2009
My name is Laura. I met Crystal at a children’s event during my first pregnancy and little did I know at the time that an amazing person had just walked into my life. It took us some time to become acquainted, but seeing her with her two girls, I knew I had to know her better.
I have spent the last eight years of my life taking care of other people’s children and learning so much about the type of parent I want to be, but when it came to taking care of a newborn around the clock, I was a little lost. I knew the basics, I suppose more than most first time parents due to my work, but I was in need of some help and reassurance that what I was doing was right. For the first time, I didn’t have someone else telling me “we do this for this child” or “we do this at this time.” I needed someone who I could rely on to support me and help me to know my options. This is where Crystal jumped into my life with both feet and she hasn’t left my side.
My son was eight days past due and my doctors wanted to induce my labor by putting me on meds to get things going and that was far from what I had in my birth plan. I wanted a natural birth - no meds and a baby that came on its own, naturally. But my son had a plan of his own. Needless to say, I was scared. I felt like I was losing control and had no idea of what was to come. Crystal was the only person I knew who had had a baby in the last decade to talk to. So, I told her about the new “plan” for my son’s birth and she helped to ease my mind. She made me realize I had a voice and a choice in what was about to happen during my induction and that made me feel in control again. Induction day came and I knew she was only a phone call away if I needed her.
All was going great with my new baby boy and it was time to go home with him. Crystal had checked in with me several times during my hospital stay to make sure I was doing okay. She stopped by my home to meet my son and to see if I needed anything. She came during a feeding and noticed a few things that I could be doing differently to make breastfeeding go more smoothly. She helped me with getting my son to latch properly and some different ways to hold him for feeding. She helped me feel confident in feeding my son before going on her way. After that visit, she continued to support me with my choice to breastfeed and she answered all of my questions and concerns with such care and understanding, since she too had been there not that long ago. She helped me to remember the first few weeks are the hardest and it gets easier so to stick with it. I was so glad to have her cheering me on because I knew breastfeeding was what I wanted to do for my son, but it was a challenge some days. I stuck with it and am still going strong.
Crystal was also there for me when my son ended up back in the hospital with a high fever when he was five days old. She came to the hospital to teach me how to pump my milk since my son had little interest in eating and I was engorged. She came to the hospital every day to make sure we had food or anything else we needed. She stayed with me for a little bit to give my husband a break from our stressful situation. She offered me a break, too - but there was no way I was willing to get more than a few feet from my sick, little boy. She went above and beyond anything I expected from a friend, especially since our friendship was still so new.
We got back home after a few days in the hospital and Crystal continued to make sure we were all doing okay. She made sure I was taking care of myself, as well as my son. She encouraged me to find a routine with my son for feeding and sleeping that would help us both adjust to our new life together.
I don’t know if I would have gotten through all of this so smoothly without her. I continue to run things past her as new situations arise, and I know that if she doesn’t know the answer she will find it for me or point me in the right direction. I have been blessed to have her in my life, as a friend, and as my coach. I can say with confidence that I want her by my side for my next pregnancy, not just as my friend but as my doula.
I have spent the last eight years of my life taking care of other people’s children and learning so much about the type of parent I want to be, but when it came to taking care of a newborn around the clock, I was a little lost. I knew the basics, I suppose more than most first time parents due to my work, but I was in need of some help and reassurance that what I was doing was right. For the first time, I didn’t have someone else telling me “we do this for this child” or “we do this at this time.” I needed someone who I could rely on to support me and help me to know my options. This is where Crystal jumped into my life with both feet and she hasn’t left my side.
My son was eight days past due and my doctors wanted to induce my labor by putting me on meds to get things going and that was far from what I had in my birth plan. I wanted a natural birth - no meds and a baby that came on its own, naturally. But my son had a plan of his own. Needless to say, I was scared. I felt like I was losing control and had no idea of what was to come. Crystal was the only person I knew who had had a baby in the last decade to talk to. So, I told her about the new “plan” for my son’s birth and she helped to ease my mind. She made me realize I had a voice and a choice in what was about to happen during my induction and that made me feel in control again. Induction day came and I knew she was only a phone call away if I needed her.
All was going great with my new baby boy and it was time to go home with him. Crystal had checked in with me several times during my hospital stay to make sure I was doing okay. She stopped by my home to meet my son and to see if I needed anything. She came during a feeding and noticed a few things that I could be doing differently to make breastfeeding go more smoothly. She helped me with getting my son to latch properly and some different ways to hold him for feeding. She helped me feel confident in feeding my son before going on her way. After that visit, she continued to support me with my choice to breastfeed and she answered all of my questions and concerns with such care and understanding, since she too had been there not that long ago. She helped me to remember the first few weeks are the hardest and it gets easier so to stick with it. I was so glad to have her cheering me on because I knew breastfeeding was what I wanted to do for my son, but it was a challenge some days. I stuck with it and am still going strong.
Crystal was also there for me when my son ended up back in the hospital with a high fever when he was five days old. She came to the hospital to teach me how to pump my milk since my son had little interest in eating and I was engorged. She came to the hospital every day to make sure we had food or anything else we needed. She stayed with me for a little bit to give my husband a break from our stressful situation. She offered me a break, too - but there was no way I was willing to get more than a few feet from my sick, little boy. She went above and beyond anything I expected from a friend, especially since our friendship was still so new.
We got back home after a few days in the hospital and Crystal continued to make sure we were all doing okay. She made sure I was taking care of myself, as well as my son. She encouraged me to find a routine with my son for feeding and sleeping that would help us both adjust to our new life together.
I don’t know if I would have gotten through all of this so smoothly without her. I continue to run things past her as new situations arise, and I know that if she doesn’t know the answer she will find it for me or point me in the right direction. I have been blessed to have her in my life, as a friend, and as my coach. I can say with confidence that I want her by my side for my next pregnancy, not just as my friend but as my doula.
