Me, Myself, and I

Over the course of this last school semester I have taken a class titled "Entrepreneurial Marketing." I was expecting a course based on marketing a business that was created by me or someone I am working for (such as a "mom and pop"). However, in the process of this class we have learned an even more important skill: how to market ourselves. Being an entrepreneur is really about marketing yourself, and our instructor has tried to point us in the right directions about how to do that.

As I have mentioned in the blog before, I plan to become a doula over the next year. This line of work is basically all about marketing me as a woman and a support system. If I do not show people my true self, I will not get many clients. So world, here it is...a little about myself and my skills.

I truly believe that my greatest strength is my passion. I have a passion for the things that stir my blood, make me think, and bring a fire to my soul. Pregnancy and Childbirth do that to me. Knowing that we mothers and women are part of a sisterhood spanning back to Eve makes me feel so small, yet so powerful. In our bodies we have ability to help God create a miracle. Childbirth is the greatest gift that a women can give to herself and the world...new life, a new soul.

The passion that I have for this area simply brings out my other strengths. For instance, I am very creative. Creativity and the willingness to "step outside the box" is very helpful in childbirth. For instance, during the birth of my son I was looking for a way to focus on something other than the contractions...I ended up having my husband pour ice-cold water slowly down my face during each one while I was in the hot bath. The cold water was more than enough to help me stay in the moment and focus on something else. Being comfortable with unorthodox methods will help me to be able to suggest things to women in labor, giving them relief during a moment of weakness.

My stubborn ways will also be an asset to myself and the mothers I serve. Being able to stand up for the woman and her birth will help protect the "bubble" of safety and calm needed to have a peaceful, easy birth. This stubborn nature will also help me to work my way into a system that in many ways still views childbirth as a dangerous and painful process. Breaking into an area where the natural process of birth is not respected is an uphill battle at times and requires a stout heart.

Through my experiences and the experiences of other mothers I hope to move this nation one step closer to a normal birth community, one that is already in place in many other countries. Somewhere along the road of medical advances, maternity care hit into high gear and began to forget to ask itself one simple question: "Does this technology actually improve normal birth for the mother or baby?" Unfortunately, many of the things that are "normal" now in hospital delivery rooms are not improving the outcome for the mother or baby. Through my skills as a doula and the platform of education that it provides, I hope to reach out to communities and bring normal birth back to its rightful place.

I know that with my passion and knowledge of this wonderful process, I can change lives. I can change the lives of mothers. I can change the lives of fathers, families, and babies. I can change the opinions of nurses and doctors. I can slowly, one baby at a time, change the world of childbirth in this country. I hope that you will join me.

If you are interested in this "world" please feel free to contact me or search these other sources.

One World Birth Site

DONA International Site, for more information on doulas

A book that changed my life and my birth experience

Also, Please watch this video! It shows the movement that is happening in this country and across the world. This is what I am working towards. One grain of sand, one drop of water...slowly but surely we will change the world of birth.

 One World Birth Trailer

Growing Love Birth Services

What do you think? That is going to be the name of my Doula service/business.

Yep. I am going to start my certification process this summer. I am so excited. I would love to become a midwife, but with the malpractice insurance situation in the country, it is a hard thing to get into financially. Being a doula allows me to be "up close and personal" with birth and with birthing women.

Women in this country need more support than ever now...not becuase we have grown weaker, but becuase the health care system has totally taken away the rights and autonomy of the pregnant and birthing woman. I want to be part of what changes that. I can change the outcome for individual women and I can take a larger stand in the birthing community. I am so looking forward to this!

I am going to start with doula certification (through CBI) and then I will work on my childbirth education certification. Until I have that, I will offer one-on-one childbirth education sessions with my clients to answer any questions they may have.

I'm so excited! Here is my logo:

Do you see the relation to my background on this blog? That is where I got the name from--the picture I took of my painted belly when I was pregnant with my son. And his birth opened my eyes to my calling. It all comes full circle.

Family

Why is it that when we become adults we assume we can do this on our own?

Granted, when it was only my husband and I we had things under control. Living far from home was exciting and wonderful. We could visit when we wanted but had our space, our own city, our own state.

Then we started a family. From the moment I saw the positive I wanted my mom and dad. I never really envisioned having a family without them. I miss them so much my stomach hurts and I want to cry at sappy commercials.

I have learned you are never to old for family.

A Beautiful Time

I just had the most wonderful nursing session with my son.

Breastfeeding is always a bonding experience, but sometimes he just melts into me and we look into each other's eyes, and I just feel so....I don't know. Like Mother Earth I suppose. I feel like I am the center of his world and that I am directly making him grow and thrive.

Breastfeeding is an art, and one that has to come from the heart. I think that breastfeeding truely feeds the baby and the mother, the tummy and the soul.

Nipplephobia

I was re-reading Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding last night (my little one is getting a lazy latch lately), and I came upon the chapter where she speaks about "nipplephobia" in the United States. I couldn't agree more.

Did you know that the government set a goal that 50% of all babies would still be breastfed at 6 months by 2010. Needless to say that did not happen. Currently only about 20%-30% are still breastfed at 6 months. Why would the government set a goal like this and not do anything to help make it happen?

44 states have laws that "allow" mothers to breastfeed anywhere public or private. But only 28 of those states exempt breastfeeding from being grouped into indecent exposure in public. Only Puerto Rico has a law stating that most public places (shopping malls, airports, public government buildings, etc) have separate facilities for breastfeeding and diaper changing that is not in a restroom. In hospitals, mothers are bombarded with formula "gifts" and advertising, and many hospitals do not suggest breastfeeding as the best food for baby. Formula companies somehow get the addresses of mothers and send formula to our homes. I received so much formula at my house, and I never requested any or signed up for "free giveaways" for other baby items.

Breastfeeding is treated as a lifestyle choice instead of a normal, natural process. Breastfeeding is viewed as a hassle by most of the nation. Even worse - breasts are so sexualized in this country that women are made to feel ashamed by feeding their baby in public. This is where "nipplephobia" comes in.

Even here in Florida (where the law has been in place since 1993), where breastfeeding is protected there are stories on the news several times a year about a mother being asked to leave an area to feed her child. These are stories of women who fight back and stand their ground. It makes me wonder how often it happens and women don't do anything.

The discrimination is not only from employees in restaurants or lifeguards at pools. The discrimination also comes from the most unlikely source - other mothers! I have heard from so many mothers that they have been asked to cover up or go the restroom because another mother does not want "her child to see that." How hard would it be for the mother to say that "the baby is eating, since that is where babies get milk from." Most children would just say "okay" and go on with playing. Even if they did ask more questions, breastfeeding is a natural process that children should grow up comfortable with. (We don't stick to babies coming from the stork anymore do we?). If a new generation was raised in a breastfeeding environment, breastfeeding rates would skyrocket when that generation had children.

I wish I could organize a national "nurse-in" and have nursing mothers everywhere unite! Down with the sexualization of breasts, and in with nursing!