When your first mom was due ...

Doula.Alexandria · 08-07-2006, 03:15 PM

were you a nervous wreck?

My first mom is due on the 17th of this month and I swear as the time get's closer I am getting so nervous. This past weekend we went out and I made sure I had my cell phone near me "just in case" and I keep thinking I am going to be getting the 'call' anytime.

I called and check on her saturday (before I left) and she said her last appointment they checked her and she not open but the doctor said the baby is very low (he could feel the head) so I know labor is not to far off.

I swear it was me having the baby.

fearlessbirth · 08-07-2006, 03:27 PM

Yes! I was the same way. She also happened to be a good friend so we were together a lot anyway but I still jumped everytime the phone rang! Her boyfriend eventually called at 3:45am to say her water broke. I couldn't believe it!

I was really careful about what I did and where I went cause when my sister was pregnant, I was to 'doula' her and had JUST spoken to her around 5pm that night...she gave me clearance that all was good and I could go out drinking (this was way before my doula days when I knew better. Lol)..well, at 11pm my phone rang and it was her!!! She was heading to the hospital! Nothing like a baby to sober you right up!

.

newbirth · 08-07-2006, 03:41 PM

My first client is due on the 10th. I just wrote a blog today on my feelings about being on call. http://roadwelltraveled.wordpress.co.../life-on-call/
It's an odd experience, isn't it?

MyDoulaStacia · 08-07-2006, 04:00 PM

I look back on my first client and feel so silly.
I was so nervous when she was due that I ate all the time incase she would call suddenly and need me to come.

Then when the time did come I couldn't get out the door because of a nervous stomach.

doula Michele · 08-07-2006, 04:43 PM

Yes, i used to get so nervous..
Now its just part of life.... I carry my cell, but don't get paranoid anymore. I usually only get called as I am climbing into bed for the night anyway.
I keep most of my stuff in a bag... just realise that I should look through it since I have a mom who is 2cm and lost her mucus plug and had membranes swept.... anytime now.

Michele

moncton doula · 08-07-2006, 04:49 PM

Hey, my next client also has a EDD of August 17th! Let's see who goes first?!
I used to get nervous being on call but now it's easier.

jesscardona · 08-07-2006, 04:57 PM

Mine has an EDD of 9/2 but with her first preg. she was due a week earlier so who knows!

HamiltonBirthRevolution · 08-07-2006, 05:02 PM

My first client is EDD Aug 12th. She was 3+cm and 50%+ last Wednesday. Mucous plug fell out on Thursday. Intermittent contractions every few days since - a tightening and ocassional crampy feeling.

Still waiting!

AussieDoula · 08-07-2006, 07:50 PM

It's so cute to hear all of you being nervous, hehehe!

Fortunately for me, I had the honour to observe a few of my friends births first, then actively take part in supporting friend/family births, so by the time I was ready to take on outside clients I had some experience under my belt and felt confident about it.

I won't lie though, when I got that first call... I freaked out! I had my bag ready, I was well rested, I had been to enough births to feel comfortable supporting someone, but for a shocking few moments my mind went blank and I had a knot in my chest, LOL!

Luckily, it was short-lived and I pulled myself together and took off to the hospital, but for a moment there I was alarmingly nervous and couldn't get past the big mind-block screaming "OMG! I'm not ready!" hahahaha!

(FYI - it turned out great and only fueled my passion for this work)

Sometimes I am genuinely surprised when some of you post about having your first cleints. I guess I feel so familiar with many of you that it doesn't occur to me that a few of us still haven't cemented our calling as Doulas by attending a birth yet. I look at it as confirmation that those people were meant to be Doulas!

Anyways, sorry for the mini-ramble. I'm excited for all of you to be supporting at your first births!

Sending lots of positive, loving birth vibes and energy out!

Matrescence · 08-07-2006, 07:55 PM

Yes! Oh man was I a wreck. I packed and repacked my bag so many times and tried to go back to sleep after she called to let me know she was having some contractions but wanted to sleep a little herself, got in the shower and realized my hair was still up in a twist and then got dressed all the way to socks and shoes only to have her call the next afternoon in labor

Boy was I tired!

dorothyh · 08-09-2006, 06:35 PM

Oh yes I was a wreck!!! Jumped every time the phone rang, packed and re-packed my bag, questioned if I was going to know what to do to help her, etc. etc.

Just keep your cell phone with you and TRY to just keep busy and not think about it!!! You will get The Call!!! Let us know how it goes!!

Oh just because they said the head was low - she could still go well past her due date. I had a client last month whose dr told her 2 weeks before her due date that her baby would be born in the next three days. And then she went close to 3 WEEKS more!!!

Dorothy, with a similarly named business as yours - Mother To Mother Doula Services (isn't that a great name ??

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