Our presentation...

[fearlessbirth]

Here's the scoop on the presentation another doula and I had in a neighboring city Tuesday night. We were invited by a pediatrician to speak to his Mom's Care group..So amazing! I am lazy so I copied and pasted from an email. Lol

It was excellent! We got there about 30 minutes early and the Dr. met us there and gave us a tour of his office. He was amazing and his office so nice....if I had kids I'd drive to Palatka for him to be their Pediatrician. Off topic, but all of his exam rooms were carpeted and had big windows. Each room had a different theme (jungle, birds, whales/dolphins) with coordinating colors, books and SOUNDS. I was like 'who is this man?'. He runs a literacy program out of his unused exam room and has video games in the waiting room and a playground out front. Really, I want to go to him! He also got points b/c there's an issue of a baby mag that recently came out and stirred up a HUGE controversy (b/c it showed a breastfeeding baby on the cover) and he had tons of copies all around his office for free. So back on topic...he was just so kind and interested in us...he introduced us to his group (about 6 moms and babies and a dad, grandma, and friend were also there). We each talked about ourselves for a minute, explained what we do, what the benefits are, etc. Then we showed a video which really showed doulas at work and had 'professionals' talking about the stats so we didn't have to. While Christi was setting that up I handed out brochures on 'What is a Doula?' and 'Doulas and Dads' and our business cards. Lol Then we sort of opened up for discussion, Q&A and it was awesome! OH! I forgot...one of the L&D nurses came over from the hospital and that was a really big deal for us. There's so much animosity sometimes between OBs, nurses and doulas so it really said a lot that she was there, interested and is really going to push for us in their birthing community (what's really GREAT about Palatka is it's smack between St. Augustine and Gainesville...so Christi and I can still partner-up and it's not too far for either of us when I move). They have one small Family Birth Center with only 3 OBs and all high risk mamas have to go to Gainesville or Jax. The nurse said that she would love to have a hospital funded doula program b/c there are times when their beds are full and she literally has to run in and out to do vag exams and no matter what emotional state mom is in, she just has to leave her there and it's really heartbreaking. Dr. Jump (who invited us) was just so excited and really wants to start a sense of woman-supported care in the community. He's the one who started this mom's group. He even said that as a pediatrician he has all this experience but moms really know best and it's the women that need to learn from each other and he's sickened by how many times he goes to the hospital to check on newborns and mom isn't supported with breastfeeding or was cut open needlessly and then suffering from PPdepression at baby checks, etc. It was really great. He basically felt helpless since he sees the outcomes and results first hand but it's all out his area of expertise. He's even hired a full time referral specialist in his office so that women who need help (outside of baby/kid care) they can get it. Crazy. Sorry so long. It was really great. Christi and I are going to try to put together a presentation breakfast for the OBs sometime in the next couple of months. With this Docs backing and the L&D nurse, I don't see how it'll be much trouble. And here's a lovely email I had in my box this morning.

Hello Cathy !

Just a word of thanks for last night's presentation to our Moms' Care
group here at Kids' Care. The women were very pleased, encouraged and
excited to get get to know you. From my vantage point it seems to be a "good fit" and I will work to see that you and Christi become a part of the the birthing process in our county.

Thanks again. We'll be in touch.

[liwabuchi]

congrats, that is so cool. did you make your doula video or was it one you purchased?

[AussieDoula]

Cathy how exciting!! Thanks for sharing an overview with us, I'm so glad it went that well for you guys!

How exciting that you now have a pediatricians backing in your community!!!!

[MothertheMother]

Wow, great job! I am sure you are just beaming with pride and excitement at his response!!!

[jesscardona]

Cathy, that is awesome... also have such a good ped. backing you all up!

[fearlessbirth]

The video we borrowed from our doula trainer. I can't remember what it was called but Penny Simkin narrated it and there were short clips of doulas working with different families...then it talked about training and certification.

This ped is awesome! It's just like :magic Christi had wanted us to partner-up but I told her I was moving and it was a disappointment for both of us...then this guy invited us, is all gung-ho about it all and it's smack in the middle of her and where I'll be

[MindOverLaborDoulas]

That's great!!! (and you wanted to move to WV to jump start everything!) You are going to make all the difference for the mamas down there!

[MindOverLaborDoulas]

ooops! Guess Mallory decided to put a title to my last post for ya!

[fearlessbirth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindOverLaborDoulas ooops! Guess Mallory decided to put a title to my last post for ya!

LMAO I was just going to ask what the hell was that title? Some secret code I forgot about? Sweet Mallory...

[DL]

I am so proud of you and how your presentation went! Good job! I'll do some investigating myself, but if you find out the title to that film that you showed, will you please post it? I am VERY interested!

[MindOverLaborDoulas]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearlessbirth LMAO I was just going to ask what the hell was that title? Some secret code I forgot about? Sweet Mallory...

Yeah, don't ya know... qafm!