Would you take it on?

raspberrymoondoula · 09-19-2005, 12:15 PM

I get a call today from a woman who's daughter is 10 weeks pregnant, and would like a natural birth. The woman has a severe degenerateive bone disease which may require a cesarean if she can even carry the pregnancy to term, as her hips may literally break from the pressure of birth. at the moment they're working to try and strengthen her bones, post partum sh'es going to need repeated surgeries to rebuild her spine. she would still like a doula to help have an empowered cesarean if that winds up being the case, and help breastfeeding with all the surgeries.

It gets better.

She's a severe abuse victim with multiple personality disorder. she has 47 known personalities. They do all communicate with eachother, and two of them are handling the pregnancy aspect.

Now, i do have experience, as a counselor, working with people with MPD and schizophrenia, but not in labor for pregnant women.

They're on medicaid so i would have to do this free or for a reduced price, which i'm generally fine with, tho the woman i spoke with said if she can scrape together my fee, she will pay it.

Would you do it?? I want to meet the woman before making a final choice, but holy crap. would you do it?

fearlessbirth · 09-19-2005, 12:31 PM

Wow! That's certainly a lot to take on. As generic as it sounds, this is truly a case of 'follow your heart/gut'. I do believe this woman probably needs a doula more than your average 'normal' mom-to-be but that surely is a lot to take on. And who knows which personality you'll be dealing with during the actual delivery. Good luck in making this choice. Let us know how it goes.

~Tranquility~Doula · 09-19-2005, 01:37 PM

I would meet with her first to get more of a feel for her situation. I agree to go with your gut feeling. It could be an interesting learning experience, to say the least.

raspberrymoondoula · 09-19-2005, 01:50 PM

I am very curious to see if EFT would work for her, its supposed to work very well for PTSD victims. She's open to alternative therapies. Could be an adventure. definitely want to meet her first, i've only spoken with her mother.

1stimestar · 09-19-2005, 01:52 PM

Yep sure would. Of course, like was said, meet with her first and see if you get any danger flags from it but really, sounds like she really needs a doula. Good luck.

DL · 09-19-2005, 08:47 PM

Oh WOW....

I was totally with ya until you mentioned 47 different personalities!!!

I know absolutely nothing about dealing with MPD, so I'd probably try to refer her to someone else if possible. Since you do have the counseling background and some experience with MPD, meeting her first might be good before deciding for sure either way. Like the others said....."follow your gut and your

".

raspberrymoondoula · 09-20-2005, 09:18 AM

a friend of mine mentioned trying to meet all 47 and see if they're on board with a natural birth, that would be interesting to try to attempt lol

loveslabor · 09-20-2005, 02:16 PM

Wonder if one personality was the one that 'did the deed' and another personality was the one that was pregnant.....hmmmmmmm

Just a weird random thought as I was working on my website last night.

raspberrymoondoula · 09-20-2005, 07:30 PM

lol dont know, i thought about that today, i dont know her entire family situation, if shes married or what.
i havent heard back from them yet so might be moot anyhow.

Babies_Bellies_Boobies · 09-20-2005, 09:15 PM

have no suggestions,

to you.

fearlessbirth · 03-30-2006, 01:10 PM

Lynn...whatever happened with this? anything?

raspberrymoondoula · 03-30-2006, 04:42 PM

i told her i wouldnt be able to take her on. not sure what ever happened with her.

Tashina Marker · 03-30-2006, 10:49 PM

If I had been in your situation I would have said no.I hate turning away a mom ,but I have no experience with muti personality & so I think it would be best for me to refere her to some else. I ALWAYS interview my clients before saying yes,so it really would have been a yes or no from that point on.

Need2read · 03-30-2006, 11:26 PM

Why did you end up making the decison not to be her Doula?

raspberrymoondoula · 03-31-2006, 09:36 AM

sorry i thought this was actually a different situation i didnt read my first post LOL i thuoght you guys were aking about the aldy who wanted two weeks of post partum care basically for free. i didnt take that lady on.

the MPD lady never called me back so i never heard from them again :

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