The Boxing Doula
The birth room is no place for a boxing match,
I recently came across a post stating something along the lines of “doulas are there to fight for you.”
Let me start off by telling you that in my years of being a doula, I have never needed to “fight” anyone for my clients’ wishes.
I have had to remind my clients of their wishes that were discussed during their prenatal visits and ask if they have changed their mind or what they needed or make suggestions in order to make their wish a reality, especially if they wanted an unmedicated birth and now considering pain management.
I have had to support and guide my clients regardless of where their birthing journey took them… always asking, “Do you have any questions about that?”
Part of making decisions and being comfortable with the choices we make happens when we are a part of the conversation, can freely ask any questions, and weigh our options.
Being supported by your family, friends, medical team, and doula through your choices is helpful, but knowing that you have that power to make those choices yourself and be an advocate for yourself (fight for yourself) is the foundation of empowerment.
Let me say that again:
The power you hold is the foundation for your empowerment...
to ask questions, make decisions, to fight for yourself.
The birth room is no place for a boxing match.
Doulas should not be putting a fight in the birthing room. The birthing room is a sacred space where new life is about to emerge. This space should be filled with as much love, comfort, safety, and consideration.
At Rogue Valley Doulas we strive to build bridges with our clients’ medical team, because we believe that when we work collaboratively, we truly make a difference in our clients’ care. We do not fight. We learn what provider’s preferences are, what kind of protocols or procedures are in place at your birthing place and guide you through that by encouraging communication with your medical team about how those things set in place will positively or negatively affect you during labor.
You chose your medical provider for a reason, you trust this provider with the most precious moment in your life. If you don’t feel this way, seek a second opinion or a different provider. Southern Oregon has a great selection of OB practicing providers, whether you want a midwife or an obstetrician.
As your doula, we are not the boxers, we are the trainers. We are there to encourage you, support you, and remind you of the strength you have to fight for yourself.
My Little Giant
All of a sudden EVERYTHING appeared much bigger! Her hands, her feet, her head. She must have grown a few inches and gained a few pounds overnight.
A few weeks ago, I welcomed my second child. Ten days after my oldest turned two.
My toddler has been my baby for two years. Her contagious smile, her ear piercing scream. her eyes that she inherited from me.
She's been growing up, but it didn't quite hit me until her and her sister were side-by-side.
All of a sudden EVERYTHING appeared much bigger! Her hands, her feet, her head. She must have grown a few inches and gained a few pounds overnight. The baby I carried in my arms for hours at a time, is now a little giant that my arms can only hold for a few minutes while standing up. When she's near me, it's as if I'm looking at her with a magnifying glass.
I miss seeing her as the little person that she was. When I'd grab her tiny hands just a few weeks ago as I rocked her to sleep. Her little face with her beautiful big brown eyes looking back at me. Her little feet that are always bare, because she hates socks and shoes.
Every now and then when she's at a distance I see that little person again and my heart fills with warmth and I am reassured that this little giant will forever and always be my baby!
The Best OB Provider in the Rogue Valley
Choosing a medical provider and a place of delivery may be something easy to decide on for expecting parents, but for others, it can be a difficult decision.
Updated July 2020
Choosing a medical provider and a place of delivery may be something easy to decide on for expecting parents, but for others, it can be a difficult decision. Luckily for you, if you live in the Rogue Valley, you have a variety of options for prenatal care and delivery.
Here are questions you may consider to narrow down your options:
Do I want a midwife or a doctor?
Do I want to have my baby at home, a birthing center, or the hospital?
Where can my prenatal care provider deliver? (Some medical providers only have delivering privileges at certain hospitals)
Where did my family/friends have their baby? Who did they see for their prenatal care? What was their experience like?
Types of Providers
Providers come from all different types of backgrounds and education, below are the most common prenatal care providers found in the area and where they practice.
Home Birth Midwives (LDM or CPM) - You can find most of the home birth midwives listed on the Southern Oregon Birth Connections' website.
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) - La Clinica's Family & Women's Health Center, Providence OB Group, and Asante Midwives
Doctors specializing in OB Care (OB/GYN) - Ashland Family Health Care; Rollins Family Health; Stone Medical; Medford Women's Clinic; Providence OB Group; Dr. Alan Binette; Dr. Mills at Rogue Women's Health; Women's Health Center of Southern Oregon; Siskiyou Community Health Center
Hospitals and Birth Centers:
There are four hospitals and two stand-alone birthing centers in the Rogue Valley. Each hospital has their own atmosphere and specialized care from low-risk deliveries to high-risk.
Asante Ashland Community Hospital (Ashland)
Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center (Medford)
Asante Three Rivers Medical Center (Grants Pass)
Providence Birth Place (Medford)
Rogue Birth, LLC (Grants Pass)
Who does Rogue Valley Doulas recommend?
We have had the honor to work with various medical providers in the area while supporting our clients in labor, but the best OB provider we can recommend is the one that you choose!
What does that even mean?
What we mean is that choosing a medical provider is a personal choice. What may have worked for one of our previous clients, may not work for another. Choosing a medical provider can be an intimate experience. Your provider will be seeing you for 8-10 months. They will have privileged information about your medical history, your concerns, your worries. They will be part of you and your family's life through this journey.
What we can recommend:
Interview. Set up a meet and greet appointments with the medical providers that interest you the most. Ask questions that are important to you and your family. Tour the birthing facilities to get a feel for their atmosphere.
This is only the beginning of making informed choices about your care and your child, and if you need a little extra help, give us a call!