Nursing School & Being a Doula

There's so much reading and memorizing that I feel as though nursing school is kicking my butt... However, so far I have passed every skills test on the first try, gotten 100% on my first two lab quizzes (the third one I messed up on, but so did almost everyone...luckily lab quizzes count for very, very little), and I got a 90% on my first exam!!!!! (The mean score on that first test was 80%.) I am really psyched, especially since the professor doesn't like me so much. See, I have to miss lab for the Jewish holidays and they had to make special arrangements for me to make up the lab time on other days. So that kind of turned the whole department against me. Then, when all heck broke loose earlier this week, I had to leave class right after the exam on Monday in order to get home to take care of the kids. She noticed I was gone and made a comment to the whole class today about "people leaving class early and thinking they don't notice". Yeah, I know that was totally directed right at me...but it was either that or my 2 1/2 year old twins are now in charge of the baby...not happening, not safe and illegal! Anyhoo, she can now eat it seeing as I got a fantastic score on the exam. I'm just going to prove her wrong all semester so she realizes that I'm a fantastic student. (I remind myself of my sister and a certain incident with a high school English teacher...ahh the memories!)

Now then, as for all heck breaking loose... Our fantastic day care provider is currently pregnant with twins and unexpectedly went on bed rest Monday morning. I had someone covering her for a few hours in the morning, but she was scheduled to come in to work in the late morning. But then she got admitted to the hospital! Oooooops! Our babysitter for the morning had a class (that she missed), so she couldn't stay too late, which is why I had to rush like mad to get home right after the test. Anyway, we found someone that evening to take over for our pregnant day care woman...who worked for a day and then said she got another job offer and was taking it. So she basically told us at 6pm that she could not work the following morning. OMG!!!!! That is not cool in the ultimate sense. So Shmuel had to stay home from work, pissing off his boss - who basically told him he is REQUIRED to come into work tomorrow or else. So we spent half the day today interviewing new candidates and B"H found someone who fits the bill. She has an agreement with us that we need at least a week's notice if she finds a new job, and we'll give her the same if we find a live-in.

Speaking about pregnant women, I had my first experience as a doula last Friday! My very first client gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, and it was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. If I had any doubts about my choice of careers, they were all put to rest. I actually teared up when the baby was born, and I didn't even cry when my own daughter was put on my chest! It was so beautiful. If you are pregnant and live in Boston or know someone who is pregnant and lives in Boston, send me an email and I'll tell you all about what I can do to help during your birth. :-)

Déjà vu

Here are all of the random things that have been going on lately:

First off, I'm really sorry I've been so bad about posting lately, but things got entirely messed up when the person who was supposed to be coming to live with us bailed. What a disaster! So we're still looking for someone to come and live with us...preferably someone who is honest and won't run away without saying goodbye.

As for the déjà vu, I have mastitis. :-( At the moment it doesn't seem to be as bad as when I had it with the twins, but it stinks nonetheless. I'm on antibiotics and will be taking tylenol round-the-clock to keep the chills and aches at bay. My mother-in-law is here this week, so she's a bit help and is teaching the twins to whisper because I'm not feeling well. It's super cute.

I finished my microbiology class on Tuesday evening, so I'm officially done for the summer. I'm almost 100% positive that I've pulled off another A, so I'm one class closer to valedictorian. :-) If I become valedictorian in two years, I will make sure that someone video tapes it so I can show you my speech.

I took my doula training class last week, so now all I need to do is attend births and I can get certified!! So if you live in the Boston area and are pregnant, get in touch with me so we can work together. :-) I have a whole doula bag full of labor supplies, and I'm also in the process of becoming Hypno-Doula certified with Hypnobabies. That means that I will be certified to work with women who are doing childbirth hypnosis of any type.

Tzipora had a visit at the Harvard Developmental Research Lab yesterday where they put on this cool electrode hat to measure the electrical impulses on her scalp while she watched a video screen. The study has to do with numbers and how infants process them. Isn't she a cutie?

So, now that you're all updated on my world, what's going on in yours?

Doula

You all are going to laugh at me. After all that fuss, I made a decision. I called one of my friends who had a doula at her birth in November, and she gave me the name of a doula she interviewed but did not use. This particular doula has been used by other women in my community, and her description seemed to be exactly what I wanted. So I set up an interview with her, which I knew would be my last. I would then make a decision to use her or pick between the other two. Just to give you an idea, here are her pros & cons.

Pros:

Relatively inexpensive ($750)

Came to interview well prepared with materials for me to read

Relatively close to my age (30's)

Somewhat experienced (~20 births over ~4 years)

Lactation counselor

Her voice is very relaxing

Has a detailed doula contract

Comes VERY highly recommended by a friend of mine who used her

Cons:

Only does 1-2 prenatal & 1 postpartum visit

Has never done a twin birth

So, what do you think? She a keeper or what? Well, it doesn't really matter because we already hired her. :-)

Big Decision

Ok everyone, it's time for you to help me pick my doula. I am SOOO conflicted. I've narrowed it down to two, but I honestly can't choose. All comments are very, very welcome so I can hopefully pick one by tomorrow evening. Here goes...

Doula A:

Pros:

Very experienced (been a doula since 1995, served as assistant director of ALACE, teaches classes to other doulas, etc.)

Trained massage therapist

Lactation counselor

Been interviewed in pregnancy/parenting magazines & has even written a book on childbirth

Her voice is very relaxing

Came to interview very well prepared with materials for me to read and questions to ask my doctor

Has done twin births

Relatively close to my age (30's)

Cons:

Very expensive ($1300)

Only does 1 prenatal & 1 postpartum visit

Has a very short & generalized doula contract

Doula B:

Pros:

Very inexpensive ($400-$500)

Does 3-4 prenatal & 2-3 postpartum visits

Has a long & detailed doula contract

Came to interview well prepared with resume

Close to my age (23)

Cons:

Not much experience (no births yet in Massachusetts, only been a doula for a short period of time)

Has never done a twin birth

No references (because her previous doula work was done while employed by a hospital where HIPAA laws apply)

The cost factor is a huge issue. Is it worth it for me to spend about 3x as much for a more experienced doula? What if I need to have an epidural & C-Section anyway? I can appeal to my insurance company to see if they'll cover some of the cost, but there are no guarantees there. I like the fact that Doula B is close to my age, and I respect the fact that she's just starting out and needs to have birth experience in order to get more clients. I would love to give her that chance, because I understand how it would feel to be in her position. She's also originally from the Rochester area. :-) But on the other hand, Doula A knows more than Doula B just by having so much more time at the job. I mean, she gives classes to other doulas and writes books! I am SO conflicted! Please help!

Doula Search Update

I interviewed a great doula today, but she's also the most expensive of everyone on my list, clocking in at $1300. Ewwww!! Pros: she has a lot of experience but isn't "old," she gives great massages (I got a sample during her interview), her voice is really soothing (I felt relaxed just talking to her in conversation), she came well prepared and asked questions...I could go on. Con: she is CRAZY EXPENSIVE! :-) I'd ask people to help pay for the doula in lieu of baby gifts, but that means less stuff for the baby that I really need. I can appeal to my health insurance company to try and get them to cover some (if not all) of the cost, but there are no guarantees they'll give me a dime. What do I do!!??

Birthing Class #1

I think my husband may be scarred for life. He tried to not watch during the "gory parts" of the birthing video, but I think he caught a little of it. Now that he knows where babies come out of, he's wondering how in the heck it's possible. lol And I get to do it twice in a row! I told him he really doesn't have to watch the "gory parts" of my delivery. I think if he did he'd never want to make love to me again and that's no good at all. The twins were kicking up a storm during the video too. I think it freaked them out. "You mean I have to do WHAT?? I'll get squished! You must be joking..." The rest of the class was great too. Very informative and I think my husband learned TONS about labor and delivery. Hopefully he won't listen to anything I say during transition. His feelings get hurt easily, so if I call him names, he'll pout and be all upset about it. And that's why I'm getting a doula! So she can help me through the pain, and hopefully I won't say anything mean to the hubby. :-)

I'm still on the doula search. I've interviewed a bunch and so far no one has struck me as perfect. One lady was very sweet, but old enough to be my grandma--waaaay too weird. Most are old enough to be my mom, and that's pretty weird too. I'm hoping to get someone who is in her 20's even if it means she doesn't have as much experience. I mean it's not like she's delivering the babies, she's just helping with the pain and being overall supportive. And if she can do that, why do I need someone older with 15 or 20 years of experience? I did find someone whose fee is only $400 and she sounds young over the phone, so I'm hoping we click well. My goal is to pick someone by the end of January, and I think that is 100% doable.

Classes & Doulas

Shmuel & I went to a parenting multiples class today. Shmuel learned how to change a diaper and swaddle a baby, and we got this great binder full of tips and resources. Tomorrow is our first birthing class! I'm really excited about that.

I've been interviewing doulas right and left. So far prices range from $550 to $1100 with most being about $900. Unfortunately, my two favorite are both $900. Maybe one of them will lower their price so I can afford it. The one who's $550 sounds on the phone like she's old enough to be my grandma, so we'll see how I like her when I interview her tomorrow.