First of all, congratulations on researching having a doula assist in what I'm sure will be a miraculous birth. You have already taken a step in the right direction towards having successful natural childbirth, not to mention a life changing experience.

Being a doula is only part of my life's dream. As many who know me can attest to, acting as doula is filling the need I have to be part of the birth process every chance I get. A need that will eventually be fulfilled as a practicing midwife. I hope that by God's grace, and lots of hard work, one day I can do just that. In the meantime, I am honored that expectant parents will allow me to join them in welcoming their precious babies into the world in the role of 'doula'.

Now, on with the facts....

I was born in State College, Pennsylvania. I lived there just long enough to finish school and find a way out. So, I ended up on the other side of the continent in Portland, Oregon. (What a beautiful place I might add!) From there I landed in Lincoln, Nebraska. To make a long story reasonably shorter, my ex-husband is from Lincoln. We moved to South Carolina because my ex was in the military. This is where my handsome 9 year old son, Bowen, was born. 

The birth story...We used a Certified Nurse Midwife there who unfortunately was practicing more like a physician than a midwife but we made it through. I went to the hospital thinking my water had broken and I was wrong. They kept me at the hospital anyway though because I was 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced. I slept at the hospital and when morning came I was given an ultimatum - Pitocin or rupture of membranes. I chose ROM. Well that certainly picked things up. Bowen was born 2 1/2 hours later. No IV, no drugs and no episiotomy but I did tear a bit. A few sutures later I was on my way. Of course, I was completely unprepared physically so it felt like by insides were going to fall out by vagina when I stood up.  And no one mentioned that a pacifier was a bad thing for breastfeeding.

Anyway, we survived but I was very disappointed that I only saw the midwife for a small fraction of the time and she didn't help at all. I had read Spiritual Midwifery by Ina Mae Gaskin and that is what I was expecting. Wow, was I wrong.  And my crash course through Lamaze at the hospital... that were a waste of time... I already knew the basics, I needed tools.

Unfortunately, breastfeeding failed miserably and I had some postpartum depression funk going on. If only I had had someone to talk to. Looking back I can easily see what went wrong, but I also see this same or similar scenario in other new moms all too often.

This is why I've modeled my doula care and future midwifery care after a holistic approach. It's not just catching a baby or coaching mom's in labor... it's the 2am phone call a few days later when mom's milk is coming in and she needs advice...or when baby can't latch on cause mom is engorged...or "the belly button smells, is this normal?"

When I moved back to Lincoln shortly after Bowen was born, I was determined to start on the path to becoming a midwife. In 2000 I imitated my education in nursing at Southeast Community College.

One divorce later, I graduated with a diploma in Practical Nursing, the first step (or so I thought). Life got in the way, as it sometimes does, and I didn't continue on to finish my associate’s degree.  I worked in several different hospitals and gained loads of experience.

Several years later I found my husband, Josh, (and his two children: Brendon - 14 yrs. & Tracie Paige - 16 yrs.) and we were blessed with Jonah. 

My second birth story... I knew going into it that I didn't want a CNM like I had before. So, this time I sought out a lay or direct entry midwife.  Also, I knew that I wasn't as prepared I thought last time so we decided to take The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth taught by Nicci Walla. I quickly learned that my definition of Natural Childbirth was slightly skewed by interventions. Everything was going great until my baby boy refused to turn and he was breech. We tried everything. My back up physician, and long time friend, tried acupuncture repeatedly with no success. We did every trick known to man.

Even with all my knowledge and research, I was too scared to have the baby at home with the midwife. My husband and family didn't help matters either. Knowing that no hospital in Lincoln will knowingly let you deliver breech, I was beside myself. Having a c-section was probably my biggest fear and I was seriously in denial that my son might be brought into the world this way. So, I did was anyone would do... I prayed that something miraculous was going to happen to flip my baby or rationalized that it was my destiny so that I could better sympathize with future moms who had to endure this same misfortune.

Anyway, I began labor the day before my c-section was scheduled. I knew he was still bottom down but he didn't care. I labored easily from early that morning until lunch time when I called my husband and the doctor. My doctor said, "but he's still breech!!!" We made it to the hospital a few hours later but I knew I hit transition on the way there when I began to weep. It wasn't the pain but I was still in denial that I was having a c-section.

When we arrived at the hospital and the nurse checked me, her eyes told the story before she opened her mouth.... 9 cm and 100% effaced. She ran from the room and called both the doctor and the Perinatologist. They arrived within minutes and I was getting an IV. They put the consents down and I said "what if I don't sign this, are you sure we can't just have this baby nature?" Everyone in the room just looked at me and shook their heads. We walked to the Operating Room and I sat down on the table. I said to them again, "why can't I just have him natural?” At this point, the Perinatologist must have recognized my desperation because he offered "if you have the urge to push before the anesthesiologist arrives, then we will give it a try." A few moments later... "I think I have to push now (lying but knowing that I was complete so what's the harm)." I asked "what's the increased risk with a breech delivery anyway?" "5%" was the answer shouted across the O.R. "Let's go then" I urged back. I lay back on the cold table and delivered my perfectly healthy baby boy a few minutes later. He pooped and peed on the way out so it was entertaining I'm told.

So, I had to deliver him in a cold O.R. but still as natural as I could have hoped for. And he had no drugs in his system. I didn't even tear this time and I walked to recovery. We discharged in 24 hours and never looked back. If I could do it over, I probably would chose to have him at home but I can live with how it went and still be proud of myself.

After that, I get why it's so hard for physician's to allow a natural birth. They really don't know how to handle 'curve balls' like a breech presentation.

Now my boy is 2 years old. He's so smart and healthy. I'm certain that one day he was thank me not just for his great start but for helping women everywhere do the same for their babies. By the way, my next birth will be at home no matter what!!!

Since my son's delivery, I have attended several births as a professed doula and would love for you to contact them for references. I'm sure most of them would share their birth stories in a heartbeat. I've had some success with VBAC's too. Ask me about my unofficial research project in this area.

Currently, my family and I reside in Waverly, Nebraska.

Contact me anytime. Good luck and remember Natural Childbirth is something you will never have to regret!

Jennifer M. Thomason

Natural Childbirth- Something you'll never have to regret!