by Teesha Bancroft
Without my DOULA, I would not have had an amazing natural birth class and a huge network of resources;
Without my DOULA, I would not have
had the tools during the intensity of labor to get into different positions so
that things would progress;
Without my DOULA, My labor might
have plateaued at 5 centimeters dilation just like my mother in labor with me;
Without my DOULA, I wouldn't have
had any idea how to manage my pain naturally and from within;
Without my DOULA, I wouldn't have
pushed and pushed and pushed for three
hours... It might have been longer;
Without my DOULA, my husband
wouldn't have been able to take a break to use the bathroom, eat, feed me, get
me water and do what he needed to take care of himself;
Without my DOULA, I wouldn't
have had a warm meal an hour after my delivery;
Without my DOULA, I would not
have had gentle guidance that had a huge impact on the success of my labor;
Without my DOULA, I would not have had breastfeeding support
that actually made sense to me;
Without my DOULA, I wouldn't have had someone to message at
3 a.m. when I was lost and struggling as a new mother;
Without my DOULA, I would not have had someone to simply
offer support in so many ways with like minded parenting advice and ideas,
making sure I care for myself so I can be a good wife and mother.
I am proud of my birth,
breastfeeding and parenting and I know in my heart that without my DOULA,
things may have been different.
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| Teesha in labor with her husband Blake and their doula, Jessica. (C) photo by Megan Kolaja, all rights reserved. |
Teesha Bancroft is a Birth Kalamazoo student and client, and mom to Ada. She's also a talented massage therapist who loves working with pregnant and postpartum moms. As Teesha prepared for Ada's first birthday this month, she shared her reflections on her relationship with her doula. Thank you so much for the gift of your words, Teesha. We love you!
