Teresa Bailey, a Doula and Lactation Consultant in Pittsburgh

I decided to make soup tonight. I had carrots, potatoes, beef, yellow beets, red beets and cabbage and I found myself making borscht. I don’t think it’s because I have no imagination, rather, I think I have fond memories of borscht and when I have the ingredients at hand, that is what I want to experience again. I  love using the vegetables from our CSA (community supported agriculture). Also, my whole family enjoys borscht.

I also really enjoy the experience when I am able to attend a birth for a mom I have supported in birth before. There is something so satisfying about the honor of supporting a mother another time in labor. Her births are not the same, but they often do have a familiar flavor. As a doula, I have already developed a birthing groove with her. Some of my fondest birth memories, are of being with a mom for her subsequent births. Those memories are treasures of my heart.

“We`re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we`re not alone.” – Orson Welles

I wonder how many births Orson Welles observed? I would guess none. I have never yet seen a birth in which the baby being born was alone. There is always at least, his mother. Beyond her, there are usually many people caring for both mom and baby. No one is alone at their birth. Even if he is referring to being alone in the birth canal, it is his mother’s body and she is with him every step of the way.

I can’t speak for death. Many people have loved ones around them as they die. Some die alone. But no one is born alone. No one I supported as doula labored alone. We humans crave support and companionship. Doulas enjoy being a part of the miracle of birth.

September 2011 was a banner month for me as a doula. I was privileged to attend five births in September. Each birth had its beauty and interest for me. Each birth was the unfolding and beginning of a baby’s life. Each baby started its nursing relationship with its mom. None of these babies were born alone. Not one.

Buddhism regards birth as one of the four inescapable sufferings of human life. The others being: old age, sickness and death. I hope that  I can ease the passage of birth for the mother or baby. I try to help the father and family through the birth. I assist mom and baby with breastfeeding. If I can help make this transition from pregnancy to family life a satisfying one, that I have done my job as a doula. Then I feel that I have added to the happiness of the world, one birth and one family at a time.

Doulas are always hearing about baby showers and other preparations for meeting the baby. We enjoy blessing way ceremonies ourselves. More on those later. I enjoy the humorous blog: Cake Wrecks  – when professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong. She is always posting frighteningly real birth  and cesarean  birth cakes that people get for their baby showers. Her objection and mine: what makes the baker think these cakes are appetizing? They are hilarious, though. Especially if you aren’t having them at a shower you are attending. Be warned, these are really creepy! Did I say really creepy? I am not kidding here folks! Check them out if you dare!

A fifteen-year-old girl took a short bit from an Eddie Izzard concert and animated it. Here is a link to the result. I think this girl did a wonderful job of animation. See for yourself! Very funny!