Trusting Our Bodies
Wendy's Story...
| Childbirth Classes & Birth Services |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. |
| Trusting Our Bodies Childbirth Classes www.TrustingOurBodies.com Jessica@TrustingOurBodies.com Serving Central Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania area |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
For more information about childbirth classes or doula services, please email me.
My first pregnancy and delivery was anything
but natural. After years of infertility we
conceived our first child through the help of a
drugs that more hospitals and drugs didn't
bother me since I just wanted so desperately to
hold my baby in my arms and I thought the
more “medical” it was, then the better it was.
After being released from the fertility center I
started seeing my regular OB/GYN who was
very cautious with my pregnancy knowing how
hard we tried to conceive. Toward the end of
the pregnancy the baby was transverse and I
had a Cesarean section scheduled for a week
before my due date. I was somewhat relieved
“knowing” when our child would be born and
not having to worry about going into labor or
“how to breathe.” The complications involved
with a Cesarean didn't even enter my mind,
aside from maybe having a longer recovery
time. When my water broke at 37.5 weeks, we
were told to get to the hospital rather quickly
and that I’d have a Cesarean that day.
Thankfully (now, looking back), the baby moved
head down after the water broke, and I was
allowed to deliver vaginally. With still no
contractions hours later, I was given several
doses of Pitocin which lead to an epidural which
lowered my heart rate and the baby’s heart rate
to the point of alarms sounding the nurses to
come in and constantly check us. Several nurses
came in and out and I couldn't keep track of
them and I was scared, and things we wanted
during delivery had to be explained over and
over again. Eventually our son was born, and
thankfully we had no long-term complications
from the drugs, but I was hesitant to go
through that again if we were fortunate enough
to conceive another child.
Surprisingly we conceived our second child
naturally after several months of trying. It was
a miracle we conceived without medical
assistance this time, let alone the fact that any
child is a miracle! With things being natural this
time around, I had a desire to do everything
naturally. I went back to my OB/GYN for
prenatal care, and he was OK with me hiring a
doula to assist in the birth. We never got a
chance to discuss the details since, for personal
health reasons, he needed to stop seeing OB
patients and could only see GYN patients beyond
my expected delivery date. It turned out to be a
blessing in disguise! Jessica told me all about
the wonderful options available to pregnant
women during their care and labor and delivery.
The more I heard, the more I was interested.
We enrolled in her childbirth classes that were
conveniently scheduled for my husband and me
to attend, and from the moment I read the book
on birth plans I was hooked. There were so
many options I wish I had with my first child
that I did not want to miss with my second!
Reading that and other books that discussed
complications from drugs and unnecessary
procedures made me realize how very fortunate
I was not to experience complications from my
first delivery.
She referred me to a midwife who would allow
us to deliver how we wanted and really listen to
my concerns. I was free to labor at home, and
thanks to Jessica’s doula services I felt
comfortable staying home and calling her every
so often with changes in contractions so as to
best gauge when we should leave the house to
ensure that we weren't laboring too long away
from the hospital or delivering a baby in the car
on the way there. During labor Jessica was
great at managing my stress and pain. I really
wanted my mother to be there for the delivery,
and she was in a car accident on the way, and
Jessica kept me comforted and kept the midwife
from rushing the delivery to see if I could hold
out until she arrived—and we were able to hold
off pushing until she got there which made me
so very happy!
During transition when I had the worst pain,
Jessica knew just where to apply pressure to
comfort me, and that was such a relief. She
knew my birth plan and ensured I had all the
options I wanted—laboring with a birth ball,
delivering with a mirror, letting me touch my
baby’s head while pushing, etc. These were
momentous occasions I missed during my first
delivery because I wasn't thinking about it and
was more concerned with my baby’s heart rate.
Having someone else in the room other than my
husband that could focus on those small but
very important details was priceless. And to
have her take photos of things I missed with my
first delivery was great. You never get to
experience the same birth twice, so cherishing
every moment is precious.
Thank you, Jessica, for making that day so very
special!
Wendy
Mother of two beautiful boys!
A husband's perspective...
I always thought a woman went to the hospital,
got her drugs, had the baby, and was sent
home. Taking Jessica's childbirth classes shed a
new light on not only how a woman has a baby,
but how big a part the husband plays in the
birth. All of the different labor positions
presented during class showed me how
husbands can really get involved.
Having a doula was nice because if I had to
attend to other matters, such as answering
phone calls from our mothers and giving
directions to the hospital, it was good to have
someone help my wife stay focused during her
contractions. It was also good to have Jessica
remind me of things I had forgotten about, such
as options my wife wanted during labor. I
would highly recommend Jessica as a doula to
all couples wanting to maximize their birth
experience.
Lenny (Wendy's husband)
but natural. After years of infertility we
conceived our first child through the help of a
drugs that more hospitals and drugs didn't
bother me since I just wanted so desperately to
hold my baby in my arms and I thought the
more “medical” it was, then the better it was.
After being released from the fertility center I
started seeing my regular OB/GYN who was
very cautious with my pregnancy knowing how
hard we tried to conceive. Toward the end of
the pregnancy the baby was transverse and I
had a Cesarean section scheduled for a week
before my due date. I was somewhat relieved
“knowing” when our child would be born and
not having to worry about going into labor or
“how to breathe.” The complications involved
with a Cesarean didn't even enter my mind,
aside from maybe having a longer recovery
time. When my water broke at 37.5 weeks, we
were told to get to the hospital rather quickly
and that I’d have a Cesarean that day.
Thankfully (now, looking back), the baby moved
head down after the water broke, and I was
allowed to deliver vaginally. With still no
contractions hours later, I was given several
doses of Pitocin which lead to an epidural which
lowered my heart rate and the baby’s heart rate
to the point of alarms sounding the nurses to
come in and constantly check us. Several nurses
came in and out and I couldn't keep track of
them and I was scared, and things we wanted
during delivery had to be explained over and
over again. Eventually our son was born, and
thankfully we had no long-term complications
from the drugs, but I was hesitant to go
through that again if we were fortunate enough
to conceive another child.
Surprisingly we conceived our second child
naturally after several months of trying. It was
a miracle we conceived without medical
assistance this time, let alone the fact that any
child is a miracle! With things being natural this
time around, I had a desire to do everything
naturally. I went back to my OB/GYN for
prenatal care, and he was OK with me hiring a
doula to assist in the birth. We never got a
chance to discuss the details since, for personal
health reasons, he needed to stop seeing OB
patients and could only see GYN patients beyond
my expected delivery date. It turned out to be a
blessing in disguise! Jessica told me all about
the wonderful options available to pregnant
women during their care and labor and delivery.
The more I heard, the more I was interested.
We enrolled in her childbirth classes that were
conveniently scheduled for my husband and me
to attend, and from the moment I read the book
on birth plans I was hooked. There were so
many options I wish I had with my first child
that I did not want to miss with my second!
Reading that and other books that discussed
complications from drugs and unnecessary
procedures made me realize how very fortunate
I was not to experience complications from my
first delivery.
She referred me to a midwife who would allow
us to deliver how we wanted and really listen to
my concerns. I was free to labor at home, and
thanks to Jessica’s doula services I felt
comfortable staying home and calling her every
so often with changes in contractions so as to
best gauge when we should leave the house to
ensure that we weren't laboring too long away
from the hospital or delivering a baby in the car
on the way there. During labor Jessica was
great at managing my stress and pain. I really
wanted my mother to be there for the delivery,
and she was in a car accident on the way, and
Jessica kept me comforted and kept the midwife
from rushing the delivery to see if I could hold
out until she arrived—and we were able to hold
off pushing until she got there which made me
so very happy!
During transition when I had the worst pain,
Jessica knew just where to apply pressure to
comfort me, and that was such a relief. She
knew my birth plan and ensured I had all the
options I wanted—laboring with a birth ball,
delivering with a mirror, letting me touch my
baby’s head while pushing, etc. These were
momentous occasions I missed during my first
delivery because I wasn't thinking about it and
was more concerned with my baby’s heart rate.
Having someone else in the room other than my
husband that could focus on those small but
very important details was priceless. And to
have her take photos of things I missed with my
first delivery was great. You never get to
experience the same birth twice, so cherishing
every moment is precious.
Thank you, Jessica, for making that day so very
special!
Wendy
Mother of two beautiful boys!
A husband's perspective...
I always thought a woman went to the hospital,
got her drugs, had the baby, and was sent
home. Taking Jessica's childbirth classes shed a
new light on not only how a woman has a baby,
but how big a part the husband plays in the
birth. All of the different labor positions
presented during class showed me how
husbands can really get involved.
Having a doula was nice because if I had to
attend to other matters, such as answering
phone calls from our mothers and giving
directions to the hospital, it was good to have
someone help my wife stay focused during her
contractions. It was also good to have Jessica
remind me of things I had forgotten about, such
as options my wife wanted during labor. I
would highly recommend Jessica as a doula to
all couples wanting to maximize their birth
experience.
Lenny (Wendy's husband)
| Wendy pregnant with baby #2! |
| Lenny massaging Wendy while standing and laboring at the hospital. |
| Lenny giving more back massages while Wendy moves into a hands and knees position over the back of her bed. |
| Wendy holding Baby Evan and Lenny blissfully enjoying this moment right after birth! |
| Lenny bonding with his newborn son. |