They (the American College of Nurse-Midwives) say it better than I: "The word midwife has been used for centuries to describe a woman who is "with women" at birth. A midwife was traditionally an older female in the family or the community. Today, the word indicates a philosophy of care that focuses on the specific needs of women, offers a variety of options, and minimizes unnecessary intervention; and the individuals who hold that title are highly educated professionals who work collaboratively with physicians."
"Giving birth to a baby is so much more than a physical phenomenon; it engages parents-to-be in a transformational experience, a key life event full of emotion and meaning. A doula who accompanies a woman in labor mothers the mother, taking care of her emotional needs throughout childbirth. A doula also provides support and suggestions for partners that can enhance their experiences of birth. A postpartum doula continues that valuable emotional support and guidance, helping a family make a smooth transition into new family dynamics....The doula is emerging as a positive contribution to the care of women in labor. By attending to the woman’s emotional needs, some obstetric outcomes are improved. Just as importantly, the early mother-infant relationships and breastfeeding are enhanced. Women’s satisfaction with their birth experiences and even their self-esteem appears to improve when a doula has assisted them through childbirth." (dona.org)
Being a doula is one of the most amazing things I've ever done. I volunteer at UNC Hospitals a few times a month, and every time is breathtaking - it's a natural high!
No, really. According to the Big Five Personality Test, I tend to be impatient and rude. I must say, I do agree. Although, in my defense, I can be nice when I try and when that little thing called tact actually kicks in.
And I want some of my own...eventually. I really like Anne Geddes's stuff, so check her out.
-Camp counselor-ize at the best place on Earth.
-Co-Chair and teach for an English as a Second Language program here on campus for adults in the community.
-Binge-eat.
-Give blood. And platelets.
-Cry. A lot. Sometimes over stupid stuff. Sometimes not.
-Laugh. More than I cry.
-Research within the Sekelsky Lab here on campus.
-Say witty things like, "I'm so witty; yes I am; I'm so witty; I like ham."
-Like bad movies like "Bring it on!" and "The Sweetest Thing"
-Make fun of people I consider to be my friends. To their faces.
-Make plans. Although I'm working on being more present-oriented. (present like now, not present like "gimme stuff')
-Try to find love for everybody.
Babies (duh). Dogs. Target. Michael. Ice Cream. Chocolate. Pink. Green. Gyros. My cell phone. My new layout on this site. Knitting. Being crafty. Pretty Pretty Princess. Camp Occoneechee. Looking at photographs. Sleeping. Michael. Learning new stuff. Biology. Making people happy. Making me happy. Daydreaming/planning. Eating. Law & Order. CSI. Friends. Scrubs. Christmas. Summertime. Bare feet. Spring rain. Daffodils. Gerber daises. People in love. Salmon. Cold water. The smell of clean laundry. The woods. Lissa’s laugh. Crying for no reason. Giddiness. Michael. Talking to myself. Hanging out with my family. Writing brilliantly. Shopping. Driving Candace with no place to go. Wahi. Being naked. Leisure reading. Puppies. Hanging out with friends. UNC. Roald Dahl. James Herriot. The Phantom Tollbooth. The Ordinary Princess. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Camp Songs. Agatha Christie. Dirty Dancing. Finding Nemo. Disney’s Robin Hood. The word noodle. Teaching people stuff. Windy nights. The beach. Jersey sheets.
Ignorance. Close-mindedness. Unnecessary rudeness to the service industry (waitstaff, salespeople, or anyone you feel is "below" you, or at least unworthy of general human decency). Tedious chores/manual labor. Quantitive analysis of acid-base equilibria. When people entering an elevator, bus, etc, don't wait for those leaving to get off. Opening my email inbox only to find that no one has written me. My Suicide Time (see below). Shoes that make my feet hurt. When people congregate in the middle of a walkway.
Mid-afternoon around 2-5 pm, especially if it is a bright glare-y day and thusly I have a headache, especially especially if I am trying to do homework or am otherwise bored. It only happens when I am alone and filled with self-pity and self-depreciating feelings. Important Note/Disclaimer: I would never even consider actually committing suicide. However, this is the time of day when my usually optimistic and giddy personality is most likely to be dark and sluggish. I do not in any way intend this post to advocate suicide. Although I am okay with MD-assisted suicide, methinks... That's for another time, however.