Well, the new baby turns 1 years old this week, so I think I can officially stop calling this break from doula work a maternity leave. But, you know what? It's Birthing With Stephanie and I make the rules, right? So maternity leave it is!
When my pregnancy became complicated early on I realized that serving another woman while she gave birth was not going to be possible or safe for me to do, I also knew that I was probably not going to take any new clients for at least 6 months after my baby was born. A repeat client maybe. Placentas definitely. Childbirth class, sometime in the first year. . .
See, I had these plans!
But just like with our written or mentally manifested birth plans, there is always room for flexibility. Rigid plans are a recipe for frustration and feelings of failure.
After my premature birth and NICU stay with my new baby in March 2016 I have not felt ready to go back to birth work. I miss pretty much everything about it, but simply put, I have separation anxiety when I even think about leaving my little guy for any length of time.
This baby and I are quite literally attached at the nip.
When my pregnancy became complicated early on I realized that serving another woman while she gave birth was not going to be possible or safe for me to do, I also knew that I was probably not going to take any new clients for at least 6 months after my baby was born. A repeat client maybe. Placentas definitely. Childbirth class, sometime in the first year. . .
See, I had these plans!
But just like with our written or mentally manifested birth plans, there is always room for flexibility. Rigid plans are a recipe for frustration and feelings of failure.
After my premature birth and NICU stay with my new baby in March 2016 I have not felt ready to go back to birth work. I miss pretty much everything about it, but simply put, I have separation anxiety when I even think about leaving my little guy for any length of time.
This baby and I are quite literally attached at the nip.
Childbirth not only transforms the Woman into Mother, but it transforms the Mother all over again each time. Knowing this, I should have known not to worry about the details of my maternity leave plan.
So, here I am now, my plan has loosened up quite a bit but it feels very right. I am not taking birth clients right now, nor do I have any idea when I will be.
I am currently offering Placenta Encapsulation and focusing on my community support roles as a La Leche League Leader and a Volunteer Babywearing Educator with Babywearing International. (Check out the video below of me wrapping my baby on my back in super fast motion!)
So, here I am now, my plan has loosened up quite a bit but it feels very right. I am not taking birth clients right now, nor do I have any idea when I will be.
I am currently offering Placenta Encapsulation and focusing on my community support roles as a La Leche League Leader and a Volunteer Babywearing Educator with Babywearing International. (Check out the video below of me wrapping my baby on my back in super fast motion!)
Last week I brought a repeat client her placenta pills. This was the first placenta I had seen or worked with since my own and I felt so honored to do this preparation for her. If you know me, you know how I feel about placentas. They are amazing--a blog post for another time, perhaps!
Tell your pregnant friends that I am back in business--for placentas anyway!
How did you feel about going back to work after having a baby? Did you feel different after each baby? Feel free to use the comment section to share your thoughts and feelings on your own experience with parental leave.
Tell your pregnant friends that I am back in business--for placentas anyway!
How did you feel about going back to work after having a baby? Did you feel different after each baby? Feel free to use the comment section to share your thoughts and feelings on your own experience with parental leave.
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