A Snippet from Cheralyn

I got a call last night from my friend Cheralyn who is studying to be a doula and will be in our fall training at the beginning of November. She told me of a book she's reading, the timeless birth classic, Childbirth Without Fear by Grantly Dick Read. She said it's a wordy book with a lot of deep insights; not necessarily an easy read, but she's finding she can hardly put it down. She told me it made her realize that this is what she is supposed to do: birth. I smiled and said, "All of us in this work feel the same way. We know we're supposed to be here. Welcome to the club."

She also shared with me a very cute story which I asked her to send to me so I could post it. Enjoy!

When I was in labor with my baby who is now 8 months old, as the contractions got harder towards the end of labor I found it very helpful in my controlled breathing to moan deeply as I breathed out, working with the contractions. Today my husband, who is a massage therapist, was doing some trigger point therapy on some muscle knots in my neck. As a coping technique I practiced my controlled breathing, moaning deeply with my expelled breaths. Our little baby girl was sitting on the floor in front of me, and as soon as she heard my moans she looked up at me and smiled a big beautiful smile. I said to my husband "Do you think she remembers her birth?" and he replied, "Well, it was a momentous occasion for her!" She seemed truly happy to hear the sounds she must have heard while in the womb preparing to be born!