While pregnant, and even before pregnancy, you have probably heard a million and one birth stories. Unmedicated births, cesarean births, births started by induction. water births, vaginal births, episiotomies, IV's, external fetal monitoring, internal fetal monitoring, vacuum extractions, antibiotics,... the list goes on and on. Have you ever wondered what these mean? Are you uncertain what is necessary and when and what you would prefer? Come meet with the doulas for an informative evening looking at choices and what each of these interventions look like. Every birth is unique and it's important to be informed and prepared, so this is a workshop you do not want to miss!

This is our first Thursday of the month workshop so we'll meet at The Nest at 7pm. See you there!!!

The time is 1 a.m.  My client is resting well between contractions.  Her support team is resting as well.  I go to my bag of doula tricks and pull out my battery tealights and put them all around the room.  Check in with my client as she has a few more contractions.  Then I run for the hall and ask for a couple of warm blankets for her support people.  Spread the blankets.  Check in with my client for a few more contractions.  Then I cover up the digital lights on the contraction monitor.  Then I grab an extra pillow, the rolly around chair and position myself at bedside to rest and stay connected with my client. 
As we all dozed and woke through the night, the candles offered a warm light that softened the edges of the hospital walls and countertops.  There is something soothing about candlelight.

Come meet the Chico Doula Circle doulas on Thursday September 19th at 7 p.m. as we discuss other ways to make your hospital room "your" space.   La Casita Primera Preschool, 2035 Esplanade, Chico, CA.  All are welcome to attend this free meeting.  Single moms, couples planning to become pregnant, and those that are in any stage of their pregnancy, and anything in between.

Beginning in October, 2013, the Chico Doula Circle will be meeting on the 1st Thursday of each month at 7:00pm and the 3rd Sunday of each month at 2:00pm. We will meet at our usual location- La Casita Primera Preschool, 2035 Esplanade, Chico, CA.
As always, these meetings are open to any expecting parents who are curious about doula care, or who just want to hang out with some doulas, get your questions answered, and meet new friends.
For a current listing of our upcoming meetings' topics, visit our Chico Doula Circle events page on facebook.
Hope to see you there!!!

From June through August, the Chico Doula Circle will be hosting weekend meetings, in addition to our regularly scheduled 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month meetings.
We will be meeting at our usual locationa, (La Casita Primera Preschool, 2035 Esplanade, in Chico) every 2nd Sunday of the month at 2pm.
For the latest news on what our meeting topics will be, go to
https://www.facebook.com/chicodoulacircle/events

We hope to see you there!

Amber, Kim, Sorrell and I celebrated the 1 year milestone of Chico Doula Circle with a few of our clients last night.  All those present wrote down memories and feelings, threw them in a bucket, and then took turns reading them out loud.  The following are some samples of comments from parents and us the doulas:

"Took his temperature 20 times a day for the first week"

"I love seeing new parents faces when they first meet their baby"

"I did not know a 1-day old could pee so far"

"I love getting a phone call very early or very late.  I know my phone only rings at that time for one reason"

"Didn't know I could love my husband more, but I do"

"One of my favorite parts of working as a doula is witnessing the reactions of the family and parents when the baby fully emerges into the world"

"Projectile vomit baby 80% of the time"

"I attended three births in 36 hours"

"Was practically naked throughout my birth"

"It was super awesome having a Doula at the birth because, someone with first hand experience was a great asset"

"So enjoy meeting new people and take delight in all of our Chico Doula Circle clients"

"I never thought I would spend so much time examining and talking about poop"

"I love when a woman is starting labor and the initial excitement that happens~all fear seems to melt away in those beginning moments"

"I will never forget the totally new yet absolutely familiar feeling of his shoulders, body and legs sliding out"

"My sister nick-named him the beast because he will cluster feed for three hours"

Three of our beautiful clients and their awesome babies.  Thank you for celebrating the evening with us!


~Anne