Hi y'all!
I am Paige Morrison, a city girl-turned-townie-wannabe. I became passionate about health care and personal awareness in 2006 when I began teaching sex education through a volunteer student group at UAB called SHAPE. In 2007, I got sick, and in 2008 I was denied health insurance. In 2009, I underwent surgery to remove my gall bladder and had a terrible recovery experience, resulting in a diagnosis of autoimmune disorders in 2010.
If there were doulas for gall bladder recovery, I would have hired one. Since there aren't, I decided to become a birth doula. People close to me were a bit surprised by this new found passion, as I have always been very adamant about my desire to adopt and never be pregnant. I think God put the desire to adopt in me because He knew my health issues would cause me to seriously consider the possibility of never trying to experience pregnancy. (If I do become pregnant, I am just going to roll with it, and start praying like a mad woman, and ask everyone I encounter to do the same.) I am also very much in love with raspberry leaf tea and soft cheeses, so perhaps that was another reason God put the adoption bug in me, as those are no-no's during pregnancy. (I kid, I kid. But, not about the tea and cheese being cautioned against during pregnancy. Something about how the tea affects the reproductive system and something about how bacteria or something bad is more present in soft cheeses.)
Some people are hesitant to become parents because they have such a negative view of the world and don't think it's right to bring children into a place they deem so terrible. While I support people who have this view, and at some moments I agree with them, I ultimately feel children make the world right. As cliche as the line is, children are our future. I believe in bringing new life into this world, and teaching our children to respect the environment and each other. Yes, it's very ideal, but if we all raised respectful and kind children, this world would truly be a better place.
Back to this doula thing ... I started my certification in July 2011 and have completed my classes and now have to finish my readings and attend three childbirths with excellent reviews. This is where you mothers-to-be come in to play. While I will always make myself available as a doula (it is not legally required, as of yet, to be certified to be a doula), I would like to be certified. First, in case it does become legally required, I will be ready. Second, I am doing this so that I force myself to stay on top of current research and developments related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Third, I feel as if being certified gives me a bit more legitimacy. I've never been pregnant, don't see a pregnancy for me in my future, and I don't have kids yet. Why would someone trust me if I've never experienced what they're going through? (Actually, this could be a strength for me, since I have no bias about "what worked for me," I have a toolbox of sorts full of ideas to try with no preference to one over another.)
Be patient with me, as I am an absolutely terrible blogger. If there is something you would like me to discuss, feel free to ask. I look forward to helping you with your journey to parenthood.
