In the last 48 hours I’ve attended two births and will most likely attend another tonight. (My guess is I’ll get called in at 3:20 in the morning. Seems like that’s the magic hour for laboring mothers.) Tonight, I was observed by my instructor, while assisting with the birth. Which means, I wore gloves a lot, and had a stethoscope around my neck all night. After the birth, I took (and charted) blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and temperature of both mom and baby – every 15 minutes for mom and every 30 for baby, (after the initial newborn exam by the CNM). Continue reading
I Clamped an Umbilical Cord!
30 JulMaking Room For Love
29 Jul
Zoe and me, October of 2009
Motherhood is the greatest gift I’ve been given. I can literally feel my heart ache with gratefulness and love for my daughter. The privilege of being a mom is one of the most profound blessings I’ve known. Everyday, I breathe in the sweet smell of my daughter’s baby soft skin and I drink in that she’s mine. I am so grateful. Countless times throughout the day I whisper thanks for being given this gift of a daughter. Continue reading
Birth With Photos
21 JulI had the pleasure of assisting a fabulous couple with their fist birth back in June. They sent me a few pictures to share with you. This strong mother labored like a pro. Not only did she give birth early, but her entire labor and birth was about three hours. Lucky girl! (This was also the day that I had two mommas give birth, so I was grateful for a short labor.) Continue reading
I’m famous. Kinda.
20 JulOkay, not really. But I was asked to be a part of a short student documentary* on natural childbirth. So, take a peek and let me know what you think. Zoe makes her film debut, too.
*Produced in UNT RTVF Summer Documentary Workshop. Copyright belongs to Felicia Cordova & Samantha Jahansouzshahi.
I am Joy, a happily married mother of two waterbirthed babies. I am a doula and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, who worked as a midwife's assistant at a freestanding birth center in TX. As of 2015, I'm a full-time nursing student who teaches childbirth classes at Park Ridge Health, The Baby Place, in Hendersonville, NC. I love serving laboring moms and I enjoy teaching birth education. I use this blog to write about it all - my life, my children, and my passion of all things childbirth.
The Joy of This 