False Alarm

I’m just replaying last night in my head…

I’ve got my first client as a doula (yay!). I haven’t announced it to many people, but inside I’m screaming and freaking out at the same time. I also had my first false alarm with my client and we had our first trip to the ER together last night.

It started with a text from my client letting us know she wasn’t feeling well or detecting any fetal movement throughout the day. Fast forward to a couple hours later, and we’re on our way to the ER. My doula mentor was at another birth, so it was going to be just the two of us. I made a mad dash to grab a change of clothes, some toiletries, snacks, water, my NB, and the Birth Partner (plus my charger because of course my phone was on 20%), and headed out the door. Thankfully, my sneakers were already in the car so I just had to grab some socks and change out of my flip flops on the way. Quick stop at Chick Fil A and turned my radio and I was good to go.

How did I do? How did I come across? are questions I ask myself. It was my first time being alone with her, other than the medical staff. And yet, I feel we had a chance to really talk and grow our doula-client bond and work on mommy’s birth plan. We got to know each other, she asked some amazing questions and I got to test my readiness. I also was able to have my first run at being in an exam room and starting to get a feel for the layout, equipment, and procedures. Honestly, some of it was on the fly…but I do know my areas of growth and strength. And like my mentor said, I now know to keep a go bag ready.

Fortunately, mommy and baby both ended up being fine. Baby’s not ready yet. Still waiting