Need a Doula in San Antonio?

Rachel’s birth was the best experience I have had. My family, doula/friend, and doctor, made it all easy for me.

I was having a VBA2C…..my other doctor would not allow me to continue services with them….because I wanted to try to Labor….. I had been at the  Above Rubies Retreat April 23rd… had gotten home and started feeling twinges at about 10:30 pm but I went to bed. I woke up at 3:30 am on April 24th with severe pains and I started timing them but they were not steady. So I waited for a few hours then around 6:30 am the pains were back and steady at 5 min apart. We called Brenda to let her know and Josh called in to work, and I labored. I walked and squatted, got in the tub,got in the bed, and got on the ball. Brenda was great, she fixed me Emergen-C and a peanut butter shake—I turned my nose up at that.  She was so encouraging to me. The pains were still five minutes apart, so around 12 am on April 25th,  I decided to go into the hospital. Yes, I went - DH was not comfy with a homebirth and with the doctor change we didn’t have much time to find a midwife.

Of course the Nurses did the protocol and hooked me up, but I got out of bed every chance I had. I just should have put my foot down and said no, but anyway anything the nurse wanted to do was held off cuz I was gathering my peeps up to help inform us of what they were doing and give us time to think. Soooo, I had no pains meds! Doc Van’s associate came in and checked me, I really wanted Dr Van to be there, and finally she came.  I pushed for 40 mintues and during that time I was kinda not trying hard enough and Dr. Van said to me, hey you are almost there –  just push some more and she is out. I remember Brenda saying hey look at the mirror you can see her hair - and that was it.  I pushed and out came Rachel. It was soooo awesome.

*Brenda’s comments: Brandy is a good friend of mine, and this was my first birth as a doula! It has also been my longest birth to date, her labor was 30 hours and I was with her nearly the whole time. I loved being able to support Brandy, and was so proud of her for having the courage to stand up for what she wanted in the face of much opposition. She also did a fantastic job staying positive during her long labor. Brandy has made herself available to answer questions for other moms who are considering a VBAC – please contact me and I will be glad to put you in touch with her.