body do its job. To allow everything to open up and allow “that baby” to come down! She wasn’t only great for me, but for my family. My husband, my mom, and my mother-in-law were all present and she did really well to incorporate all of them. She made them all part of the birth experience.
Not only the birth, but the postpartum care as well. I had some minor complications when I returned to my bed, but she stayed with me until I was better. She really explained things to me and made sure that I understood it all.”
MJ Goff is editor of Hudson Valley Parent magazine.
Gizella DeVenere welcomes her new daughter to the world with the help of a midwife, partially seen at right.
for years now, so when I went into labor with my son [in 2009], my husband and I were praying that she was on call. We were so happy that she was able to deliver my son. For my daughter’s birth, we were again hoping it would be [Margi]. She is just amazing and makes us feel so relaxed. While I do love everyone in the office, Margi just has that special something and her approach to birthing matches us perfectly. While I was happy with my first birthing experience it wasn’t the one that I “dreamed of.” I’d always imaged a relaxing water birth, free of medication. After several hours of active labor and a grinding halt to my progress, she [Margie] asked if it was okay to break my water. After that, labor became much more difficult and my contractions very irregular. I gave in. I tried my best, but I couldn’t do it anymore. I had my epidural. I immedi- ately relaxed and allowed my body to do what it was designed to do. Some pitocin and an hour of
photo provided by Gizella DeVenere
pushing later, my son was born. The experience was unforgettable, of course, but [it] wasn’t my birth plan. Margi was able to step in when I needed her to guide me through. All those decisions were the right decisions.
When I went into labor with my daughter, I knew things would be different. I progressed very quickly and after being at the hospital for an hour I was already 8cm [dilated]. I was ready for the tub. I had to be wheeled to the tub because my contractions were so intense that I couldn’t even walk. As soon as we got to the tub, I practically pushed the nurse (wonderful Pam at Neugarten Birth Center) out of the way and leapt into the tub mid-contraction. Margi followed in the room soon after. It was intense. Really
intense...but Margi knew I wanted to go natural and she never pushed me. In fact, she encouraged me. She made me feel like I could do anything. That I was in charge. She helped me through the breathing and kept reminding me to let my
GO TO
hvparent.com To downloadable comparison
chart on area birthing centers. Visit
hvparent.com/birthingcenters
Stats on doulas in the
delivery room Having a trained doula provides: 50% reduction in the cesarean rate 25% shorter labor 60% reduction in epidural requests 40% reduction in oxytocin use 30% reduction in analgesia use 40% reduction in forceps delivery
from Mothering The Mother: How A Doula Can Help You Have A Shorter, Easier, And Healthier Birth by Marshall H. Klaus.
HVParent.com Hudson Valley Parent 33
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