She thought she could so she did

"She believed she could, so she did."


Who's ready to fly?  We all can, especially if we believe we can.  January is a time to take stock and believe in ourselves.  It's a time to believe that we can, just like the little train that could.

My hope for you in this new year is that you stretch yourself, literally and figuratively.  Be kind to yourself.  Be kind to those around you.  Go for a walk when your body tells you running is too much. Sip some tea and sense how the steam feels as it enters your mouth and you begin to swallow the savory, blended herbal concoction.  Say please.  Say thank you.  Say no thank you, because you know it will hurt those around you if you do offer a note of thanks.

Laugh.  Cry.  Take out a piece of paper and doodle.  Doodle some more.  Doodle until you believe that doodle can turn into a piece of art to be hung on your bathroom mirror.  Hang it up so that it represents the life inside you that's screaming to come out and have a chance to introduce itself to the world.

Fall.  Get up and start over, and then start over again.  Write down your dreams.  Put shaving creme on the kitchen floor and "skate" barefoot.  Fill your bathtub with water and color the water with food coloring.  Put floating candles and create your own oasis of crazy.

Take chances.

Take risks.

I've done all of the above activities and I can honestly say I'm the better for it.  They may feel like they hurt, but the secret is -none of them do.

Happy New Year to all, and to all a good day.... a good night.... and a good flight!

See you in the sky!

Lisa

A team approach to a cesarean birth should include a doula's presence

Yes, there’s a new baby in the world!   I’m usually very quiet when it comes to sharing about my doula services because I want to ensure privacy for my clients.  I’m not going to post details regarding a most recent birth that I attended, but about the health care team in general.   This recent birth had all involved working as a team when their was a (much needed) cesarean delivery on the horizon.  As a doula, I was invited to be part of this team and  I’m grateful that the obstetrician from Cedar Sinai Medical Center acknowledged the relationship I had with my client and consented to my being in the operating room (OR).  I know that Cedars doesn’t generally allow for such.

My question is WHY NOT?

When a doula is in the operating room it’s  ”win-win” for all involved:  1)  the mom, because she has continual emotional support to mitigate any anxiety 2) the health care team so that they can focus on the tasks that they have been skilled and trained to do, without worrying about any kind of emergent situation ensuing 3) the baby, who enters the world in a more peaceful way.

From their coaches that lend an encouraging word, to trainers stretching and nutritionists hydrating, athletes delivering babies shouldn’t miss out on the team approach to birthing, even win it comes to a cesarean birth.  Generally, women do not want to feel alone at this critical juncture, and research shows that feelings of isolation can lead to problems with postpartum depression in mom, which ultimately sets up a disconnect in bonding with her baby.

My post today is a plea to all hospitals:  please allow doulas in the operating room.  As long as they are aware of their place in the team, the “winning run” can be scored; the “prize” is the baby.  Let’s ALL be part of that home run.

Let Veteran's Day remind us of coming home

"I'm coming home!"  We say these words as we call our loved ones after leaving work.  We say them as we finish running to the store to buy the last bit of ingredients for the red hot chile, with the extra kick.  Heck,  Dr. Dre, Eminem and Skylar Grey even sang them.  

Those words mean so much more to military families.  They dream about them.  They even use these words in the form of a question, with the beginning word being "when."

"When are you coming home, Daddy?" expressed by a near three year old girl, as she stares into a camera deep inside her mom's laptop computer.   He's miles away, donning his U.S. Army attire through the screen.   She's tried touching him, wondering why she can't feel his skin, his hair and his beard.  All she feels is the smooth, hard surface of the glass.

"When are you coming home, Daddy?", with the answer being, "A year, my darling daughter."  She doesn't understand how long that is, because she just learned that when the sun comes up, it goes down sometime later that day, and when she wakes up she will see that same sun again.  

This same girl learns how to count, not by blocks or writing numbers.  Instead, she watches her mom make "X marks the spot" signs in tiny squares that adorn the calendar taped to the fridge.  

With her mom's help, she counts the number of "X's, and when she counts past the number 20, she gets so confused that she beings to yell, "Start over!  Start over!" 

She's not really mad about getting the counting right.  She's mad because she wants her Dad.  "When are you coming home?" gets replaced with, "Why did you even leave me?"

I want anyone serving the military to come home.  I want this for every child that needs their Dad or Mom to tuck them into bed at night, while whispering the words, "Sleep tight.  Don't let the bed bugs bite."  These words aren't that comforting, literally.  However, if you asked that little girl if they scared her, she'd most likely tell you they're nothing compared to the fear of living one more day without her Dad.

Watch the YouTube clip below, courtesy of ESPN.   I dare you to do so with a dry eye.  Allow the love you witness to appreciate your home, your family, and your life.

"I'm coming home."  Sing it, Dr. Dre.  Sing it loud.

Happy Veteran's Day.