It’s three years since I began this amazing doula journey, and 35 births later plus supporting an additional 6 families postnatally, I am still in awe of the magic of birth and how the presence of a tiny wee baby can affect each and every one of us. No matter how much preparation goes into coping with pregnancy, labour, birth and bringing baby home, I still see the jubilation and nervous mixture of raw emotion when baby meets mummy and daddy in those early days. I love it! I feel so very privileged to offer support at this precious, intimate, life-changing event and I will never tire of doing so.
And this leads me on to why I have had my head in the clouds this past weekend. I humbly received an award for ‘Doula of Distinction’ at the NI Positive Birth Conference in Belfast amidst many of my birthing heros. Check it out! Not only the headline presenters, but so many strong, fierce mummies together with health professionals and volunteers all endeavouring to improve the perinatal experience for families in Northern Ireland. Wow! It was truly amazing, inspirational, emotional, raw – a bit like birth really.