Melissa DrexlerCaring for woman unconditionally in this century is a privilege and it is my purpose to help them find their voice. Nothing has been more humbling than when an expectant mother invites me to experience the most vulnerable moments in her life and keep record of it all. Facilitating the growth of a family and watching a woman grow mentally and physically is highly rewarding. The photographs I often take at a birth are evidence of these drastic transformations. It is revealed in the visage and mannerisms of each woman and her partner ( if present) before and after the birth.
Each woman has the innate ability to birth a child. As a doula, I strive to bring physical and emotional support to those last few weeks of pregnancy and allow for a birth and postpartum period that is equally empowered and fluid. It is bridging the gap between clinical and human care in a time when she can feel very pressured to make quick decisions and may otherwise not have all the information at hand. Hopefully, our prenatal meetings, birth plan and list of resources, will prepare the mother for making many of these on the spot decisions. I’ve always been very active in community service. Since a young teen, I enjoyed particularly working with children and the impoverished. I believe every woman that wants a doula should have one present and not be turned down based on income. Growing up on a farm in upstate NY, I was introduced to the extended family and community caring for birthing women by the surrounding Amish and Mennonite communities. This was in part, inspiration for what a doula is and has always done for generations around the world. Women can choose to birth alone, but traditionally, this is not how it is done and should not have to be. Continuous support is optimal. Not just in birth, but postpartum as well. My life north of Pittsburgh has plenty of multitasking every day. Shuffling kids and pets, but I look forward to leaving it all behind for the peace and singular focus of birth. Each one is unique and just as special as it is normal. The endless love and energy each mother has for baby is tremendously rewarding to witness. I look forward to and am thankful for each and every birth day. |