July 4, 2024 • 21 mins
Discover the transformative role doulas play in supporting single mothers through the prenatal and birthing process. Our latest episode promises invaluable insights into how doulas cultivate a nurturing and informative environment for single mothers, often collaborating with other doulas or the mother's existing support network. We emphasize the importance of personalized care plans and share essential advice for aspiring doulas, from understanding their motivations to managing their workload to prevent burnout. By tuning in, you'll gain practical strategies for enhancing the birthing experience and fostering a supportive community for new mothers.
We also reimagine the healthcare landscape by exploring ancient midwifery practices and the vital contribution of doulas in modern care. Through compelling personal stories, we highlight how continuous, personalized care from doulas can significantly impact families. Our discussion extends to the challenges faced by black birthing people in Madison-Dane County and the urgent need for system-wide transformation. The episode concludes with an inspiring conversation with a dedicated doula from "A Doula Just for You," who shares her approach to providing accessible and community-focused support. Join us for an episode filled with heartfelt discussions and actionable insights to improve maternal care.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
How do you support single mothers?
It has to be such a differentprocess of care when you're
talking about having a coupleand you're supporting that
couple, versus having a youngmother by herself, you know,
with no family.
You know what I mean.
Like yes, I know you've runinto that.
How do you do that Again?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
those prenatal visits are very important.
It's very important to have anunderstanding of what the
birthing person knows, what thatmother knows and what they need
.
So I have had the joy ofpartnering up and teaming up
with another doula so we cancover so one doula acts in the
role as the support person andI'll be in the role as a doula,
(00:44):
or vice versa I'm the supportperson and then the main doula
is doing the caring andproviding of the cares and
providing the support.
Other situations I've cared forbirthing people and their moms
being there, their sisters, eventheir boyfriend, even the
father of the baby or a newrelationship.
So it's really important toestablish a baseline Like what
(01:07):
is the plan, what's going on?
here, Exactly, exactly.
I don't go in thinking when doI fit Exactly?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I'm not trying to take over, I'm just trying to,
you know, come in and help,exactly Because that is the job.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
My job is to fill in the gaps, not override anything,
not speak for, advocate for,but empower my mom to speak up,
empowering the birthing personto speak up, and if they're not
able to speak up, come up withvery creative ways to have their
needs be met, without menecessarily being the one
(01:40):
talking.
Sometimes it's the partner,sometimes it's the support
person.
Okay, when they come in, canyou please express what you
express with me, what you'reseeing, observing or what the
birthing person needs that theymay not have that support?
You know that kind of a thing.
So my job is really it's kindof like okay, all right, what's
(02:01):
going on, you know, making sureeverything is fine.
My job is to make sure that theatmosphere is positive.
Positive, okay, all right,what's going on?
You know, making sureeverything is fine.
My job is to make sure that theatmosphere is positive,
positive, informative, full oflove.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
And you can feel that too, yes yes, you can feel that
when you walk into a room, ifit's tense or if it's like
scared, or if it's okay, this isa safe space, this is a
positive space.
Or if it's okay, this is a safespace, this is a positive space
.
Everything that's going on inthis room is normal and you're
going to see some things andhear some things, but just know
(02:32):
we're here for support.
Yes, no judgment.
Yes, you know what I mean.
Yes, you know my doula.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
You know she did a really, really great job, yes,
so what advice would you givepeople that want to become a
doula, because I know you teachdoulas.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
So you know, what advice or guidance would you
offer an aspiring doula who islooking to get into the
profession?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
So, first and foremost, know your why.
Remember your why?
Because when you show up andyou're providing care, sometimes
you'll be challenged by it.
Sometimes you may have asituation the outcome didn't
come out the way, or you andyour client, for whatever reason
, things didn't go the way asplanned and it can be
discouraging.
But know your why, hold on toyour why, be reminded.
(03:20):
Surround yourself with otherlike-minded people.
The other thing, too, is in theprocess of becoming a doula,
make sure you're properlytrained, because right now
doulas are trending and there'sso many different types of
doulas only because there's somany things you can tack on with
it.
You have doulas who can doaromatherapy.
You have doulas who areherbalists.
(03:40):
You have doulas who are likemyself I'm a nurse.
You have doulas who add a wholebunch of other things full
spectrum work, you know so theycover birth and death.
I've had the joy of being anurse, having those experiences,
so that's where I got myfirsthand training.
But there are so many differentthings that you can do in
addition to doula work that canmake you so unique Staying up to
(04:02):
date, knowing the trends,knowing the people you're caring
for, making sure that you areproviding a quality of care
that's unmatched.
You know that's unique to whoyou are.
The other thing is also makingsure that your caseload does not
burn you out because you'rechasing the money.
You know it's really importantthat you're able to devote the
(04:22):
time because, like we weretalking about earlier, it could
take like maybe two to fourhours, as if they're rip and
roaring in labor andeverything's happening.
But a lot of times, you know,inductions are on the rise, so
moms are in the hospital foralmost three days sometimes.
That is a long time.
So as a doula, you got to havea plan.
You got to make sure that yourclient is getting everything
(04:44):
that they need.
You're getting what you need.
So it's like a balancing act.
So making sure that you're ableto have that check and balance
and then also sometimes surroundyourself with other you know,
with some other doulas who knowyou and you know them.
Can you come in and help me if?
I'm getting in a jam yes, or ifI'm going into that 16, 18 hour
(05:04):
every now and again I still dolike a 24 hour birth.
But you know, I've gottenbetter.
I've gotten more skilled at itand also gotten better over the
years, educating my client toknow what to expect so that I
can pace myself Like that bookKnow what to Expect when You're
Expecting Exactly.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
That's exactly what it is.
I don't know how I rememberedthat Well you probably was
reading that book a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Chapter by chapter.
I know I was when I had my kid,because the interesting thing
is, when I became a mom and Iwas pregnant with my first, it
was like all the things I knewkind of went out the window,
because it's like I'm in thedriver's seat now I'm not in the
passenger seat.
This is how do I change adiaper.
Well, that I knew, because thenursing part helped.
But the thing that it's sodifferent when it happens to you
(05:49):
versus when you've beenproviding care to others.
But I know for a fact, when mybaby was born and I made it
through on the other side, Ibecame even more passionate and
I was so grateful that I had thesupport.
But that's because I've beengiving that support all along
the way, so I knew how to get it.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
So did you have a doula.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
No, I was my own doula.
So here's the interesting thing, I know, I know, I know.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
You're very talented.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
What was interesting was but in.
But to be honest with you, thevisualization I have is I saw
all my clients, like it was likethe round table, and I can see
all their faces making commentsright Like yeah you sure, chana,
you ain't doing that right,your attitude.
So for the first 11 hours of mylabor I did everything they
(06:36):
told me to do and I didn'tprogress.
And I had to be induced becausethey were concerned about
preeclampsia.
Everything was beautiful.
So I literally hit the 38thweek.
My blood pressure startedcreeping up and also at this
time I'm working at the hospital.
I'm in labor and delivery.
Well, not quite at labor anddelivery.
I was working on another unit,the oncology unit, so that's
(06:56):
really stressful.
And you're talking about12-hour days at least three
times a week and sometimes wehave to work back to back to
back three days in a row.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Pregnant.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yes, sometime overtime.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Nine months pregnant.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Exactly, worked all the way up until the end, wow,
and it got really, really hard.
But you know your first time,mom, what is rest, what you know
?
Yeah, the ankles getting alittle swollen, and you know it
was little, little changes, butthe biggest change was that
blood pressure and my familypractice doc was like no, we're
(07:28):
not going to take no chanceswith you, we're going to get you
induced.
But they forgot to tell me.
So I'm going thinking they'rejust going to check and monitor
my baby.
And they said, oh welcome,you're getting induced.
And I lost it because my husbandwas at work.
So you know, fast forward, allthis.
I'm doing everything they tellme to do and I go from fingertip
to two.
I said, forget this, I'm goingto take matters into my own
(07:51):
hands.
I soaked myself in the tub.
I couldn't get the mesoprostol.
They gave me one dose.
It was, you know, thecontractions was a lot, but it
wasn't doing anything.
I got on Pitocin and I justlabored in the tub and I had my
husband with me and I wastalking to him.
I think he got tired and Ithink his anxiety got the best
of him because he couldn't carrythe load from me and at one
(08:13):
point he was like why don't youget checked?
I'm like no, because if theytell me I'm four, I don't know
what I'm going to do.
And long and behold, I wentfrom two to eight.
The nurse didn't even believeit because I had a new resident
and she was like I don't believeit, let me check.
And then she said by golly,because I was begging her to
turn off the Pitocin because itwas too intense, and she didn't
(08:35):
believe me.
I'm a first-time mom.
I don't know what I'm talkingabout, but I have 10 years of
experience.
And then it was like let's,let's rupture you.
And I'm like no, I dideverything y'all wanted me to do
.
I'm okay, give me my drugs.
So I got my IV medicine and itwas like no, but the baby could
come real soon.
I said look, I've been in laborfor quite some time and nothing
(08:57):
has happened.
I'm at 14 now.
What are you talking about?
And it was awesome because themedicine was just enough to take
.
My water broke on its own andwhen it broke I was crowning
Less than 30 minutes of pushing.
He was there.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
And that was the most empowering thing.
I was like you can't tell meanything.
I got to feel my baby move.
My baby was working hard, justlike mommy was working hard.
So when I got that personaldata for myself, I can share
that with the birthing person, Ican share that with the mothers
that I'm caring for, that yourbaby's also trying to come out
(09:36):
too and y'all work together atsome point, and that you're
going to experience pain.
But I'm going to explain to youwhat the pain is.
Pain is progress.
Certain types of pain isprogress.
I'm going to empower you withtools and you're going to give
me the information to let meknow what you're feeling, and
we're going to figure out what'sthe best position.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
So can you discuss the importance of representation
and diversity within the doulacommunity and how it impacts the
experiences of birthingindividuals?
Speaker 2 (10:06):
First and foremost, representation matters.
When I see my client, mypatient, who looks like me, it's
like unspoken common languagethat unifies us, just like when
you see two black dudes you knowthey, what's up that head nod,
right, you won't get that withyour white counterpart or
another person from anotherculture.
(10:28):
You're not going to get that.
It's unique to black culture,right.
And I love when I see thepatients that I care for that
look like me.
You could see the fear lessonoh, she's here to help me.
Or when, I you know, getassigned.
I have people in the communitythat refer and I heard about you
, you know, uchena, I also go byNurse Uno.
(10:50):
I heard about you, nurse Uno,and I heard about you.
You know, uchena, I also go byNurse Uno.
I heard about you, nurse Uno,and I know you're a doula.
Can you help me?
And just knowing that I can dothat for them because I look
like them, there's a whole lotof conversation I don't need to
have with them because we havecommon, you know.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Commonalities Right.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
And when we break bread it's even more so.
And that peace of mind ofhaving somebody that may have
shared experiences is enough toreduce the anxiety and the
tension that they go on to havea great birth experience,
because why Somebody that lookslike me care about me, somebody
that knows what I'm feeling?
(11:28):
They're feeling it too andwe're in it together.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
That knows what I'm feeling, they're feeling it too,
and we're in it together.
So, looking ahead, what changesor improvements would you like
to see within the birthing anddoula community, particularly
concerning inclusivity andequity?
Speaker 2 (11:51):
I would like to see more collaboration If we're
going to change the way birthingpeople are treated at the
bedside.
This term called implicit biasmeaning I have inherent things
that I know and don't know thatcauses me to maltreat people
(12:13):
that don't look like me or maynot have the same economic
status like me or didn't have asimilar upbringing like me.
It has to stop Because at theend of the day, that's a
heartbeat that's beating andlast time I checked you got a
heartbeat.
Last time I checked, your bloodpulsates just like that
person's blood pulsates.
Even though the heart ratemight be different, it's still
(12:35):
pulsating and we bleed red.
How is it that the color of aperson's skin determines the
kind of care that they get?
But when anybody who is drawnto health care, we're all
trained to help.
So how do we turn around as thehealthcare professionals and
now stop caring or start judgingor start maltreating?
(13:01):
So we need to see the value inall fields.
Midwifery, because I'm inmidwifery school.
The thing that blew my mind.
Midwifery is ancient medicine.
These healthcare systems arenew.
Check it Midwives were thefirst doctors in a community.
(13:21):
Do we have them like we didthen?
No, we got all these doctors.
We got all these nurses.
We got all these healthprofessions running around here
saying that they're giving goodcare, but yet bodies are still
dying, people are still beingmaltreated, and no one is
targeting that issue.
(13:41):
We have to as I'm a health careprofessional because I joined in
on the fight.
We have to check our biases.
We have to recognize that wehave them for a reason.
We have to educate ourselvesand we have to come back into
the space saying you know what?
I came into the space to make adifference, not to cause divide
(14:03):
, but bring some unification.
And yes, it's not going to beeasy, but over time it will get
better.
We have people in the communitywho are joining in on the fight
, trying to help, but there'sknowledge gaps.
So we got some education.
That needs to go on.
We need to make sure that thepeople who are tied to the work
are adequately paid.
Most doulas.
(14:24):
I talked about 27 hours oflabor support.
We're not talking about thehours of prenatal visits.
The late night calls thepostpartum.
Can you come over and help mewith lactation?
There's so much that we didn'ttalk about D-Star.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
I know because, um, I did take advantage.
Well, my wife and I tookadvantage of those services when
we had a doula.
Um, it was more than just, youknow, your regular checkups.
You know it's actually morecheckups with a doula than it is
with a regular doctor and it'sway more personable.
(15:01):
You know they're either comingto your house or you're going to
their house and you sit downand you, you know it's more
about how are you doing mentallyExactly.
You know so the doctor they'regoing to do, you know their
checks and after that they mightask you a little bit of
something, but you know they'llsend you down the road and then
(15:29):
you're going to have to wait forabout an hour.
When you get there, you know,but with a doula it's it's all
about how are you doing, how areyou doing?
You know they actually like askthe man, like how are you doing
?
How are you feeling?
Um, are you guys?
You know getting along and youknow how you know getting along
and you know how was you knowhow was the baby and how was the
kids, how was the house, howwas your life?
Speaker 2 (15:47):
You know like you get really really, really
personable and it just helpswhen it is time to go through
that process that there's trustbuilt, there's a familiarity,
and it just makes the processway more smooth yes, and the
beautiful part about it is, as adoula, you become a part of the
(16:08):
life, absolutely of the family,and I have clients who have
done births years ago and Istill get pictures, you know, or
or to just say, like that's mybaby that's our baby.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Yes, it's our baby.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Yes, it's our baby.
Look at our baby.
I don't know how many birthdayparties, baby showers, all the
things you could go to one everyday if you wanted to.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
If you actually accepted all of the invitations.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yes.
Three years plus deep, trying tomeet all of them.
But the thing about all of itis it's a beautiful thing, it's
a sacred thing, because I wasn'tthere when the baby was made,
but I get to be at theirbirthday party the very first I
call.
I feel like doulas are likequiet intruders.
You know we're there, you knowwe're celebrating, we're
(16:57):
ushering in this next generation.
I don't take it lightly and Iam very protective over that
mother and I want that mother toknow how much of an honor it is
that they invited me into thatspace.
You know, and it needs to beprotected.
You know, and it has longlasting consequences.
You even talked about thegentleman you had on your show,
(17:18):
how it impacted him and, and,and, knowing his birth story, it
impacted him and and, and,knowing his birth story, how he
came, he repeated a cycle, notknowing because of what he found
out about himself.
So it's like you know, there'sso much healing that can take
place when things are done insuch a dignified manner,
recognizing the shortcomings,doing what we can.
We don't have enough people inhealthcare that look like the
(17:41):
people that they serve in thecommunity, so doulas create a
unique space where we can trainpeople, have people that look
like the community that theywant to serve to be in that
space, while we're still workingon training nurses and doctors
that look like the communitiesthat they want to serve.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
So, Uchenna, what's next for you?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
What's next?
Man?
I can't even begin to piece itall together, but I am excited
that in a very little while andI don't want to give timelines
just yet because you know I gotto get through the process but
I'm so excited and I lookforward to being a provider.
I've been in the community,I've been a nurse for over 14
(18:25):
years.
I love the role, the differentroles that I've been given in my
career as a nurse at bedside.
Now as a nurse in the communityin partnership with United Way,
really seeing the same issuebut from a whole different lens,
a whole different angle, andactually being at the table
strategizing, figuring out howcan we solve this problem.
(18:48):
Because one of the things that Iwant to say while I have the
mic and thank you, d-star, forgiving me the mic is in
Madison-Dane County inparticular, there's 600, a
little over 600 births by blackbirthing people.
There is enough money inMadison to transform 600 black
(19:10):
birthing people.
And the challenge that I amgoing to pose on the health
systems, on doulas, on nurses,obgyns, family practice,
everybody who's connected to thework which side are you on?
Are you a gatekeeper or are youa guardian?
Are you a gatekeeper or are youa guardian?
Speaker 1 (19:31):
So how do people get in contact with you, how do they
acquire your services?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
If you know somebody that know me, that's a great
place.
No, I'm in the process ofworking on.
I have a Facebook page called adoula just for you.
That's the name of my businessCause that's exactly what I am.
I'm a doula just for you and,feel free, you can email me at a
doula just for you, F?
O?
R for the four you at gmailcom.
I work at United way, DaneCounty.
You can reach out there too.
(19:58):
I would like to think I'measily accessible.
I am very involved in thecommunity.
There's so many ways to reachout.
I'm on Facebook, Instagram Idon't know about all the other
stuff.
I'm still trying to navigatesome systems there and social
media different types of socialmedia, I should say, but it's
not hard.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Well, Uchena, I really appreciate you for
stopping by the podcast today.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Thank you for having me D-Star, it's been an honor
(21:22):
no-transcript.
How do you support single mothers?
It has to be such a differentprocess of care when you're
talking about having a coupleand you're supporting that
couple, versus having a youngmother by herself, you know,
with no family.
You know what I mean.
Like yes, I know you've runinto that.
How do you do that Again?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
those prenatal visits are very important.
It's very important to have anunderstanding of what the
birthing person knows, what thatmother knows and what they need
.
So I have had the joy ofpartnering up and teaming up
with another doula so we cancover so one doula acts in the
role as the support person andI'll be in the role as a doula,
(00:44):
or vice versa I'm the supportperson and then the main doula
is doing the caring andproviding of the cares and
providing the support.
Other situations I've cared forbirthing people and their moms
being there, their sisters, eventheir boyfriend, even the
father of the baby or a newrelationship.
So it's really important toestablish a baseline Like what
(01:07):
is the plan, what's going on?
here, Exactly, exactly.
I don't go in thinking when doI fit Exactly?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I'm not trying to take over, I'm just trying to,
you know, come in and help,exactly Because that is the job.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
My job is to fill in the gaps, not override anything,
not speak for, advocate for,but empower my mom to speak up,
empowering the birthing personto speak up, and if they're not
able to speak up, come up withvery creative ways to have their
needs be met, without menecessarily being the one
(01:40):
talking.
Sometimes it's the partner,sometimes it's the support
person.
Okay, when they come in, canyou please express what you
express with me, what you'reseeing, observing or what the
birthing person needs that theymay not have that support?
You know that kind of a thing.
So my job is really it's kindof like okay, all right, what's
(02:01):
going on, you know, making sureeverything is fine.
My job is to make sure that theatmosphere is positive.
Positive, okay, all right,what's going on?
You know, making sureeverything is fine.
My job is to make sure that theatmosphere is positive,
positive, informative, full oflove.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
And you can feel that too, yes yes, you can feel that
when you walk into a room, ifit's tense or if it's like
scared, or if it's okay, this isa safe space, this is a
positive space.
Or if it's okay, this is a safespace, this is a positive space
.
Everything that's going on inthis room is normal and you're
going to see some things andhear some things, but just know
(02:32):
we're here for support.
Yes, no judgment.
Yes, you know what I mean.
Yes, you know my doula.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
You know she did a really, really great job, yes,
so what advice would you givepeople that want to become a
doula, because I know you teachdoulas.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
So you know, what advice or guidance would you
offer an aspiring doula who islooking to get into the
profession?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
So, first and foremost, know your why.
Remember your why?
Because when you show up andyou're providing care, sometimes
you'll be challenged by it.
Sometimes you may have asituation the outcome didn't
come out the way, or you andyour client, for whatever reason
, things didn't go the way asplanned and it can be
discouraging.
But know your why, hold on toyour why, be reminded.
(03:20):
Surround yourself with otherlike-minded people.
The other thing, too, is in theprocess of becoming a doula,
make sure you're properlytrained, because right now
doulas are trending and there'sso many different types of
doulas only because there's somany things you can tack on with
it.
You have doulas who can doaromatherapy.
You have doulas who areherbalists.
(03:40):
You have doulas who are likemyself I'm a nurse.
You have doulas who add a wholebunch of other things full
spectrum work, you know so theycover birth and death.
I've had the joy of being anurse, having those experiences,
so that's where I got myfirsthand training.
But there are so many differentthings that you can do in
addition to doula work that canmake you so unique Staying up to
(04:02):
date, knowing the trends,knowing the people you're caring
for, making sure that you areproviding a quality of care
that's unmatched.
You know that's unique to whoyou are.
The other thing is also makingsure that your caseload does not
burn you out because you'rechasing the money.
You know it's really importantthat you're able to devote the
(04:22):
time because, like we weretalking about earlier, it could
take like maybe two to fourhours, as if they're rip and
roaring in labor andeverything's happening.
But a lot of times, you know,inductions are on the rise, so
moms are in the hospital foralmost three days sometimes.
That is a long time.
So as a doula, you got to havea plan.
You got to make sure that yourclient is getting everything
(04:44):
that they need.
You're getting what you need.
So it's like a balancing act.
So making sure that you're ableto have that check and balance
and then also sometimes surroundyourself with other you know,
with some other doulas who knowyou and you know them.
Can you come in and help me if?
I'm getting in a jam yes, or ifI'm going into that 16, 18 hour
(05:04):
every now and again I still dolike a 24 hour birth.
But you know, I've gottenbetter.
I've gotten more skilled at itand also gotten better over the
years, educating my client toknow what to expect so that I
can pace myself Like that bookKnow what to Expect when You're
Expecting Exactly.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
That's exactly what it is.
I don't know how I rememberedthat Well you probably was
reading that book a lot.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Chapter by chapter.
I know I was when I had my kid,because the interesting thing
is, when I became a mom and Iwas pregnant with my first, it
was like all the things I knewkind of went out the window,
because it's like I'm in thedriver's seat now I'm not in the
passenger seat.
This is how do I change adiaper.
Well, that I knew, because thenursing part helped.
But the thing that it's sodifferent when it happens to you
(05:49):
versus when you've beenproviding care to others.
But I know for a fact, when mybaby was born and I made it
through on the other side, Ibecame even more passionate and
I was so grateful that I had thesupport.
But that's because I've beengiving that support all along
the way, so I knew how to get it.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
So did you have a doula.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
No, I was my own doula.
So here's the interesting thing, I know, I know, I know.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
You're very talented.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
What was interesting was but in.
But to be honest with you, thevisualization I have is I saw
all my clients, like it was likethe round table, and I can see
all their faces making commentsright Like yeah you sure, chana,
you ain't doing that right,your attitude.
So for the first 11 hours of mylabor I did everything they
(06:36):
told me to do and I didn'tprogress.
And I had to be induced becausethey were concerned about
preeclampsia.
Everything was beautiful.
So I literally hit the 38thweek.
My blood pressure startedcreeping up and also at this
time I'm working at the hospital.
I'm in labor and delivery.
Well, not quite at labor anddelivery.
I was working on another unit,the oncology unit, so that's
(06:56):
really stressful.
And you're talking about12-hour days at least three
times a week and sometimes wehave to work back to back to
back three days in a row.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Pregnant.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yes, sometime overtime.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Nine months pregnant.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Exactly, worked all the way up until the end, wow,
and it got really, really hard.
But you know your first time,mom, what is rest, what you know
?
Yeah, the ankles getting alittle swollen, and you know it
was little, little changes, butthe biggest change was that
blood pressure and my familypractice doc was like no, we're
(07:28):
not going to take no chanceswith you, we're going to get you
induced.
But they forgot to tell me.
So I'm going thinking they'rejust going to check and monitor
my baby.
And they said, oh welcome,you're getting induced.
And I lost it because my husbandwas at work.
So you know, fast forward, allthis.
I'm doing everything they tellme to do and I go from fingertip
to two.
I said, forget this, I'm goingto take matters into my own
(07:51):
hands.
I soaked myself in the tub.
I couldn't get the mesoprostol.
They gave me one dose.
It was, you know, thecontractions was a lot, but it
wasn't doing anything.
I got on Pitocin and I justlabored in the tub and I had my
husband with me and I wastalking to him.
I think he got tired and Ithink his anxiety got the best
of him because he couldn't carrythe load from me and at one
(08:13):
point he was like why don't youget checked?
I'm like no, because if theytell me I'm four, I don't know
what I'm going to do.
And long and behold, I wentfrom two to eight.
The nurse didn't even believeit because I had a new resident
and she was like I don't believeit, let me check.
And then she said by golly,because I was begging her to
turn off the Pitocin because itwas too intense, and she didn't
(08:35):
believe me.
I'm a first-time mom.
I don't know what I'm talkingabout, but I have 10 years of
experience.
And then it was like let's,let's rupture you.
And I'm like no, I dideverything y'all wanted me to do
.
I'm okay, give me my drugs.
So I got my IV medicine and itwas like no, but the baby could
come real soon.
I said look, I've been in laborfor quite some time and nothing
(08:57):
has happened.
I'm at 14 now.
What are you talking about?
And it was awesome because themedicine was just enough to take
.
My water broke on its own andwhen it broke I was crowning
Less than 30 minutes of pushing.
He was there.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
And that was the most empowering thing.
I was like you can't tell meanything.
I got to feel my baby move.
My baby was working hard, justlike mommy was working hard.
So when I got that personaldata for myself, I can share
that with the birthing person, Ican share that with the mothers
that I'm caring for, that yourbaby's also trying to come out
(09:36):
too and y'all work together atsome point, and that you're
going to experience pain.
But I'm going to explain to youwhat the pain is.
Pain is progress.
Certain types of pain isprogress.
I'm going to empower you withtools and you're going to give
me the information to let meknow what you're feeling, and
we're going to figure out what'sthe best position.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
So can you discuss the importance of representation
and diversity within the doulacommunity and how it impacts the
experiences of birthingindividuals?
Speaker 2 (10:06):
First and foremost, representation matters.
When I see my client, mypatient, who looks like me, it's
like unspoken common languagethat unifies us, just like when
you see two black dudes you knowthey, what's up that head nod,
right, you won't get that withyour white counterpart or
another person from anotherculture.
(10:28):
You're not going to get that.
It's unique to black culture,right.
And I love when I see thepatients that I care for that
look like me.
You could see the fear lessonoh, she's here to help me.
Or when, I you know, getassigned.
I have people in the communitythat refer and I heard about you
, you know, uchena, I also go byNurse Uno.
(10:50):
I heard about you, nurse Uno,and I heard about you.
You know, uchena, I also go byNurse Uno.
I heard about you, nurse Uno,and I know you're a doula.
Can you help me?
And just knowing that I can dothat for them because I look
like them, there's a whole lotof conversation I don't need to
have with them because we havecommon, you know.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Commonalities Right.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
And when we break bread it's even more so.
And that peace of mind ofhaving somebody that may have
shared experiences is enough toreduce the anxiety and the
tension that they go on to havea great birth experience,
because why Somebody that lookslike me care about me, somebody
that knows what I'm feeling?
(11:28):
They're feeling it too andwe're in it together.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
That knows what I'm feeling, they're feeling it too,
and we're in it together.
So, looking ahead, what changesor improvements would you like
to see within the birthing anddoula community, particularly
concerning inclusivity andequity?
Speaker 2 (11:51):
I would like to see more collaboration If we're
going to change the way birthingpeople are treated at the
bedside.
This term called implicit biasmeaning I have inherent things
that I know and don't know thatcauses me to maltreat people
(12:13):
that don't look like me or maynot have the same economic
status like me or didn't have asimilar upbringing like me.
It has to stop Because at theend of the day, that's a
heartbeat that's beating andlast time I checked you got a
heartbeat.
Last time I checked, your bloodpulsates just like that
person's blood pulsates.
Even though the heart ratemight be different, it's still
(12:35):
pulsating and we bleed red.
How is it that the color of aperson's skin determines the
kind of care that they get?
But when anybody who is drawnto health care, we're all
trained to help.
So how do we turn around as thehealthcare professionals and
now stop caring or start judgingor start maltreating?
(13:01):
So we need to see the value inall fields.
Midwifery, because I'm inmidwifery school.
The thing that blew my mind.
Midwifery is ancient medicine.
These healthcare systems arenew.
Check it Midwives were thefirst doctors in a community.
(13:21):
Do we have them like we didthen?
No, we got all these doctors.
We got all these nurses.
We got all these healthprofessions running around here
saying that they're giving goodcare, but yet bodies are still
dying, people are still beingmaltreated, and no one is
targeting that issue.
(13:41):
We have to as I'm a health careprofessional because I joined in
on the fight.
We have to check our biases.
We have to recognize that wehave them for a reason.
We have to educate ourselvesand we have to come back into
the space saying you know what?
I came into the space to make adifference, not to cause divide
(14:03):
, but bring some unification.
And yes, it's not going to beeasy, but over time it will get
better.
We have people in the communitywho are joining in on the fight
, trying to help, but there'sknowledge gaps.
So we got some education.
That needs to go on.
We need to make sure that thepeople who are tied to the work
are adequately paid.
Most doulas.
(14:24):
I talked about 27 hours oflabor support.
We're not talking about thehours of prenatal visits.
The late night calls thepostpartum.
Can you come over and help mewith lactation?
There's so much that we didn'ttalk about D-Star.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
I know because, um, I did take advantage.
Well, my wife and I tookadvantage of those services when
we had a doula.
Um, it was more than just, youknow, your regular checkups.
You know it's actually morecheckups with a doula than it is
with a regular doctor and it'sway more personable.
(15:01):
You know they're either comingto your house or you're going to
their house and you sit downand you, you know it's more
about how are you doing mentallyExactly.
You know so the doctor they'regoing to do, you know their
checks and after that they mightask you a little bit of
something, but you know they'llsend you down the road and then
(15:29):
you're going to have to wait forabout an hour.
When you get there, you know,but with a doula it's it's all
about how are you doing, how areyou doing?
You know they actually like askthe man, like how are you doing
?
How are you feeling?
Um, are you guys?
You know getting along and youknow how you know getting along
and you know how was you knowhow was the baby and how was the
kids, how was the house, howwas your life?
Speaker 2 (15:47):
You know like you get really really, really
personable and it just helpswhen it is time to go through
that process that there's trustbuilt, there's a familiarity,
and it just makes the processway more smooth yes, and the
beautiful part about it is, as adoula, you become a part of the
(16:08):
life, absolutely of the family,and I have clients who have
done births years ago and Istill get pictures, you know, or
or to just say, like that's mybaby that's our baby.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Yes, it's our baby.
Speaker 2 (16:21):
Yes, it's our baby.
Look at our baby.
I don't know how many birthdayparties, baby showers, all the
things you could go to one everyday if you wanted to.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
If you actually accepted all of the invitations.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yes.
Three years plus deep, trying tomeet all of them.
But the thing about all of itis it's a beautiful thing, it's
a sacred thing, because I wasn'tthere when the baby was made,
but I get to be at theirbirthday party the very first I
call.
I feel like doulas are likequiet intruders.
You know we're there, you knowwe're celebrating, we're
(16:57):
ushering in this next generation.
I don't take it lightly and Iam very protective over that
mother and I want that mother toknow how much of an honor it is
that they invited me into thatspace.
You know, and it needs to beprotected.
You know, and it has longlasting consequences.
You even talked about thegentleman you had on your show,
(17:18):
how it impacted him and, and,and, knowing his birth story, it
impacted him and and, and,knowing his birth story, how he
came, he repeated a cycle, notknowing because of what he found
out about himself.
So it's like you know, there'sso much healing that can take
place when things are done insuch a dignified manner,
recognizing the shortcomings,doing what we can.
We don't have enough people inhealthcare that look like the
(17:41):
people that they serve in thecommunity, so doulas create a
unique space where we can trainpeople, have people that look
like the community that theywant to serve to be in that
space, while we're still workingon training nurses and doctors
that look like the communitiesthat they want to serve.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
So, Uchenna, what's next for you?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
What's next?
Man?
I can't even begin to piece itall together, but I am excited
that in a very little while andI don't want to give timelines
just yet because you know I gotto get through the process but
I'm so excited and I lookforward to being a provider.
I've been in the community,I've been a nurse for over 14
(18:25):
years.
I love the role, the differentroles that I've been given in my
career as a nurse at bedside.
Now as a nurse in the communityin partnership with United Way,
really seeing the same issuebut from a whole different lens,
a whole different angle, andactually being at the table
strategizing, figuring out howcan we solve this problem.
(18:48):
Because one of the things that Iwant to say while I have the
mic and thank you, d-star, forgiving me the mic is in
Madison-Dane County inparticular, there's 600, a
little over 600 births by blackbirthing people.
There is enough money inMadison to transform 600 black
(19:10):
birthing people.
And the challenge that I amgoing to pose on the health
systems, on doulas, on nurses,obgyns, family practice,
everybody who's connected to thework which side are you on?
Are you a gatekeeper or are youa guardian?
Are you a gatekeeper or are youa guardian?
Speaker 1 (19:31):
So how do people get in contact with you, how do they
acquire your services?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
If you know somebody that know me, that's a great
place.
No, I'm in the process ofworking on.
I have a Facebook page called adoula just for you.
That's the name of my businessCause that's exactly what I am.
I'm a doula just for you and,feel free, you can email me at a
doula just for you, F?
O?
R for the four you at gmailcom.
I work at United way, DaneCounty.
You can reach out there too.
(19:58):
I would like to think I'measily accessible.
I am very involved in thecommunity.
There's so many ways to reachout.
I'm on Facebook, Instagram Idon't know about all the other
stuff.
I'm still trying to navigatesome systems there and social
media different types of socialmedia, I should say, but it's
not hard.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Well, Uchena, I really appreciate you for
stopping by the podcast today.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Thank you for having me D-Star, it's been an honor
(21:22):
no-transcript.
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