Claire Aslangul – Doula & Breastfeeding Counsellor

Years ago something happened to me that changed my life forever. Let me tell you my story…

Back then I was pregnant with my first child and being young and unsure, I was lead through the journey of pregnancy and childbirth. I was just following the lead of ‘what everyone else did.’

When it came time to go to the hospital, my husband and I drove the 45 minutes to get there. I was feeling very uncomfortable being cramped into the car. By the time we arrived, the hospital staff decided they weren’t sure I was far enough along in my labor to be there already. So they sat me in the lounge and strapped me to a monitor. I was sent home until I was in ‘real labour’.

Now I was completely stressed out, feeling judged and looking stupid for coming when I wasn’t even close to having this baby.

Less than 2 hours later, we were making that same trip back to the hospital. I was panting through each contraction trying not to push. That same drive was done in under 20 minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. I was scared and in a lot of pain.

With my second daughter I was ‘wiser’. I wasn’t calling the hospital until I was sure they weren’t going to send me home. When I couldn’t sleep any more I labored on my own in the lounge room. Eventually I decided to ring. After a few questions the panicky voice of the midwife almost yelled at me, “get here NOW!” All of a sudden I adopted her stress and the contractions came quickly and so strong I felt like I was being ripped in two.

Needless to say, I barely had time to make it to my birth suite before my second daughter was born. A friend of mine told me she had a ‘doula’ and how amazing her birth experience was by having one. I said to her, “you had a doula at your birth… gee I hope you flushed afterwards”. She laughed and went on to explain that a doula is a woman who’s job it is to support you through your pregnancy and birth. She went on to tell me about how most women experience painful births because they are scared and stressed or because they are told that that is what labor is meant to be. And by having a doula who can provide you with continuity of care can take not only the stress out of labor and decrease the pain, but also reduce the risk of needing interventions such as caesarean section, forceps and epidural…

Having a doula at my third birth made all the difference in the world. Although my labor was only one and a half hours, it was relaxed and relatively painless. Previously my labors had seemed, out of control, scary and intensely painful because they had been so quick. Trinity’s birth was nothing but joy. I was so impressed by what a difference having a doula can make that I decided to become one myself.

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References

Laura, Brett & Jude

I rang Claire to tell her that I had been in pre-labour all morning. I managed to go to my nephew’s first birthday party even though the contractions were becoming fairly strong, but they weren’t regular so I thought it would be ok, and it was. Although I did say to one lady there “it’s going to be tonight”. So, when I got home I rang Claire to let her know that I was still having irregular but strong contractions. She said “do you want me to come up”? I really didn’t know, and I didn’t want to put anyone out so I ended up leaving it up to Claire as to whether she came or not. She decided to come (thank God!).

When Claire arrived, nothing much had changed and I was starting to feel that I had let her come here for nothing. I was feeling quite bad and embarrassed as this is what I had been afraid of, getting everyone here for nothing. Anyway, Claire was wonderful and helped me get the kids fed, bathed and put to bed. Then we sat around for a while watching television until Claire suggested we go for a walk to get things going. We got back home and sat around a bit more before going to bed about 12.

I slept for an hour and then woke with not very painful, but strong contractions. I lay there for another hour till about 2am when I woke Brett up as the contractions were getting more painful and I was working myself into an anxious state. I said “it’s happening and I’m so scared”. He told me not to worry and that he would be with me, he tried to console me but I had really worked myself up as the memory of labour came flooding back. Brett was just going to get Claire when she walked into our bedroom and I told her too that I was so scared and that I didn’t think I could do it all again. Then she set about trying to relax me.

I knew in my head that I had to stop this panic attack (I have suffered from these in the past) and it wouldn’t help the labour at all. My whole body was shaking, it was horrible. However, with Claire and Brett’s help and support I managed to calm myself and just get on with the job of giving birth to my beautiful baby.

We moved to the lounge room where I used either Brett or the back of the lounge for support, in a standing position. Then my mum arrived and suggested we get to the hospital and I remember just looking straight into Brett’s eyes and even though they were full of fear and concern, I pleaded with him to let me stay where I was as I knew this baby was coming very soon. Still my contractions weren’t regular, some would be 2 minutes apart and others 20 minutes apart and all sorts of times in between that.

Mum rang my sister and not long after she arrived too. Both mum and my sister wanted to get me to the hospital ASAP but I refused to budge so towels were set up on the lounge room floor and a beanbag on the lounge that I leant into during contractions. Claire was great. She said “this is YOUR labour, do what you want to do”, this really strengthened me to stay where I was and not be influenced by the panic around me.

My contractions were still really far apart but very intense. Then I felt the urge to push! Then something a bit embarrassing but funny happened. As I pushed with all my might, I delivered… a huge pooh!

Claire was great. At some stage (I don’t know when), she asked me if I wanted her to see what was happening ‘down there’. I said yes as I wanted to know if she could see a head. She said she could! A few pushes later and I could feel the head crowning. I knew I had to be extra careful so I panted while I waited for the next contraction. And when it did come, I pushed with all my might and his head was delivered! One more contraction and his body just fell out!

A feeling of relief washed over me and I just kept repeating “it’s over, it’s over”, while trying to see my new baby. He was finally passed through my legs, after a bit of struggle with the cord, which was too short so I couldn’t hold him to my chest, but I held him none-the-less.

It was an amazing, peaceful and beautiful birth. it was a fantastic experience and one that was shared with people I really cared about and no medical paraphernalia around, which was great. I’d have a homebirth any day over one in hospital! It was wonderful and I just adore my little Jude Garrick McKenzie

Disclaimer: Please note I am NOT a midwife and have no medical training, my role at Laura’s birth was as her doula. With the turn of events it became an unplanned homebirth completely at Laura’s request. My role was to support her and her wishes.

I would like to add that the wisdom of the body is amazing and had we tried to get to the hospital Jude would have most likely been born on the side of the road.

Claire Aslangul
Tranquility Birth Services
tranquillitybirth@yahoo.com.au
0406 320 058