And she's a Pagan!!!

I suppose I better begin this little saga at the beginning. I wanted to have a doula* at my birth, but we don't have the money for one. We are already paying everything out-of-pocket for the midwife services, plus the labor tub, so we are completely tapped out (and then some). I started getting concerned about just having Dave there with the midwives, since Beaner will be present, and he will probably have to be fetching things for her, putting in movies, and being a parent. So I can't count on him to be there for me 100%, which I really needed last time. My friend Melissa is our childcare backup for Bean, but she is also expecting, has two kids, and a husband who works unpredictable hours, so even though she will try her hardest to do what she can, there are no guarantees. My other friend Barb has said she wants to be at the birth too, but she also has a family that needs her, so again, no guarantees.

I had a little breakdown at my midwife appt a week ago, talking to Jill about all this. She said she would look into it and see if she could find someone who would attend the birth. The next day she called; she had been contacted by a woman who moved here in June from Germany, where her husband had been stationed with the Air Force. She's attended births as a doula for the last three years, but wants to get certified now that she's in the states. In order to be a certified doula, you have to attend a certain number, and a variety (home, hospital, etc.), of births. So she is doing my birth pro bono for her certification!

She came by yesterday to meet us. Turns out she lives just up the street from me, she has a 7yo girl and a 3yo boy (playmate for Bean?!), and she looks to be about my age (maybe 30's though). We were chatting, and since we live in Mormon Land out here, I just wanted to mention that I'm a Pagan, and will have a sage bundle for smudging inside the door and a small birth altar set up, just so I don't freak anybody out and create a weird awkward moment while I'm trying to labor. So she says "Oh, I am too!"; I guess she's been practicing Wicca for several years, and asked what I had planned for a cleansing, and was just so totally cool.

I feel so blessed right now. Not only do I get a terrific doula (and possibly another friend), but the in-laws said this weekend they will be sending us a Target gift card for Aeryn, which is a huge relief. There are lots of little things I need/would like to get for the baby that we just don't have the money for right now. Thankfully we're pretty well set, but it's crazy how those little last-minute things add up!

I talked to my aunt Roz yesterday, and she said my Guardians are really looking out for me. So true. (And, she said she's sending a Target card, plus will be looking for some Burt's Bees things I need that I haven't gotten yet. Yay!) She also wants me to call her when I go into labor so she can work a little magic for me.
So blessed!

* A doula is a support person for the laboring woman - "mothering the mother". They are wonderful to have at a birth. I considered becoming a doula after Bean was born - I will probably become a birth junkie again after this baby. :) DONA - Doulas of North America