Why Am I Both a Birth Doula and a Death Doula?

Let me start at the beginning of my doula journey to try and explain.

I've always been mystified and intrigued by pregnancy and childbirth.

The same holds true for death but I've mostly kept that fascination to

myself since most people aren't big on talking about that particular process.

Starting my story with childbirth, I've birthed 5 babies of my own with midwives

in attendance and those experiences only heightened my interest in childbirth.

After breastfeeding and nurturing those little humans, I went to work as a family

and child educator putting my death work on hold for the time being. During

my years with Head Start and the Health Department in Superior, I became

a certified lactation counselor, a birth doula, a childbirth bereavement

counselor and a death doula. Lucky me to receive all of those excellent

trainings! I've attended my grandchildren's births, the births of friends and

births of clients. I've also been fortunate enough to support breastfeeding

mamas and facilitate childbirth education classes. Birth work and beyond

has been the most rewarding thing I've been privileged to be a part

of.

Through all the babies, career happenings and grandbabies, death

has also occurred. It seems as though, I've always been in the mix when

death comes calling in my personal life. I sat vigil with my dad, my

mother, my father in law, my mother in law and my dear husband.

All who died what I would consider a bit too soon. But back to my story,

after my husband's death, I decided that I would like to be more involved

in other people's death stories. Sadly folks in our culture are hesitant to

talk about death, confront death and prepare for death. And as you know,

especially if you're reading this with death on your mind, we all will be

in those shoes at some point. I believe loving support can make all the

difference before, during and after death and that's what I try to provide.

Once I made up my mind to become a death support person, a training

almost magically became available! I spent a good number of hours

learning the ins and outs of death, the things we need to attend to

before death and how to support the dying and their loved ones. I've been

volunteering at a local hospice and the rewards to me are amazing.

Although some might think that death and birth are nothing alike, I believe

that the ushering in and ushering out of a human have many similarities.

Both are challenging in their own ways and the participants require comfort,

support and education.

Both death and birth are a beginning and an end. Birth is a life beginning and a

pregnancy ending. Death is a life ending and a different life beginning

for the survivors.

Both death and birth can and should both be celebrated. There's more but

I'll let you draw some conclusions of your own.

I've always felt a strong need to be a helper in this life. I love hearing

people's stories and easing life's burdens if that's available to me. I suppose

that is why I've chosen to be involved with folks in these ways. I enjoy

supporting others in the ways others have so generously done so for me

through the years.

If you'd like to learn more about me and my practices, please reach out.

And if you read this rather long and rambling blog post, thank you!

In care and compassion,

Janet