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So you can imagine my disillusionment after my actively-managed forceps-assisted first birth. The experience left me post-natally depressed and in a
long bout of self-reproach. Much as I tried to fight it off, I had an unshakeable feeling that there was much more to birth than the traumatic ordeal I encountered.
Being a new and inexperienced first-time-mum, I never had the guts to question my former Obstetrician's views of how my birth should be or assert my preferences.
Even though my instincts told me to say something or look at other options, I always ignored them. At the time, I accepted the notion that the doctor was the authority
over my pregnant body, my baby and my birth. My husband undoubtedly thought the same.
I began to develop these inexplicable and deep maternal instincts I had never felt before. My new-found maternal instincts kicked in and completely took over.
I became very protective of my unborn baby and was going to see to it that she had the gentle birth that her older sister did not have. I dropped my Obstetrician in my 36th week
without having a replacement in place. My husband balked, but I simply decided that I was the authority over my birth from now on and I was not going to have the baby until
I found a new Obstetrician who I felt good about and who I could trust to help me experience birth the way I always imagined it to be.
Thanks to Di whom I "met" over the internet when I looked up Parentlink, I found a new Obstetrician at 38 weeks. I felt good right away on our first meeting and
talked to him about the kind of birth I wanted. He and his team understood what I wanted and were very supportive of my birth choices. At 40 weeks plus one, I gave birth to
my second beautiful little baby girl. It was an amazing and very positive experience.
In the two weeks leading up to my birth, I extensively researched the subject of natural birthing and read as many books on natural birthing as I could.
An explainable passion was enkindled within me. It seemed a pity to put all that to waste after having my baby. At my first follow-up appointment when my Obstetrician asked me
how I felt about my birth, I told him I wanted to become a doula so that I could employ my new-found passion in helping expectant mums experience the kind of birth they desired.
I got in touch with Di once again and underwent the comprehensive Childbirth International (CBI) Doula Certification Course – after which, she took me under her
wing and mentored me. As I attended births with her, I had the opportunity to watch her work her magic and learnt so much from her. Soon, I was ready to start attending births
on my own and it was then that I discovered my innate ability to support women in labour.
It is just surreal for me that what started out as an early childhood fascination is what I get to do for a living now. I am excited about the fact that I get to be
a part of what seems like a natural birth movement slowly taking flight in Singapore, as the natural birthing scene slowly but surely takes shape.
I have attended a number of births to date and still, every single time a baby is born, I choke up. It is such an honour and a privilege to be invited by a couple
to share in the miracle of their child's birth. There is nothing more magical than being present at the birth of a baby. And as a mother of two beautiful little girls, nothing makes more sense…
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