I am finally taking a look at my much neglected website and realize that my last blog post was almost a year ago. I admit that this blogging thing has not been on the top of my priority list (I think it completely fell off the list some time last spring). After reading over my previous posts and seeing what I had hoped to do last year at this time I realize that I need to do a better job at setting and obtaining my goals.
Just in the past 8 months: I started a new position with my agency that allows me to work from home. I have helped start a local breastfeeding coalition and serve as Media Relations Representative. I was on a radio show to talk about breastfeeding and being a doula. I have met so many contacts that I wouldn’t have had such an easy time meeting on my own. It’s been a good 12 months in so many ways but there is still something missing.
I said last year I was going to start an ICAN Chapter for my area. Did.Not.Happen. However, I recently attended the ICAN Conference in St. Louis where I was able to meet so many amazing and inspiring women! I came home completely exhausted and ready to put that goal back on the top of my list.
These past 2 months have been enlightening to say the least. The ICAN conference changed my life and my perspective of what I want to be doing with my time. I miss attending births. I miss the interaction with pregnant and new mothers & babies. I’ve dreamed of opening a store for pregnant and new moms to offer products and services. I have so much I want to do but have been holding back out of fear.
Yesterday a door opened. A feeling of calm and confidence has come over me that I haven’t felt is such a long time. A feeling of relief coupled with a little fear of not really knowing what is going to happen but I trust that it will all work out. Without going into detail I have offered to become a part-time contract worker for the breastfeeding program that I have been currently employed full-time. It ultimately came down to them requiring that I take their group insurance over my private insurance (that we have already met the deductible for and have 100% coverage for the rest of the year). I am at peace with the decision…even if they decide to let me go completely.
I haven’t heard back but feel so much better. I’m hoping that this will give me the freedom to be able to work more with ICAN & the breastfeeding coalition, network in my community, and take doula clients again. I want to get my CBE certification so I can begin teaching childbirth classes. I want to get at least a CLC or other certification so I can work more with breastfeeding mothers. I want to help get funding for our breastfeeding coalition that could possibly turn into a job. There is so much more I want to do.
Here’s hoping that the next 12 months are filled with new goals and accomplishments and less fear than this past year.
I’ve finally made the step to get a local ICAN chapter started for this area! I’ve been thinking about it for a long time now and really feel this is the right time. I’ve heard back from Ruthie Dicken and Lauren Cooper from ICAN and will be talking with them more in the coming week. I really feel that North Louisiana needs an ICAN chapter not only to help get the word out about issues surrounding maternity care, Cesarean prevention, VBAC, and everything in between but also to help women in this area who may be suffering from grief, anger, regret, or any other emotions from their Cesarean births.
We need to have a safe place for our mothers who may be struggling with their birth experience to vent, learn, and realize they are not alone. We get so caught up in our “Steel Magnolia” persona in the South that sometimes women forget that they have the right to be sad or disappointed in their birth experience. The “at least you have a healthy baby” mantra is echoed by just about everyone not realizing that it’s just as important to have a healthy mother.
I hope by bringing ICAN to this area women will feel they now have a voice and that a “sisterhood” of birth warriors will be formed around shared experiences.
The term “Steel Magnolia” may just take on a whole new meaning.
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