Ever since I can remember I have wanted to be a midwife. As a teenager all I could think of was babies, births and all things related to that. In fact, since I was taught at home I had the ability to tailer my high school to this passion. So, I enrolled in an intense midwife home study course. I had friends who were supportive of my desire and allowed me to follow their pregnancies, attend their prenatals and be a part of their births. I also enjoyed staying as a mother’s helper afterwards helping with the running of the home. My favorite part of course, was helping care for the new baby. 😀 For my graduation from high school I asked for a fetoscope, a baby stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, and things to help me begin my midwifery goals. I even had an examination table to set up my home office.
But, the Lord’s timing was not my timing and every time I would be ready to jump into things, providentially I was hindered. Time after time there were obstacles. THEN, the most wonderful thing happened. As my husband likes to put it, “Instead of being a midwife I became a full wife.” 😀 I courted and married my dear husband and had children of my own. My experience with birthing and babies became one that went beyond learning from textbooks and helping others and became my own experience. The Lord blessed us with eight children and my hands and heart were full!
My first two children were born naturally at birth centers. My next five were at home. Of those five home-births, three were water births. (LOVED being in the water!). My last baby was born in the hospital with an epidural.
I have enjoyed every opportunity to assist and help my friends and family with their pregnancies, births, breastfeeding and newborn care. My passion still is to support women through this amazing time in their lives and I relished those opportunities when the Lord put them in my path.
Now that my oldest is 20 and my youngest will soon be 5 the Lord seems to be opening the doors for me to again pursue my passion and I am so thrilled to begin work as a Doula! Now that I am entering the “older woman” category, have many life experiences along with the passion I had as a youth I am thrilled to be helping those in this beautiful season of their life again.
If you have any need for Doula services and are in the NC/SC area please contact me gladehill8@gmail.com and I would be happy to meet with you for a free consultation.
For Christ’s crown and glory I am thrilled to announce.