“The day she gives birth is one of the most transformative days in a woman’s life. I always count it as such a sacred honor to bear witness to and stand by a mother on this singular day.”
-Rose Day
Birth Philosophy
I believe the birth of a child is one of the most intimate and miraculous experiences in a couple’s life. Each birth is unique and holds its own experiences to be remembered. Women’s birth experiences have a lasting effect on them and I believe in creating a positive environment. I believe in freedom of choice based on knowledge and using this knowledge to fight fear. I trust women to make the right decision for themselves and their babies. I believe a woman should be treated with respect and kindness during birth. Women need loving, non-judgmental support during their birth process.
About Me
My name is Brealin Rogers. I am married to my high school sweetheart and we have two amazing boys born September 2003 and October 2008. The births of my children, my oldest specifically, have had a tremendous impact on who I am today and are the reasons I became a doula.
My pregnancy with my first son was virtually picture perfect in the eyes of the doctor’s. That was until my due date approached with no changes in sight. I had specifically sought out a midwife because I had learned they were more geared towards natural childbirth and letting things happen on their own. At one day shy of two weeks “overdue”, I consented to an induction via pitocin. I was scared and unaware of options I had and decisions I would have to make as the time progressed. The pitocin was pounded into me and active labor started immediately.
The nurses continued to crank up the pitocin to the point where contractions where stacked on top of each other with no break in between. I had written a birth plan but did not have the voice required to make my birth team listen to me or do as I requested. I did not want to be touched or soothed because I was afraid it gave the impression of weakness. After being told I should get an epidural several times despite my request to not have one or be offered one, I threw in the towel and felt it was all over. After my epidural, I was encouraged to sleep to “save my energy” for pushing. About two hours later, I was complete and it was time to push. I felt so defeated, I was ashamed and scared. I was worried I wouldn’t know how to push and I certainly could not feel anything from the epidural. After one hour of pushing, I was told I would need a c-section because he was “just too big to fit”. I knew enough to know neither myself or my son were in any kind of danger to continue pushing. I begged to get on my hands and knees as a latch ditch effort to open my pelvis. By this point, I lost all my support and a cesarean was glaring me in the face. Everyone knew it in their minds and no one was there to encourage me or give me other ideas to birth my baby the way I wanted. I was told they would have to break his collar bone if I tried to push him out.
Again, I was defeated.
I cried through signing all the papers to consent to the surgery. I cried all the way to the operating room. I cried the whole time I was being prepped. I cried when they said they were starting and I would feel pressure.
At this point, everyone in the room realized the epidural did not take on one side as my “upset” tears turned to pain. At that point, they knocked me out and I missed the birth of my first son. I cried when I woke up and realized I had missed it…everything. The first sight of him, his first cry, the announcement of his birth time, weight and length, his first bath. Everyone saw my baby before I did because I was still asleep. When I finally came around, the nurses didn’t bring him to me for over an hour. To this day, I still don’t know what took so long.
After my experience with him, I vowed to learn everything I could about the process of childbirth in hopes of getting answers about what went wrong, what I could have done differently, and how to prevent it from happening again. There are questions I know I will never have answers too and I have accepted that.
My pelvis was not too small and he was not “too big”. The pitocin led to the epidural; the epidural meant I was laboring on my back which is the worst position to birth in; he was posterior or “sunny side up” which is why after 2 hours, he was still in my pelvis.
I know in my heart I am in the statistics of women who are threatened into surgery because their “time is up” and had an unnecessary c-section.
Fast forward 5 years when I was blessed with my second son. I was determined to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean). After interviewing close to 20 providers, I found a doctor that would let me try as long as I went into labor naturally. I hired a doula and I prepared myself for labor as I waited. My second son was diagnosed with SUA (Single Umbilical Artery or 2 vessel cord) at 20 weeks gestation. Defeat for VBAC was rearing its ugly head but I would not let it. The odds were stacked against me but my doula helped me stay positive and I did everything I could at home to make sure he was in position when the day came. At 38 weeks 2 days, at 11am, I went into labor spontaneously. I stayed at home as long as possible to avoid medical interventions as long as possible. My doula spoke with my husband and I over the phone to help us get through the contractions at home. We arrived at the hospital right as my water broke and just 2 hours before I was ready to push. My doula and my husband were my advocates while I concentrated on the contractions. They made sure nobody came in my room before reading my birth plan and understood what they were and were not to do. It was everything I hoped it would be and I was not defeated. Because of my doula and my husband, my nurses were also cheering for me and giving me the confidence I needed to have the birth I wanted.
After his birth, I vowed to help women in their birthing process. I want to make sure no woman has to go through what I went through with my first. The birth of your children is something you will always remember and it should be a happy joyous memory! I am committed to making your experience everything you want it to be!