Teen Birth Stories
Eugene and Springfield, Oregon

Teen mom having a doula, becoming a doula!
~ by Megan Delgado

Finding out that I was pregnant was a scary but exciting time. I knew that it would happen someday and when it did my fantasy became a reality! My best friend LaToya had just had a baby and had told me about doulas. I really wasn't sure how it worked, but then I called Shea Hardy at Doulas Supporting Teens. She told me what a doula does and about the childbirth education classes. To my luck, LaToya decided to become a doula and I became her first client. Over the several months that we worked together, LaToya helped inform my husband and I, and both of our families, about the options that we had surrounding labor and delivery. She opened my eyes to how birth can be a rewarding and powerful experience. Toward the end of my pregnancy we worked on a birth plan that would inform doctors and nurses about the birth experience that I was going for.

When I went into labor, LaToya was everything that I could have ever wished for. She stayed with me till the end, giving my family and I the advice and energy we all needed to get through. She stayed at my side offering massage during every contraction and encouraged me to try different positions. While pushing she cheered me on and kept me going. Without her help and encouragement I don't think that I could have had the labor and delivery that I wanted.

After my baby girl, Adelia, was born I realized that I wasn't ready to give up my time with DST. I wanted to keep going to the meetings and I wanted to stay in the birth community. This was when I knew I wanted to become a doula. I want to give support and encouragement to another pregnant teens the way my doula did. I have started attending the volunteer meetings and I have signed up to take my training in May. I am very excited about my new career choice and even though it is strictly a volunteer position, this organization will make me richer than a full time job!

A Teen's Perspective: "How a Doula Helped Me"
~ by Saraya Costa

After hearing about doulas during my prenatal class at the Springfield High School Teen Parent Program, I decided to give it a try and work with a doula. I had prenatal visits every couple of weeks with my doula where I was provided with information in order to make valuable decisions about my birth and baby's care. I found it extremely helpful to make educated decisions once I had all the facts and I never felt pressured to choose one way or the other.

During my birth, my doula was right there with me the whole time, making suggestions and giving encouragement to both me and my family. Not only did she help me through my labor and birth by making sure I was breathing through my contractions, staying hydrated and all the important things, but she also helped my family cope with such an intense experience.

I was so pleased with the connection I formed with my doula over our visits and how comfortable I got with her. I had never heard of some of the options I had, such as a birth plan and didn't know about some of the decisions I would have to make. My doula was there to give evidence based information and support me on whatever decisions I made. I felt I could ask her any questions I had and get an answer either from her or one of her resources. This was one of the best and most memorable experiences of my life, and I thank my doula for her support and encouragement both before and during the delivery of my baby boy; it was greatly appreciated.

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Saraya Costa - a 16 year old, gave birth without pain medication or medical interventions, to a healthy 7 lbs. 15 oz. baby boy on April 27, 2005. Saraya worked with her doula, Shea Hardy, a total of 30 hours during her pregnancy. Shea also provided continuous labor support during the labor and birth of Saraya's son and followed up with her throughout early parenting.