Meet the Doula
About Alicia
I am a mother to two wonderful little boys. I was born and raised in Kern County and though I moved to Orange County for college, my heart eventually found its way home in the end. I possess a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences from Chico State University and while this is one of my biggest accomplishments my heart truly lies with birth and ensuring that women receive their own perfect birth.
I first began this journey in 2008 with the birth of my first son. I was your typical 23 year old first time mom; I thought I knew everything there was to know about having a baby and what I didn't know I could always look up on the internet. I remember my mother-in-law being so proud of me for wanting to find out everything. Little did I know that I really had no true understanding of what to expect. Every one in my family had over-medicalized hospital births and even though I knew I wanted something different I had no idea how to get it. I went into my 37.5 week appointment unaware that standard vaginal exam would end up in my doctor stripping my membranes without my consent or knowledge. This immediately led to unproductive contractions and leaking waters within a few days. After 9 hours of a pitocin induction I was begging for an epidural and shortly after that the doctor was calling for a cesarean. The reasons I were given were not good enough, neither myself nor my baby was in any danger but the fear of going against what the doctor was telling me forced me to yield to what I still feel was an unnecessary cesarean. My "big baby" came out weighing 7 pounds 14 ounces, a far cry from the huge baby they wanted me to believe I was having.
The second time around I knew what I wanted, and after months of research and reading birth stories, I knew how to get it. I believed with all my heart that I could vbac (vaginal birth after cesarean) my baby but I also knew that having an un-medicated hospital vbac was going to be extremely difficult. I ended up hiring a midwife and having my son on an early winter morning in 2010. The birth was so fast that my midwife nearly missed the entire thing. It was my perfect birth and I felt so empowered knowing that I made all of the decisions and I knew what my best options were. It was so different from the birth of my first son that I knew something was extremely wrong with my first experience where I came away from it feeling like birth was done to me and that I had no choice in any of it.
The experience of my home vbac changed my life forever. Firstly, it taught me that I could do anything. Secondly it strengthened my relationship with God and my husband. And thirdly, it showed me that there is a real need for professionals in the Greater Bakersfield area who care about women and want to see their birth dreams come true.
In 2011 I began training through Birth Arts International. My journey so far has been incredible because I have learned so much about myself and the different women who I have worked with. I believe that women relying on women is crucial to seeing that dream come true and I believe that every birth is unique, just as every woman and child are unique. What may be my perfect birth may not be yours, and that's okay. My job as a mother's assistant is to ensure that you get your best possible birth. Please feel free to contact me with questions or comments that might you have.
Thank you for your consideration.
Alicia
I am a mother to two wonderful little boys. I was born and raised in Kern County and though I moved to Orange County for college, my heart eventually found its way home in the end. I possess a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences from Chico State University and while this is one of my biggest accomplishments my heart truly lies with birth and ensuring that women receive their own perfect birth.
I first began this journey in 2008 with the birth of my first son. I was your typical 23 year old first time mom; I thought I knew everything there was to know about having a baby and what I didn't know I could always look up on the internet. I remember my mother-in-law being so proud of me for wanting to find out everything. Little did I know that I really had no true understanding of what to expect. Every one in my family had over-medicalized hospital births and even though I knew I wanted something different I had no idea how to get it. I went into my 37.5 week appointment unaware that standard vaginal exam would end up in my doctor stripping my membranes without my consent or knowledge. This immediately led to unproductive contractions and leaking waters within a few days. After 9 hours of a pitocin induction I was begging for an epidural and shortly after that the doctor was calling for a cesarean. The reasons I were given were not good enough, neither myself nor my baby was in any danger but the fear of going against what the doctor was telling me forced me to yield to what I still feel was an unnecessary cesarean. My "big baby" came out weighing 7 pounds 14 ounces, a far cry from the huge baby they wanted me to believe I was having.
The second time around I knew what I wanted, and after months of research and reading birth stories, I knew how to get it. I believed with all my heart that I could vbac (vaginal birth after cesarean) my baby but I also knew that having an un-medicated hospital vbac was going to be extremely difficult. I ended up hiring a midwife and having my son on an early winter morning in 2010. The birth was so fast that my midwife nearly missed the entire thing. It was my perfect birth and I felt so empowered knowing that I made all of the decisions and I knew what my best options were. It was so different from the birth of my first son that I knew something was extremely wrong with my first experience where I came away from it feeling like birth was done to me and that I had no choice in any of it.
The experience of my home vbac changed my life forever. Firstly, it taught me that I could do anything. Secondly it strengthened my relationship with God and my husband. And thirdly, it showed me that there is a real need for professionals in the Greater Bakersfield area who care about women and want to see their birth dreams come true.
In 2011 I began training through Birth Arts International. My journey so far has been incredible because I have learned so much about myself and the different women who I have worked with. I believe that women relying on women is crucial to seeing that dream come true and I believe that every birth is unique, just as every woman and child are unique. What may be my perfect birth may not be yours, and that's okay. My job as a mother's assistant is to ensure that you get your best possible birth. Please feel free to contact me with questions or comments that might you have.
Thank you for your consideration.
Alicia