Ginny Eby, Certified Birth Doula CD(DONA), Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI)
I am birth doula certified by DONA International, and I have been attending births since 2002. I am also a member of the Childbirth Collective. My husband and I live in Buffalo, Minnesota. I am the mother of four adult children and grandmother to eleven beautiful little ones.
I believe that every woman deserves a doula.
Why I Became a Doula
When I was pregnant with my second child in 1977, I became intensely interested in the home birth movement. Several couples whom I knew through my husband's work were having their babies at home, and occasionally I would come across magazine articles about home birth. My own birth experience was frightening, as I was a teenager and knew very little about the birth process. I was drugged, strapped down on my back, and my child was delivered by forceps.
The turning point for me was when I read Immaculate Deception, by Suzanne Arms.
It was fascinating and scary at the same time. I began to research my options and was determined to be in charge of my own birth experiences. My next three babies were born at home with my husband and midwives present. I became passionate about women’s choices. I wanted to train as a midwife, but had four children at home and no resources at the time. I was a stay at home mom and loving it.
The Next Generation
In January of 2002, I became a grandmother. I was with my daughter in the hospital, and actively involved with keeping her comfortable. I continued to be involved and present at the births of the next three grandchildren. My daughter-in-law was expecting her first child and it was to be a home birth. I was ecstatic. I drove to my son and daughter in law's apartment early in the morning and joined her own mother and the midwife.
My daughter-in-law was a little nervous, and having a lot of back pain. Her own mother was having a hard time seeing her daughter in pain. I just did what I knew to do, offering support and encouragement and offering her mother suggestions on how to help. Together we gave massage, cool cloths, comfort measures and lots of praise for the new mom.
Becoming a Doula
After the birth was over, my lovely daughter in law expressed to me how wonderful it was for her to have me at her birth, that she felt wonderfully supported and nurtured, and she thought that I would make a wonderful doula. My next question was, "What's a doula?" After she told me about doulas, I went online and researched the subject.
I found the DONA website, then found some doulas in my home state and kept emailing people until I found a doula training workshop to attend. How exciting to know that there is actually a need and desire for women who do what I was already doing, supporting women and protecting their birth experience!
I became a DONA member, took my training and have had the honor of helping empower women outside my own family, with support and education. Every birth is an opportunity to honor a family. Every woman deserves it. Every child is worth it. I love being a doula. Besides being a grandma, there's nothing else I’d rather be doing right now.