I'm a trained birth & postpartum doula from Methodist Hospitals Doula Volunteer Program in Sacrament
1200 Barnhill Lane
Lincoln, CA
95648
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My name is Joni Tuttle, I am 40 years old and have been married to my best friend for 17 years. We have 3 wonderful children 19, 16 and 9. I have been A native to the Sacramento Valley my whole life. I was blessed that I got to stay home and raise my beautiful babies for so long. But now, they are much older and the timing was finally right for me to pursue my passion. I have had amazing support from them and many wonderful friends and family and Am very thankful for that. So, I thought i’d share with you all how and why, I wanted to became A Doula.
I was A young Mom of 19 years old, and about to give birth for the first time in 2000. I was scared and totally overwhelmed with the whole process. Terrified my body would not perform its instinctual job, of making A human and giving birth. I watched every medical show, read every book I could get my hands on to help make myself feel secure. It helped A little but over all, I was left feeling more anxious and confused. My Mom and then partner did their best to reassure me, it would all be OK. My Mom reminisced about her labor with me, but to be fair it was A scheduled C-section in 1979, so not much to go on from that, she was knocked out in what I imagined, was A psychedelic kind of coma. But let’s be real , neither of them had A PHD behind their name, so most of their advice or stories they told, I threw out the window lol.
I delivered my baby girl vaginally, 6 1/2 hours after going into labor, 2 weeks before my due date. With help from an epidural and A lot of vomiting, which helped to push her out ( who knew epidurals made you nausea's ). I survived, she was healthy and beautiful! What more could I of asked for right?! God gave me, the best gift ever! But after the initial exhaustion wore off, I was left feeling down and A little disappointed. Not to mention hours later, I still was numb and couldn’t feel my feet. Another fun side effect from the epidural. I wanted to get out of that dang hospital bed but couldn’t. Mostly, I figured my downed mood was postpartum rearing its ugly head. But after some thought it donned on me, the birth of my daughter was so medical and sterile. We were alone during a lot of it, unless A machine buzzed or alarmed, we did not see anyone until it was time. We were just sorta left to “ly” there and labor alone. I felt like I missed the whole amazing birth process, so many women talked about. I felt gypped. My baby was perfect but lethargic for 2 days after. I could barely get her to stay awake long enough to eat. I had no idea that it too, was A side effect of the epidural drug. It just was, what it was.
Looking back now, I know I definitely would of wanted to experience the feeling of my contractions and being able to be free to move about if I wanted too. To have someone there encouraging me, that I could do this with out drugs and let my body lead me, instead of fear taking over, would of been amazing! I did not know my options back then almost 20 years ago. I had no idea what A Doula even was. But by about 2004-2005 it started to become more popular and I could see it wasn’t just A “hippie’ thing. That more and more families were hiring them. I become totally enthralled and just knew this was my calling. I felt empowered, I could help these people one day! After years of dreaming about it, I finally put my energy into motion and did it! Weather you are looking for A Doula or thinking about wanting to become one, I’d love to be apart of that, for you.
