Jill Frink Thompson, Postpartum Doula
How and why did you decide to become a postpartum doula and practice in Vermont?
My first son was born in rural Kentucky in the fall of 1998. I had friends in the area, but being so far out in the country made visits few and far between. My husband worked overnights and slept during the day. I felt overwhelmed and alone. I cried and cried.
My second son was born 22 months later in Asheville, North Carolina. This time I had community. This time would be different. After a difficult labor, and the birth of a baby so badly bruised that he couldn't open his eyes for 2 weeks, I realized that I was sick. I needed help. There was no help. I had postpartum depression. I cried all the time.
I met Tovia Stafford when my second son was 2 years old. As she is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, I asked her to teach me more about the ancient East Indian system of medicine. She became pregnant during our course of study, and asked if I'd like to help her out during her postpartum period. She trained me as an Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula. During my training I received Abhyanga or full body hot oil massage. I felt myself coming back together. All the pieces that shattered under the strain of my hormones and emotions were softly and gently releasing and rejoining. I was being healed.
After the birth of Tovia's daughter I assisted her postpartum doula teacher, Yasha Oakes. For 6 weeks we cooked, made herbal remedies and massaged the new mother. We gave her room to be silent, and unfold into her new role. This experience changed my life. I understood what was missing during my postpartum time. In that enlightened moment I realized that many women in our culture experience the same isolation, the same anxiety, and the same engulfing depression that had ruined the limited precious time that I had to spend with my children as infants. Still maintaining my herbal practice I began to focus more on women and children, and soon Tovia and I founded the Ayurvedic Postpartum Doula Service, Mother Care.
I came to Vermont in the spring of 2004 as an intern at Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center. I fell in love with Vermont. I have traveled most of my life, and lived in many places, but when I crossed the state line out of NY I felt a shift. I knew I was finally home.
Rosemary Gladstar is still to this day my mentor, and guiding light in many areas of my life. She and my amazing teacher Atmo helped me identify what in my life brings me true joy. These strong women helped me weed out my medicine bag, and be present in my truest evolution. The wounded healer in me arose to the calling, and my main focus in Vermont has been guiding families through the postpartum period.
What is your philosophy of the postpartum period?
In many cultures there is no concept or word for postpartum depression. According to Ayurveda, a woman is as fragile as her infant for the first 6 weeks after birth. She is a vessel bringing forth life, and in that she is energetically wide open and vulnerable. She should be nurtured and cared for as tenderly as a newborn while her body and spirit recover. If she is given this time to rejuvenate, then she will have the ability to serve her family and community well into old age.
In China the postpartum period is called the "sitting month". A woman is relieved of all household chores and domestic duties outside of caring for her infant. This allows time for mother infant bonding to become solid, and for the mother to become confident in her new role as mom.
I believe as a whole we are culturally challenged. Our pioneer attitude has stripped women of their right to be gently and lovingly born into motherhood. When we look at the recent turn of events in the birthing atmosphere, and the awesome movement to make birth less traumatic, lets also look at the trauma suffered by thousands of women each day as they stumble through their postpartum fog. I believe the mother should be mothered.
How does postpartum doula care support pregnant women, moms, and kids?
I like to meet the whole family sometime in the 2nd trimester to get a feel for their unique dynamic, and the mother's constitution. We meet again about 4 weeks before the birth to talk about how her pregnancy is proceeding. I offer support for individual needs of the family. Maybe remedies for dad's anxiety, strategies for extra needy siblings, suggestions for warding off invasive in-laws, or simply listening.
During our time together postpartum I become invisible. I do not take over care of the newborn, or replace dad. I am there to assist mom in her unfolding, and create sacred space for the integration of baby into the family. I allow the family to "nest" and make room for mom to heal.
What is unique about the care you provide for your clients?
I am trained as a Western Clinical Herbalist serving women and children for over a decade. I offer many western remedies for common ailments in mom, dad, sibs and baby. I am also trained in Soul Focused Transformational Healing. This practice consists of aligning the charkas with associated organs and systems of the body. I incorporate this healing into mom's time on the massage table if she is interested.
Each day of full care involves scrumptious meals prepared especially for the unique constitutions of mom and baby, classic Ayurveda postpartum tonics, 1 hour full body hot oil massage, and daily consultations. During this time we talk frankly about our experiences. I am then able to suggest flower essences, homeopathic remedies, or western herbal teas and tinctures, to bring the family back into physical and emotional balance.
What services do you offer and where are you located?
I offer in home care to women in Central Vermont after the birth of their children. In addition to full care, I am available for massage/energy work only, or just meals. I am also open to phone consultations up to six weeks postpartum. I maintain a private herbal practice in Plainfield Vermont. My office is located at 153 Main Street, in the community center above the Plainfield Coop.
Jill@VTDoula.com
http://www.VTdoula.com/ (Coming Soon!)
(802) 426-2042
