In late 2011, I found myself pregnant unexpectedly.

I was in the middle of grad school and immediately shaken by the fear and vulnerability that overtook me. I called a number of OB offices, thinking my job was to get straight to the doctor. My experience was that no one I spoke to was interested in anything I had to say except when I was available for an appointment. I made and canceled three appointments with different offices based just on the experience I had with their office staff.

Then I found a new OB practice: Here, for the first time, I felt like a human. I went in for my first appointment at 7-weeks-pregnant. Before my ultrasound, I was taken aback by the way the doctors were impressing upon me that they were “different” because they supported natural birth and doulas (What’s a doula? I thought.). I was left thinking: Why are they so determined to sell me on this would-be different model of care that they do? What is everyone else doing if it isn’t this?

My first ultrasound found no heartbeat. I have to say, if you must go through the experience of having a miscarriage, my hope and wish is that you experience the care, kindness, humanity, and respect that I experienced through that time.

When I became pregnant again, now living in LA, I knew I wanted to find the kind of care I experienced with my doctors in NY. While I had and have a great OB in LA, through research and self-led discovery, I realized that the right choice for me was the midwifery model of care.

I went on to have 3 babies in 3 years, all born at home, with midwives and a doula. As I ventured deeper into parenthood and encountered the experiences and stories of other families, I realized that I was lucky. I had operated from a mindset that had been seeded by the chance experience with my doctors in NY. I learned about evidence-based care, and what family-centered model of care felt like.

I also learned the difference between evidence-based care and the routine care happening in many hospitals; about birth advocacy and the importance of having continuous support; and about many other things which are required knowledge to improve your chances of having a positive outcome when birthing your baby. And not to mention ALL the other things that you have to learn and adjust to when becoming a parent.

Most of all, all along the way I was permissioned by those I had chosen to care for me and my baby to feel inherently confident in myself about the whole experience, starting with my ability to birth my own baby and carrying that forward into my ability to parent and care for my baby.

Was it perfect? Nope. Was it easy? Not even close. Did I still have postpartum mental health issues? Yup. But I think the part that carried me through and made the rest of it manageable was confidence in myself and my body, trust, and having family-centered support throughout my pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

My journey left me wondering if there is one place families can go to get full-spectrum, continuous support, guidance and information that honors their goals and values.

I couldn’t find it, so I created it: The 730 Project.

COMMUNITY

At 730, we are big on community, which enriches your experience as a new parent, and sets you up for success. You’ll soon realize that you are not alone, and you’ll make friends for life along the way.