Rebecca has been volunteering with Embrace since January of 2017. She is fully immersed here at Embrace; she teaches our Healthy Mom’s Class, has been paired with 4 women and is helping us edit and shape our Healthy Mom’s Class Curriculum. It’s evident that Rebecca is passionate about educating women about their rights and empowering them with the tools they need to have a healthy and safe birth. Thus, it was no surprise to us that a former Embrace client of Rebecca’s told a friend to ask for Rebecca to be her volunteer doula when she became pregnant.
Rebecca and Thazin met during the Healthy Mom's class back in August of 2017. Thazin is new to the Atlanta area and the US but she navigates the city very well. She worked full time in her home country of Myanmar so when she arrived in the US, she was bored, lonely and pregnant for the first time. She quickly enrolled in ESOL classes four days a week and signed up for Embrace’s Healthy Moms class series. She had heard about Embrace from a friend who had gone through the Embrace program. She knew how important it would be to become educated on the process of pregnancy, birth and motherhood and she knew how vital it would be to have a woman/friend supporting her during her pregnancy, labor and birth.
Rebecca and Thazin hit it off during the Healthy Mom’s classes and were soon paired together as mom and volunteer. Rebecca spent time visiting with Thazin and her husband reinforcing what Thazin had learned in class and teaching Thazin’s husband how to support her during labor. They talked about good exercises to prepare her body and when to go to the hospital. Rebecca helped to advocate for Thazin at prenatal appointments and made sure that her questions were being answered.
When the big day arrived, Rebecca packed her doula bag and headed to the hospital to support Thazin and her husband. It was a long labor but Rebecca stayed by their side for over 24 hours and only reluctantly went home to get some much needed rest and passed the labor support baton to Shanna, an Embrace staff member. Rebecca returned the following day to celebrate with Thazin and her husband and to welcome baby Mary into the world.
Though Thazin experienced a long and difficult labor and birth, she could not stop expressing her joy and gratitude for how surrounded by love and support she felt with Rebecca’s presence. Thazin and her husband told Rebecca that she is Mary’s American grandmother and that she is part of their family now. Thazin expressed that if Rebecca ever needs anything, Thazin and her husband would be there in a heartbeat to support Rebecca. How beautiful when humans cross the vast sea of language and culture to form bonds as close as family. What an honor and joy we feel at Embrace to enter into such intimate and sacred spaces with our families.
Rebecca and Thazin met during the Healthy Mom's class back in August of 2017. Thazin is new to the Atlanta area and the US but she navigates the city very well. She worked full time in her home country of Myanmar so when she arrived in the US, she was bored, lonely and pregnant for the first time. She quickly enrolled in ESOL classes four days a week and signed up for Embrace’s Healthy Moms class series. She had heard about Embrace from a friend who had gone through the Embrace program. She knew how important it would be to become educated on the process of pregnancy, birth and motherhood and she knew how vital it would be to have a woman/friend supporting her during her pregnancy, labor and birth.
Rebecca and Thazin hit it off during the Healthy Mom’s classes and were soon paired together as mom and volunteer. Rebecca spent time visiting with Thazin and her husband reinforcing what Thazin had learned in class and teaching Thazin’s husband how to support her during labor. They talked about good exercises to prepare her body and when to go to the hospital. Rebecca helped to advocate for Thazin at prenatal appointments and made sure that her questions were being answered.
When the big day arrived, Rebecca packed her doula bag and headed to the hospital to support Thazin and her husband. It was a long labor but Rebecca stayed by their side for over 24 hours and only reluctantly went home to get some much needed rest and passed the labor support baton to Shanna, an Embrace staff member. Rebecca returned the following day to celebrate with Thazin and her husband and to welcome baby Mary into the world.
Though Thazin experienced a long and difficult labor and birth, she could not stop expressing her joy and gratitude for how surrounded by love and support she felt with Rebecca’s presence. Thazin and her husband told Rebecca that she is Mary’s American grandmother and that she is part of their family now. Thazin expressed that if Rebecca ever needs anything, Thazin and her husband would be there in a heartbeat to support Rebecca. How beautiful when humans cross the vast sea of language and culture to form bonds as close as family. What an honor and joy we feel at Embrace to enter into such intimate and sacred spaces with our families.
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