Category Archives: Updates

If you’ve missed me, I’ve missed you more!

Posted on by

A very warm Salaam to all of you and thank you for always asking how I’ve been and how I’m coping with 3. To be honest, I have underestimated the break I needed as I try to regain momentum to start doula work again. I’ve promised some people that I will resume my classes in April or May, but its July and I’m nowhere near to setting a date yet (I am working towards it though!). I’m thankful for my group of first prenatal yoga class friends (plus some ex-clients) who seem to keep multiplying so I do get to keep my doula knowledge and skills in check, InshaAllah!

Speaking of knowledge-upgrading: Last January, I attended a follow-up Spinningbabies workshop for birth workers in Singapore conducted by Gail Tully herself. I got to bring baby Honeystar who was then barely 3 months old so that was good. It felt so nice to be ‘hands-on’ again after many months off physical doula work!

Practising side-lying release

Practising side-lying release

Last I met this lovely midwife was in Liverpool 2012!

Last I met this lovely midwife was in Liverpool 2012!

I am also happy to note that several new Muslim doulas have just gotten certified so our Muslim mothers will have even more choices now. Alhamdulillah for more gentle birth choices! Feel free to speak to me for a recommendation. 😉

And finally, my biggest project is still on hold: project Birth of Honeystar write-up! So many learning points to share that I’m unsure what to start with. Alhamdulillah baby Honeystar is now 8 months old – amazing how fast time flies!

My #2 and #3 - Rosebud & Honeystar

My #2 and #3 – Rosebud & Honeystar

These are my brief updates for now, just to let you know I’m still here. I’m available for contact, but preferably via Whatsapp please. InshaAllah, till next time! 😉

Wassalam

With Love and Thanks – Doula Hanani, Yaqyn Birth

Yesterday’s random fb post

Posted on by

Random pregnancy post tonight:

1) Several days ago, when I picked and chose AbangH and Rosebud’s newborn clothes to be washed for baby Honeystar, I seem to subconciously pick out more of the blue-coloured outfits and wraps! Confident ke Honeystar will be a boy?

2) Also several days ago, I told my midwife that I am “…confident Honeystar’s head is still high”, only to be met with her wide-eyed response of “…nooo!! She is just *this close* (makes small gap indication with thumb and forefinger) to the middle of the pubis” from her after palpating the belly. Similarly the next day, I confidently told Cik Nor, my pre/postnatal massage lady, that baby is “…still high!” only to be met with the same response as my midwife. “Baby is already in a ‘prostrating’ position (ie occiput anterior), ready to come out! Be sure to stay more at home ok”, she said. Allahhh…. 😅 Whenever you’re ready, baby… 💕

3) I am 37+6 weeks today, Alhamdulillah Mohon doa semua~ And I seek your forgiveness for my wrongdoings! Please keep me in your prayers ok 😘

Coming up: Project Honeystar!

Posted on by

I thought for a long time on how best to approach this, and I even entertained the thought of keeping it a secret at first. Secret because I love to give an element of surprise to my loved ones, readers included!

After much thought, I realise it wouldn’t be fair to keep it from all of you for these 2 reasons:
1) Interested potential participants keep wondering why I’m always on a ‘break’
2) This is happy news, meant to be shared with others and for me to ask your prayers for, right! 🙂

And so, with that I am happy to announce that I am 8 months pregnant with baby #3, Alhamdulillah! I have chosen not to know the gender, so I am going to call him/her little Honeystar for now. Cos lil bub has been so sweet like honey and wonderful like a star!

IMG_3606.JPG
Naah, that’s not a real baby. That starfish blankie is cute, though!

I’ve been very busy with the big sister-to-be Rosebud aka Humaira’ (who’s just learnt to walk) and big brother Abang Husainy (who’s starting primary school next year) that I sometimes forget I am pregnant! But Honeystar has been so sweet giving me little kicks & nudges every so often as if to assure me “I’m alright, Ibu!“.

IMG_3605.JPG
Me in June 2014 @ 6 months. With the ever reliable Abang Husainy, my firstborn 🙂

Mohon du’a semuanya agar dipermudahkan urusan persalinan kelak InshaAllah! I seek your kind prayers for me to have a smooth and safe labour & birth, InshaAllah! Please forgive any mistakes and shortcomings on my part!

So will I be having another home birth? God willing, InshaAllah, please do make lots of du’a for me. I will do my best to keep everyone updated about this! 🙂

Lots of love,
Hanani, Yaqyn Birth

I am officially an Aunt!

Posted on by

Assalamualaikum wr wb,
Bismillah…

Forgive me for the long absence. I took a break in Ramadhan and Syawal as I had been overseas in Melbourne during this period for a much needed break. Its good to be back in Mum and Dad’s arms! :). It so happened that this period coincided with the birth of my first nephew, Musa, the son of my brother. My sister in law had been so sweet to ask me to be her doula, and of course I agreed!

Her birth story was pretty straightforward, with 2 days of mild early labour. We did the usual works – birth ball, massage, hot shower and she coped beautifully. There were times when my brother asked me if its time to go, and I’d see that she’s still chatty and fine and I’d say let’s hang on a while. On the 3rd day, when her labour became more established, things picked up pretty quickly and soon she knew it was time to go. The hospital was just a 7 mins drive away, but by the time we reached there, she was starting to bear baby down (aka, wanting to push). Here’s a doula action shot taken by my dear bro! (Don’t mind the handbag, we were waiting to be escorted into a room, hee). Not long after, my handsome nephew was born! And today is his first month, Alhamdulillah.

 

Pelvic squeezes while waiting for a room

Pelvic squeezes while waiting for a room

 

In other news, I am (finally) resuming my birth talks in September, InshaAllah! 7 September is already half full (priority for those who asked to be put on waitlist), but there will be 2 more on 14 and 21 September. Please msg/wa me for more details! Seats are really going fast and I’d hate to disappoint anyone.

Signing off for now, but do stay in touch as I have good news to be shared in the next few weeks, InshaAllah! ❤

December Daze

Posted on by

I’ve been on a doula hiatus for December because am in the midst of ‘doula-ing’ for another big event come January – my brother’s wedding. I did just one ‘phone-doula’ (a new term I coined for doulaing over the phone) because this client’s hospital wouldn’t give me clearance until I got my certification in paper. Alhamdulillah it went well and she was in established labour for only 1 hr! I don’t really like to doula over the phone because I don’t get to do much and I get very frustrated about it, lol! So I’ll make sure I’ll get my paper cert before I get called to that hospital again, InsyaAllah. At the same time, I am also making several friendly visits this month to new mums who need a hand or two to help them in breastfeeding.

Some quick updates that made me a very happy doula!:

1) One of my bfeeding class participants is successfully bfeeding after a c-section. I was very happy when she told me how empowered she felt that she changed her gynae at the very last min (>36 wks!!) just so she could have a chance to (at least) try to naturally deliver her breech baby. Her 1st gynae did not give her this chance and insisted she opt for elective c-sect. See how much impact a little gesture from your gynae can make on you even though the outcome (c-sect) is the same anyway.

2) I found a fellow Muslim and hijab-ed doula based in Kuala Lumpur!! So if you’re living in Malaysia and hoping to get a doula, leave me your contact details and I’ll get Nadine Ghows to get in touch with you 🙂

Stay tuned for my next update! I will be posting pictures of the waterbirth tub in NUH. 🙂

Some updates for October 2010

Posted on by

All praises to Allah, I’ve finally managed to complete a huge part of my website… even though it is nowhere near complete, I hope the little nuggets of info I have here can help to answer some basic questions people might have. Click on the links above to find out more about what I do!

Some updates:

I am very excited at the prospect of gaining knowledge from a well known US doula come Saturday. According to her website The Birth Company, Rae has been a doula for over 30 years! I’ve only been a doula a little less than a year yet I feel I’ve gained so much new info and learned so many new things. I’m really looking forward to having this sharing session with Rae. Thank you Ginny for organising!

Also, SUTRA magazine (a malay SPH publication) had been kind enough to interview me for their next issue in November. Even though I am a very new doula in Singapore, I do hope what little I shared with the magazine will help to create more awareness about the works of a doula to the Malay community~ Am pretty excited and anxious at the same time wondering how the posed photos will turn out. Don’t forget to get your copy of SUTRA magazine everyone! 🙂