As Dr. John Kennell, a pioneer in the field of perinatal health care
said, “If a doula were a drug, it would be malpractice not to use it.”
I have personally used one and that experience inspired me to become a
birth and postpartum doula myself.
When I say the word doula to most people, all I get back is a blank
stare. I then have to explain what exactly I do. Are you one of those?
Here is a great explanation I have created.
BIRTH DOULA
The professional birth assistant is a woman who tends to the birthing
family from early labor until a little after the baby is born. She is
trained to deliver continuity of care from home to hospital, be there
through changing hospital shifts and alternating physician schedules;
serve as advocate, labor coach, and support partner, and above all,
help manage the fears of both parents. If it is a home birth, she is
trained to take over tasks so the partner can be 100% present. A
doula’s presence does not make a birth partner’s presence unnecessary.
To the contrary, her presence frees the partner from certain aspects of
concern and allows the partner to interact more closely with the
birthing woman. The goal is to give the parents-to-be the freedom to
focus inward and increase the intimacy of the experience for both the
mother and her partner as they meet the challenges and rewards of their
unique birthing experience, thereby leaving her with a sense of
empowerment and a beautiful and positive birth memory.
POSTPARTUM DOULA
A postpartum doula is a non-judgmental woman with a quiet presence in
the home. Most postpartum doulas are mothers themselves who have their
own children and enjoy motherhood. By giving emotional and
breastfeeding support along with practical newborn care tips and taking
care of necessary household tasks such as: grocery shopping; meal
preparation; doing the dishes, laundry or tending to the older
children, postpartum Doulas help ease the transition into motherhood.
Unlike a baby nurse who focuses her care solely on the newborn, a
postpartum doula encourages and teaches parents how to care for their
newborn, to interpret their baby’s cues, and to trust their instincts
in responding to their baby’s needs, infusing the parents with the
confidence and support they need to develop their own parenting style.