What is a doula?
Doula (pronounced "doola") is a Greek word meaning "woman servant or caregiver". It now refers to an experienced woman who offers emotional and practical support to a woman and couple before, during and after childbirth. Throughout history mothers and families have benefited from the doula's presence, both at the time of birth and following birth. Both birth doulas and postnatal doulas offer compassionate, non-medical care to assist families in their new-life transition.
Birth doulas are birth assistants who offer emotional and physical support to labouring families. We take time and care to meet with couples or mothers prenatally to discuss birthing desires and fears. Our knowledge and experience bring assurance as we share balanced information to enable parents to make informed choices.
A doula offers non-medical measures of support to give the mother comfort and strength to be able to cope better with her labour. Changing labouring positions regularly and often is vital to progress; our experience is invaluable here. In addition to the expertise of the medical staff, we bring our knowledge, experience; massage techniques and specialized, non-medical skills that can greatly enhance your labour and birth.
A doula's support is the only continuous in-room help available in any setting. Your doula is the only member of the birth team who is free to focus entirely on the mother's need to cope and the father's need to be of real supportive value. In addition, you can expect us to help apply and expand what you learned in your childbirth education classes. Together we strive for the best possible outcome for the kind of birth experience you envision.
Postnatal doulas provide daily, in-home care to mothers with newborns. Their assistance is entirely non-medical and covers three main areas: practical, educational and emotional support.
Practical assistance includes most of the household tasks the new mother would normally do on a daily basis. For example, loading the dishwasher, doing laundry and bringing nutritious snacks to Mum are all part of the doula's practical support. In homes with older siblings, the doula helps to maintain the children's regular daily routines. She may also transport children to activities and run other errands.
Educational support for first-time mothers, as well as mothers of multiples, includes plenty of hands-on assistance and guidance with infant care. With experienced mothers, the doula can share the latest literature on infant development and information for any new areas of interest or concern the new baby inspires. Of course, the doula's broad range of experience is a valuable resource for any mother.
Emotional support is one of the most important, and least recognized, needs of postnatal mothers. The doula can offer a sympathetic ear as the mother processes her birth experience and expresses her concerns for the futures. A well-informed, objective viewpoint is helpful as a mother makes decisions on important parenting issues such as feeding methods. The doula's role is to offer non-judgmental guidance and encouragement in all facets of parenting.
Click here to watch a short film about doulas in the UK.
Myths about Dads & Doulas
by PENNY SIMKIN PT
One Question heard a lot is what about Dad? Will a Doula take his role? I hope to be able to answer those concerns with the below information:
Myth # 1 - If a woman has her partner, the Doula becomes redundant.
Reality - The Doula may be the only person at the labour besides the partner who is there solely for the emotional well-being of the woman.The nurse the doctor the midwife have other priorities that compete with the emotional care of the woman: for example, breaks, shift change, clinical responsibilities, office hours and hospital policies. The doula has few or no other priorities. She stays through shift changes, and until after the baby is born. She is not just another stranger with the couple. She has the woman's needs as her sole priority. In some cases, the couple will bring several other friends or family members into labour with them. Sometimes these people can be uncertain of how to help which leads to confusion and actually adds to the woman's stress. The doula can direct and coordinate the efforts of a group of people, giving them all something to do, so they work as a team on the woman's behalf.
Myth # 2 - The doula "takes over", displacing the partner and interferes with their intimate experience.
Reality - The doula can actually bring the couple closer. By making sure that the partner's needs are met (food, drink, occasional back rubs, and reassurance), the woman and her partner can work more closely together. The doula allows for the partner to participate at his own comfort level. Some partners prefer to be there only to witness the birth of their child and to share in this experience with the woman that they love. They may not want to play an active role and do not want to be responsible for the woman's comfort and emotional security. The doula can fill in and allow the partner to participate as he wishes, without leaving the woman's needs unmet. When the partner chooses to be the major source of emotional support, the doula can supplement his or her efforts by running errands, making suggestions for comfort measures, and offering words of reassurance and comfort. During a long tiring labour, she can give the partner a break for a brief rest or change of scene. While the doula probably knows more than the partner about birth, hospitals, and maternity care, the partner knows more about the woman's personality, likes and dislikes, and needs. Moreover, he loves the woman more than anyone else there. The combined contribution of partner and doula, along with a competent, considerate and caring staff gives the woman the best chance of an optimal outcome.
Myth # 3 - The doula has her own beliefs about how birth should go, and imposes it on the woman or couple.
Reality - The doula's true agenda is to help ensure that the woman's or couple's agenda is acknowledged and followed as much as possible. If the doula is thoroughly familiar with the couple's wishes and their plan, she may actually think more about it than the couple, especially when labour is intense and things are happening rapidly. The doula can remind the staff or the couple of some items on the birth plan that are forgotten, but which might later be important. Sometimes if a birth plan is not followed, the couple later look back with regret or disappointment. The doula helps with decision making by asking questions that will ensure that the right information is given to the woman or couple so that they can make an informed decision. She may also suggest alternatives for the couple to consider. She does not, however, make decisions for the couple.
In summary, the doula helps make the birth experience to be as rewarding and satisfying as possible. As one father said, " I heaved a big sigh of relief when she (the doula) walked in. I hadn't realized how much pressure I had been feeling. She not only calmed my wife, she calmed me down."
