“What’s a birth doula?” is the number one response I get when I mention doulas and doula work. No hard feelings. A few years ago, I didn’t know either.
In a nutshell, Doula’s help expecting parents navigate the world of pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
They’re there by your side to explain everything that’s happening to your body and your baby. To help you know your choices. To help guide you through the processes and the transitions as smoothly as possible.
We help you calm your anxieties, make plans and do everything in our power to support you emotionally, physically and informationally so that your birth can be a sacred journey into parenthood with less fear and unease.
We’re there for you to discuss your desires and your emotions. We’re there to help with positions and movements that may help ease your labor pains. We’re there to do your dishes, help with the older kids, give you a rest or anything else you may need in those early weeks of parenthood.
Whatever your desires and/or needs may be, your doula is there to take the edge off.
Your Birth Doula During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your doula is a text or a call away at all times. If you’re feeling anxious about something and need to talk or if you have questions that need answers, your doula is who you contact.
Doula’s are highly knowledgeable about the processes and procedures involved in pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum and have a wide variety of related resources they can provide and share with you.
They come to the comfort of your home to help you discuss preferences and make a birth plan. During your doula prenatal visits they may discuss with you what to expect during labor and birth and show you exercises and positions that may help with pain management during labor.
Extra prenatal visits can often be added to doula packages for help with postpartum meal prepping, pad-cicle making, henna belly painting and/or just becoming more comfortable with one another.
Your Doula During Labor and Birth
Your doula stays by your side during labor and delivery. You call her during labor when you feel you could use her extra support and she stays with you through the whole process, rubbing your back, suggesting hip movements and laboring positions. Setting the atmosphere to calm, easing your fears and supporting you through positive affirmations and motivational words.
She may assist your partner or other present loved ones in helpful ways they can support you as well.
Your doula understands standard hospital procedures and the delicate processes of birth and can explain to you what’s happening, why and how to make informed decisions and advocate for yourself.We don’t do clinical things such as taking blood pressure or checking heart rates but we explain clinical things to you because often the hospital staff doesn’t have the time or the thinking to do so. You are, after all, only one of their many patients and they do these things sometimes 100 times a day.
After the birth of your baby, your doula can help establish initial bonding through skin to skin and breastfeeding and help with management of the placenta if you’re looking to do placenta encapsulation, placenta art, lotus birth or something other than the routine disposal of it.
Your Birth Doula Postpartum
Your standard doula package usually comes with 1-2 postpartum visits where your doula will visit you in your home after you have your baby to help. She may listen to your thoughts and feelings on the transition into motherhood, discuss your birth if you like or answer any questions you have. She may do your dishes, fold some laundry or watch baby so you can nap or shower.
The duties of a postpartum doula are numerous and expansive and unique to both what your doula offers and what you need at the time of her visit. You may higher a postpartum doula to only assist you after your birth or you may (usually) add extra postpartum visits to your birth doula package.
Doulas are here to support you in whatever way you need. The journey into motherhood was never meant to be taken alone. A doula can offer up support to make it as easy a journey as possible.
Doulas in History
The word doula is Greek and describes a woman who personally serves another woman. Throughout history, labor and birth have been a group effort by those closest to the woman laboring. Her sister, her mother, her aunt, would collectively help her through the process. Reassuring her and supporting her.
Mothers don’t often have this support anymore and when they do, it’s often from an individual who has little to no knowledge on the current OB processes and natural physiology of birth.
It’s easy to forget everything you’ve learned during your 9 months of preparation during the excitement and pains of labor. Having someone by your side that is calm and use to this setting can help remind you of what you’ve learned. Even doulas have doulas for their own deliveries. A doula can make the difference between having a satisfying journey into motherhood and having a disappointing one.
Other posts you may enjoy:
- Common Pregnancy Myths & Fear Mongering Misinformation as Told By a Midwife
- Birthing From Within; a book review for new parents
- Your Beliefs Around Birth Can Make Labor Easier or Harder
- Expecting Trouble; Prenatal Care in America (A Book Review)
- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding; a book review for new parents
Author
S.S.Blake; Spiritual Life Coach, Yoga + Meditation Teacher and Founder of Earth and Water
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