I do appreciate the support and experience I have had within the birth environment and happy to answer or help direct you to other great options. Doulas are beneficial for the single first time Mom without a support system all the way to a Mom having her 5th baby via elective C-section and in a strong supportive relationship with her partner. It is the doulas job to get to know you on a mental and
emotional level. She will do so by spending time with you at having in-home visits. While there she will help you write 2 "birth preference" sheets, assist you in finding references and educate you on your options. She learns from you what you value in your birth experience and will not persuade you in her opinions or beliefs but rather become your advocate in your idea of how you want your experience to be. Once the relationship has formed between you and your doula she is then able to read you in your labor and is quick to pick up on and respond to queues to relieve pain and/or irritants. The doula is trained to relive pressure points and assist you in finding positions that both make you feel better and help baby move into a more favorable position. Doulas provide emotion support to Mom and to those she may be surrounded with, as this can be a stressful situation for all in attendance. Is it really necessary to have a doula if I want or need C-section? Yes, other than maybe positioning, the doula provides all the service to you just the same as she does for a mother giving birth vaginally. Does the doula leave once baby is born? No, the doula is to stay until you are settled in and ready to rest. With Moms wanting to breastfeed, the doula is helpful to you in giving you verbal direction, support and resources available to you so you can nurse baby with confidence. The doula then completes her contract with you after one or two postpartum visits that are scheduled at your leisure. Does the doula take the place of my husband/mother/partner/other support person? Absolutely not, a doula is not to replace anyone. Example: Mom to be has her husband as her labor partner. The doula shows the husband different ways of touch or verbal support he can give his wife. This makes him feel like he is playing a role in relieving his wife's pain or discomfort while also making the wife feel confident in her husband and feeling she has his full support. When expectant dad is becoming tired, weary or unsure while supporting his wife the doula provides dad with words of encouragement and assures him that it is ok to have a human moment and to use the restroom, eat or even weep. Only in a situation where the expectant mother is truly alone in her labor and delivery, is when the doula would be the soul supporter. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me or visit www.dona.org
A little about me:
I am a trained DONA International doula working towards my certification. I became inspired to do this work after having my own child and not realizing, until afterword's, how unaware I had been of my options, questions to ask and the natural simplicity of labor and delivery. I came from my delivery experience asking myself, "How can I feel more in control next time?" and starting hunting for answers. In my research I kept coming across the word, doula. Having never heard of this word before, I assumed this must be someone just shows up for the birth, offers some words of encouragement and heads off once baby arrives. Thankfully, I stayed interested in this position of doula and saw that there are many aspects and benefits the doula provides. I recommend that every expectant mother have a doula. Even being a doula myself, I know I am certainly going to have a doula the next time I am pregnant so that I have that amazing supporter for myself and my husband during labor and delivery.
