Health, Fitness, Sport Is a Doula for You?
What is a doula? I get this all the time when I tell people what I do. Doula comes from a Greek word meaning “woman caregiver”. We now use this word to describe trained and experienced labor companion who provides a woman and her partner with continuous emotional support, physical comfort, and advocates in obtaining information before, during, and just after childbirth. I tell people “it’s kind of like a personal labor coach for parents”.
As a doula I recognize that childbirth is a profound life experience that a woman will remember for the rest of her life. To nurture and preserve positive memories of this important event a doula provides an objective source of information and support for both mother and partner throughout the entire birth experience. This encourages open communication between mother, partner and clinical care providers. As a doula, you stay with a client through her whole laboring and birth experience, in whatever capacity your client feels comfortable.
It starts with a primary informational support meeting face to face. A client learns what kind of support a doula will provide, and physical measures (non-pharmacological such as massage techniques and sources of relief for pregnancy) that can be used.
We talk about the critical support that is provided to partners, to ensure that partners can support the laboring woman to their comfort level. We talk about a birth plan. What is the ideal laboring environment? We talk about when the best time to call a doula is, when is the best time to contact your clinical provider. We talk about the ‘doula bag of tricks’. These are the tools that can be employed and techniques to help keep labor moving and progressing. We talk about the feelings and expectations for the birth. We talk about any physiological concerns that the mother may have regarding the discomforts of pregnancy and birth. It’s a great way to open a gateway to communication and get to know each other. This is the meeting where a prospective client makes a personal decision. Is this the right doula for me? Do your personalities work well together, for all parties involved? Will this person bring the right energy into your birth experience? Do you feel that this person will be able to support you and advocate on your behalf, for all your wishes and possible outcomes without personal judgment?
The next meeting is usually at the very beginnings of labor. Your doula is equipped to accompany the laboring woman on the beginnings of her journey or at any point the woman feels that a support hand would be welcomed. This could be the very first pain at home, on the way to the hospital or at any point in between and for all types of births. Doulas have been contacted to help fulfill a supportive role in a full range of birth experience. We have supported and carried mothers through the emotional highs and lows of natural childbirth. We have stood by mothers and held their hands while in a caesarean situation while partners have supported babies. Our roles are as varied as we are.
The final visit is shortly after the birth. ;This is where we talk about the birth and share moments, mother (and partner) get to express feelings after such a profound experience. We touch on how the infant is now impacting life and if there are any discomforts, physical or emotional for all. Again, your doula can become a resource and can point you in the right direction for breastfeeding information, postpartum information and possible baby groups in your area.
There are so many reasons to choose to involve a doula in birth. At your most vulnerable, you will have an individual who is there to advocate and make your wishes known if woman and/or partner are unavailable. Research has shown that consistent care through labor reduces the incidence of emergency caesarean section. There is now a study underway here in BC to research the role of doulas in VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean). A second qualitative study on doula support is also being designed, which will explore doula experiences and insights into supporting women seeking normal birth at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre. But more than just the health benefits to birthing mothers, I believe that it is imperative that we foster confident and successful mothers to ensure we have confident and successful babies. These important attachments that a new infant forms from the womb and beyond shapes how they will interact with their future. This all starts with making mother feel as confident, comfortable, supported and prepared for her birth as we can.
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