Doula Services
What is a Doula?A doula is a specially trained caregiver that offers physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother, infant and family before and during labor and birth (Birth Doula) and in the early postpartum period (Postpartum Doula).
A doula does not offer medical care.
A doula does provide support consisting of praise, reassurance, measures to improve the comfort of the mother including suggestions on optimal positioning, aromatherapy, and other relaxations techniques, physical contact such as rubbing the mother's back and holding her hands, explanation of what is going on during labor and delivery and a constant friendly presence. Such tasks can also be fulfilled by a nurse or midwife, but they often need to perform technical/medical procedures that can distract their attention from the mother.
A doula recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life.
The word "Doula" comes from the Greek word meaning "servant" and dates back to the times when it was commonplace for a birthing woman to have other women with her for support during her labor and delivery.
The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition of their important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers and infants.
Some benefits of having a Doula are:- A doula recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life.
- A doula understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
- A doula assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth.
- A doula stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor.
- A doula provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions.
- A doula facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical care providers.
- A doula perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience.
- Feel more secure and cared for
- Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
- Have greater success with breastfeeding
- Have greater self-confidence
- Have less postpartum depression
- Have lower incidence of abuse
- tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
- reduces negative feelings about one's childbirth experience
- reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
- reduces the mother's request for pain medication and/or epidurals
- An initial interview, free of charge, so that you have a chance to meet me and see if we are a good fit.
- At least two visits before the birth, including accompanying you to a visit with your care provider if desired.
- Help with creating goals for your birth.
- Physical and emotional support throughout your labor and birth. This can include comfort measures such as massage (including hot stone application), acupressure, aromatherapy and other relaxation techniques, guided imagery, visualization, and pain-coping practices.
- Access to my extensive library of books and information on birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum issues.
- At least one visit postpartum at home.
- Breastfeeding support in the immediate postpartum period.
Access to valuable and quality birth and postpartum information and community resources and referrals
Postpartum doula services typically include care during the first 3 months after birth (often called the Fourth trimester). Postpartum doula support can last anywhere from one or two visits to more than three months.
What a postpartum doula does changes from day to day, as the needs of the family change. Postpartum doulas do whatever a mother needs to best enjoy and care for her new baby. A large part of their role is education. They share information about baby care with parents, as well as teach siblings and partners to "mother the mother." They assist with breastfeeding education.
Postpartum doulas also make sure the mother is fed, well hydrated and comfortable. The role of a postpartum doula is to help a woman through her postpartum period and to nurture the family. Unlike a baby nurse, a doula's focus is not solely on the baby, but on fostering independence for the entire family. The doula is as available to the father and older children as to the mother and the baby. Treating the family as a unit that is connected and always changing enables doulas to do their job: nurture the family.
My goal as a postpartum doula is to nurture the parents into their new roles. As they experience success and their knowledge and self-confidence grows, their needs for professional support should diminish. Self-confidence has a tremendous impact on a person's ability to approach any task, and parenting is no different. I aim to always consider parents' feelings and always build confidence whenever possible. I accomplish this through praise, acceptance and a non-judgmental approach. In addition, I can teach parents strategies and skills that will improve their ability to bond with their babies. When new parents feel validated and celebrated in their experiences, they are able to more confidently explore their own process of self-discovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do doulas help mothers to deal with postpartum depression?
Unlike therapists or psychiatrists, doulas do not treat postpartum depression. However, they will help by creating a safe place for the mother emotionally. The doula will provide a cushioning effect by accepting the mother within each stage that she passes through. They relieve some of the pressure on the new mother by helping her move into her new responsibilities gradually. By mothering the mother, doulas make sure that the mother feels nurtured and cared for, as well as making sure she is eating well and getting enough sleep. In addition, DONA International certified postpartum doulas are trained to help clients prepare themselves for parenthood, maximizing support and rest. These doulas will help their clients to screen themselves for PPMDs and will make referrals to appropriate clinicians or support groups as needed.
Do doulas teach a particular parenting approach?
No. Doulas are educated to support a mothers' parenting approach. Doulas are good listeners and encourage mothers to develop their own philosophies.
How do postpartum doulas work with a mother's partner?
A doula respects the partner's role and input, and teaches concrete skills that will help the partner nurture the baby and mother. The doula will share evidence-based information with the partner that shows how his or her role in the early weeks will have a dramatic positive effect on the family.
Adapted from: Nurturing the Family: The Guide for Postpartum Doulas
by Jacqueline Kelleher (Xlibris Corporation, 2002)