What is a Doula?
Ever wondered who helps you and your partner during labor when the nurse has to attend to another patient’s needs? Or, what happens when it’s a shift change and the new nurse arrives not knowing anything about you or your labor? What if it’s really busy and no one is available to help you to initiate breastfeeding right after the birth? Who is going to help you out when you first arrive at home and probably feel a little overwhelmed about being totally responsible for the baby? The answer to all of those queries is…a doula!
The practice of women helping other women is an age old tradition. The word doula comes from the ancient Greeks. When the woman of the household was pregnant, she chose a female servant to attend her at the birth and beyond. This special handmaiden was called the Doula. Today “Doula” refers to specially trained, experienced woman who provides physical, emotional, informational and spiritual support to the mother before, during and after birth.
A Birth Doula offers continuous support to laboring mothers and their partners. They suggest physical comfort measures and emotional support, encouragement and enhance communication between the mother and medical professionals. Doulas are mindful of helping a partner become involved in the birth to the extent that they feel comfortable. Birth doulas cheer on their laboring clients and have wisdom that comes from experience to help everyone keep perspective. Birth doulas are labor and delivery map givers, it is the laboring women, their babies and their partners who do the beautiful work of bringing a family about.
Postpartum Doulas are people who love to support families taking their “first steps” together. They are trained to support, encourage and help families meet the challenges of their transition with confidence. a postpartum doula’s goal is to support families with evidance based information and assistance with infant care, a mother’s needs postpartum, breast feeding, changing family dynamics and practical household help.