Birth Preparation with a Doula
*EBEBEK MAGAZINE is a leading magazine for mothers in Turkey.
WHAT IS A DOULA? WHAT ROLE DOES SHE PLAY DURING THE BIRTH PREPARATION PROCESS?
The meaning of the word ‘doula’ is a women who serves. But it has much deeper meaning than that. Doula is a sister power who accompanies and supports. It is the support and empowerment of a woman to an other woman. It means the woman who mothers the mother. She is the one who holds the mother’s hand and be there for her when ever she needs, without any judgments and comments. She provides physical and emotional support during birth preparation process, during birth and after birth. She provides continuous one-to-one support during the whole birth process, independent of the birthing type. She is a specialist in natural pain relief methods. She guides and supports the family for their needs. When we have a look at the history, there always had been a woman who accompanies a women giving birth. A doula is today’s professional version of that woman. She not only provides the necessary support to the mother but also to the father. She helps him have an easier and smoother experience as well.
During the birth preparation process, a doula encourages and guides the family so that they can do the necessary preparations to reach their birth preferences. She acts like a bridge for the communication between the hospital stuff and the family. She empowers the family to meet the hospital stuff that is going to attend their birth and to build a trustful relationship with them. Moreover, she is with the mother for all of her physical and emotional needs. She, according to her specializations, provides support with the techniques like moxa stick and Spinning Babies®, considering the mother’s necessity and situation. She encourages the mother to practice the breathing exercise and relaxations. She accompanies to a doctor appointment with the family to meet their doctor. She visits the family at their home to learn their needs during birth. They go through the birth preferences in detail together.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR THE MOTHER AND THE FATHER TO GET PREPARED TO BIRTH WITH A DOULA?
First of all, a family who is preparing to their birth with a doula, goes through the childbirth education process. So they decide on their birth preferences, have enough evidence-based knowledge to contribute to the decisions, they realize the process about their baby, they learn and remember to concentrate inside, to trust their body and their baby. At the same time, they have their supporter who accompanies and supports them in a non judgmental way and she guides them when ever they need. In that way, the family never feels alone. They feel safe. This is the key to have a great experience. They can take clear steps to reach their birth preferences. According to the researches, families who prepare their birth with a doula are more satisfied with their experience. It is more likely for them to have a birth experience that they want. It is less likely for them to have any need for interventions. Their chance to have an uninterrupted skin to skin contact is higher. They know that they and their baby are the center of attention in this very important and unique experience of them. Very deep bonds are established and feelings are shared between the doula and the family.
DOES A DOULA SUPPORTS THE FAMILY AFTER BIRTH? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE MATTERS THAT SHE CAN SUPPORT THEM?
Doula can work with the family after birth in two ways. First of all, if the family have a birth doula, their doula should visit them at their home after birth, within the first week. They talk about their birth experience in that visit. Doula answers their questions about breastfeeding and newborn care. She gives the necessary support they need. She uses some natural and herbal recipes to help to ease the period. There is an other way that is called postpartum doula. The concept of postpartum doula is very new and not very known in our country but it is very important. Postpartum period is a very sensitive period. The mother is affected by the hormones and she is trying to recover from birth at the same time. On the other hand, she is having the excitement of having her baby and trying to get used to her new life and routine. In this period she may need someone who accompanies her and supports her in her parenting skills, without any judgements. A postpartum doula provides evidence-based knowledge about breastfeeding, basic newborn care, soothing the baby, bonding with the baby, get use to life with a baby. She help to the process with the other children if there are any. She evaluates the general psychology of the mother and recommends a specialist if needed. I, as a birth and postpartum doula, work with families during birth and postpartum period.
THINGS YOU WANT TO ADD…
Pregnancy and Birth are periods in which the mother discovers herself and has a new beginning. During these processes she has many inner voices. Also she hears many things around her, from her relatives, from her friends. All of these stands with her until birth, during birth and after birth. In those moments, it is very important and relieving that she has someone with her who went through the same process, who is experienced and someone that she feels close to. The same necessity continues either it is a vaginal birth or a cesarean. The baby will be peaceful and happy both inside and outside as long as the mother is relaxed, peaceful and feel supported. I can tell this not only from my experience as an educator and a doula but also from my own experience as a mother who got one-to-one support at my son’s birth and decided to become an educator and a doula myself.
Note: All of the services and procedures may vary in the practice of each doula.
