We add another layer to the birth team that focuses on the birthing person and their support system . My own personal home birth experience made me feel cared for , heard , seen , fearless and empowered ; it was the moment I knew this is what I wanted to provide to others . I certified as a doula in November 2017 and have humbly served families both in the hospital and at home ever since .
The popular view is that doulas are either not needed or a luxury , both of which couldn ’ t be further from the truth . In places where tradition is still followed , doulas are there among the familial group at births in the form of aunts , mothers , village elders – this is the origin of doulas from as far back as civilization goes . Now we are certified through institutions to teach us what we would have otherwise learned in a village setting , to serve the birthing community still .
But what does a doula do ? Well , it depends on what type of doula you are . Birth doulas will meet with you before birth to work on things like your birth plan , labour positions , what to pack in your hospital bag and how your partner ( if you have one ) can be included .
Andrey Popov - stock . adobe . com
Once labour starts , we ’ re providing comfort measures through optimal birth positions , massage , acupressure , essential oils , music , gentle touch , encouraging words , educating you on your options , just to name a few .
We also fetch you and your partner water and snacks ( if you can have them ), take photos , video and update your eager families if that ’ s your wish . Cesarean rates , the need for medical intervention like epidurals , and the use of forceps or vacuum extraction all go down when a doula is present . Breastfeeding rates also tend to increase .
There are other doulas outside of birth doulas as well , like postpartum doulas and death doulas . Postpartum doulas help take care of parents by helping around the house once baby is home with things like light housework , cooking , feeding , running errands and taking care of baby during the night so parents can rest . On the other end of the spectrum , death doulas ( also known as end of life doulas ) serve those who are journeying towards the end of their life , to ensure they leave this world on their own terms by assisting in such things as helping get affairs in order , assist in planning funeral ceremonies and provide support for the family during and after this difficult transition .
Majority of doulas are also certified in other areas of interest such as massage , healing , counseling , or nursing ; the list is endless . I am a certified birth and postpartum doula but I ’ m also certified in vaginal steaming , energy healing and pregnancy and infant loss advocacy – and this is just at the time of writing ! I am enrolling to be a childbirth educator , doula trainer and who knows what else by the end of 2020 ( I ’ m told this is the year of transformation ).
So , who can benefit from a doula ? All people really . We add another element to the medical team so they can focus on what is important to preserving life of the birthing person and the baby , we serve people bringing new life , we serve people ending life and we serve people dying . The doula community is working hard to be seen as essential care in the industry so we can qualify for things like insurance to allow our services to be more widely available to a larger portion of our island . I would argue that all people no matter what gender , race , nationality or creed would benefit from a doula , but hey , I ’ m biased !
Reva is founder and owner of Loquat Roots : Doula Services and Holistic Therapy , advocating for millennial women and their wellness . She has been providing families with birth support since 2017 , makes her own tea blends for health ailments and birthing people , provides vaginal steaming and Access Bars energy healing . She can be reached on social media @ loquat . roots or through her website www . loquatroots . com . BPM
WINTER 2020 | 13