PRENATAL
WHAT DO DOULAS DO?
When I tell people that my passion is working as a Birth Doula, the most frequent question I am asked is“ What is a Doula? What do you do?”.
The simple answer is that doulas provide informational, physical and emotional support during pregnancy, labour and birth. But, what does that look like, exactly? Here are some examples of what doulas do to assist expectant mothers:
Pregnancy is a time of change. Your body is changing, your world is changing, your life is changing. Doulas support mothers during pregnancy by:
• Offering an attentive ear and acknowledging any concerns or questions they may have.
• Providing suggestions on books and articles to read or which prenatal classes would best suit the couple.
• Using their past experience to inform clients of local resources they may find useful.
• Suggest ways to help ease common pregnancy symptoms like heartburn or backache.
Labour is an intense experience both physically and emotionally, for both the mother and her partner. During labour, doulas assist the parents to be by doing the following:
• Answering questions. This can mean either answering them directly, or ensure there is an opportunity to ask the nurse and / or health care provider.
• Offer assistance to help the mother change positions, or give a solid foundation to lean against.
• Be a continual supportive presence.
• Provide breaks for the partner.
• Be a gopher. Fetching water, juice, ice packs, blankets and more.
Doulas have training and experience which allows them to understand the needs of the mother and her partner as labour progresses and the birth of the baby comes closer. Doulas can assist in many ways during the birth by:
• Guiding the mother with gentle and encouraging words, but also words of strength and support, acknowledging how well she is doing and how close her baby is.
• Assisting the mother and her partner in maintaining a comfortable position to push in.
• Making sure a mother has cold cloths for her chest and forehead, has her hair pulled back and glasses on.
• Informing the parents to be which procedures are being done to mother and her baby, to educate them about the pros and cons of what is happening so that they can make decisions that are best for their family.
By offering constant support, doulas can make a labouring mother feel well cared for, like someone is constantly watching out for her and her needs. The mother’ s partner may need a break, nurses have other
patients and responsibilities, but often a doula will stay with mother to make sure she is being cared for, has the attention she needs and feels she is being heard.
Contributed by Amanda Martin, DONA Certified Birth Doula.
2013 Okanagan4Kids. com Baby & Toddler Guide