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