Should you work with a doula?
A doula is “a woman, typically without formal obstetric training, who is employed to provide guidance and support to a pregnant woman during labor: "from admission through delivery, a doula stayed at her assigned patient's side". Also, a woman employed to provide guidance and support to the mother of a newborn baby: "my mother-in-law hired a postpartum doula to help me for a couple of weeks". I find this definition a bit inadequate (and incorrect as most doulas I have met have training, education and experience!!!), but it’s what the dictionary shows.
However this really doesn’t capture what a doula is or does. I’m sure you can get more exact description from a doula (ask me for some referrals) but really a doula is giving support and education. They are experts at helping their clients prepare for childbirth, adjust to new parenthood and deal with all the millions of things that come up during those two.
A birth doula offers support through the pregnancy- answering questions, teaching movement to help with aches and pains, prepping for childbirth, writing a birth plan. A birth doula is meant not only to be a source of support but even more so as an advocate . Someone who will step up and say “slow down” when an OB comes in ready to check you in the middle of a contraction. A birth doula is there to help YOUR voice from your birth plan be heard. It can be hard to stand up and say what you do and don’t want when contracting every 2 mins. A birth doula also helps take care of your partner- giving snacks, encouragement, breaks- so that they can be strong for you. Frequently a birth doula is on call 24/7 from 38 weeks on and will stay with you the entire labor and delivery. That’s part of why they can only manage so many clients at once!!
A postpartum doula is there when you need someone to help with a crying baby. Once you have gone home from the hospital and find yourself sitting there staring at this new person, unsure of what to do- that’s when a PP doula is great. During the immediate first few weeks postpartum a doulas main focus is “mother the mother”. Having someone to take care of you so that you can take care of baby. Basically someone to bring you food and water, set up your site bath, change baby’s diaper and allow you to spend each day snuggled skin to skin. A PP doula can help with baby wearing, basic breastfeeding, perineum support tummy time and more.
All of this depends of course on what each doula has experience and education in. Some are only birth trained, others love the postpartum period. Some also do cooking to help with postpartum healing, others know about spinning babies and have taken tummy time classes. That’s the joy of working with a professional (and doulas are knowledgeable , experienced professionals), there is a perfect one for each different one of us. I hope you find your perfect doula, but if you haven’t yet, comment below and we will try to find you a great one!