"Doula - do what?" was the first reaction I had when I heard the term during my pregnancy. Doula, according to the DONA International, "The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning 'a woman who serves'..." However, now a Doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides the physical, emotional and informational support to a mother. This support can be before, during or after (postpartum) birth.
So why do I even bring this up? Well according to DONA International, studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily! Isn't this what we all want?!
Here a few things you can expect from a Doula:
A Birth Doula
- Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
- Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
- Stays with the woman throughout the labor
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
- Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
- Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level
A Postpartum Doula
- Offers education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester
- Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying
- Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and makes appropriate referrals when necessary
More information about DONA International and Doulas can be found here: http://www.dona.org/mothers/index.php
So again you ask, why am I mentioning this? Well, after serving and providing so many women with informational support, I feel that it is natural to take the next step to becoming a certified DOULA! Follow me on my journey, and know that WE at Milk N Moms are here for your support Mama's! Please feel free to ask Milk N Moms any questions in the comments below or through our Facebook page at http://ow.ly/lkRyo
