The word Doula originated in the Greek language and means "Women's Servant". Doulas do just this they help and serve women both during and after the birth of their babies. A doula helping a woman through labor essentially "mothers the mother". They seem to have a unique gift for knowing just what a laboring mother needs. Whether it is a warm compress, a massage just in the right place, a walk or maybe just a glass of cool water, their intuition and timing is often remarkable! A post partum doula will nurture the new family unit through support, education and simply by "being there". They are there with the family in their home, helping in whatever way is needed at the time.
Hiring a doula, whether for birth or post partum will begin before your baby is born. You can start by looking into Doulas in your area via the Doulas of North America (DONA) online "doula locator". You can also ask for recommendations for local doulas from friends and/or your pre-natal care provider. Once you see the options for Doulas in your area, you'll want to make some phone calls and conduct a phone interview. DONA has a list of basic questions to ask your prospective doula(s) also listed at their website. And of course, you should ask anything else you think will help you gauge whether or not an individual doula will be a good fit for you and for your family. Over the phone, the doula should be able to provide you with a list of references that you can contact. After this, an in person interview would be the next step. If you have more than one candidate, interview each of them and then compare notes and feelings with your partner. You'll need to be able to feel open, honest, and at ease with your doula. As with most first meetings, you'll know whether or not one doula or another is right for you simply by what level of connection you feel with her. This connection is very important, and will help both of you work together more effectively.
Once you hire your doula, it will depend on the role you have hired her for (birth or post partum) what happens next. A birth doula will begin working with you and meeting with you to develop a relationship before the birth, as well as to discuss your ideas and desires for your birth experience. She will help you create a birth plan that will be handed to anyone involved in your birth so that everything is spelled out and all you need to worry about is birthing your beautiful baby! Your doula will advocate for you and your partner, but will not make medical or other decisions for you. She will be there for informational and emotional support while respecting the decisions that you make. Your doula will also not provide any medical care to you. Instead she will be there to support and comfort you as the mother, and will work to enhance communication between you, your partner and the medical staff.
Studies show that having a doula present during labor will often shorten the labor, will decrease the use/request for medical interventions and, by decreasing a mother's stress, will make for a healthier baby. Doulas are also able to take some of the pressure off of the father to fill so many roles, without ever replacing the love and intimacy only a father can have. Doulas are skilled at interpreting the language of labor. As a result, doulas can assist the father in understanding that all of the vocalizations and such a laboring mother makes are completely normal. A doula can also help the father to support the laboring mother in ways that are effective and also within his comfort zone. Because a doula is skilled in understanding "medicalese" she can also relieve the father of the responsibility of being the sole communicator with medical staff, on the mother's behalf. With a doula and your partner present you can have your partner's loving care, along with the expertise and knowledgeable support a doula can provide.
A Post Partum Doula can provide the same level of care and knowledge as a birth doula, but in a different space of this journey. Once you get home with your new baby, there is an intense adjustment period. New parenthood is amazing, wonderful, and, stressful. Your doula can help to take some of the pressure off. Whether it is helping you with breastfeeding, or doing the dishes so you can focus on your baby, your doula will be there for you. Your doula can also help by watching over the new baby for a bit, while you take some time with just your older children, which in turn helps them to adjust to their new sibling. While post partum doulas "mother the mother' during this special time after the birth, they also pass on their skills and knowledge of caring for you as a new mother and your baby, to your partner and older children. Essentially, post partum doulas work themselves out of a job. They do such good work, and are so excellent at passing these skills on, that you no longer need them! A post partum doula can work with a family for as little as one or two visits to more than 3 months. It is all up to you, your family and your doula the time frame you choose, or need.
Women helping women during and after the birth of their baby is not a new tradition. Women have been there through generations to help each other through this joyous transition. It is very new to expect a mother to birth her baby and then know exactly how to care for it all alone. While a knowing family member is one of the best supports a new mother could ask for, many of us don't have that option anymore. A doula can help fill that void.
