Doula Support

Birth Doula

Doula (pronounced "doola") is a Greek word meaning "woman servant or caregiver". It now refers to an experienced woman who offers emotional and practical support to a woman (or couple) before, during and after childbirth. Birth Doulas are trained and experienced in childbirth. They have good knowledge and awareness of female and birth physiology. During pregnancy women need positive encouragement and support. They must also feel able to make decisions for themselves and their babies based on information gained during the pregnancy.

A doula believes in “mothering the mother” - enabling a woman to have the most satisfying and empowered time that she can during pregnancy, birth and the early days as a new mum. This type of support also helps the whole family to relax and enjoy the experience.

For centuries women have been attending the births of women in their communities to provide support and comfort measures. Only in recent history have we been giving up the power of this sisterhood to industrial hospital practices and doctors that show up for a small percentage of the process.

The Doula is employed by the woman or couple before, during and after a woman gives birth to a baby. The Doula's role is a non-medical one but she offers both counselling and support.

We explore many aspects of care including complimentary therapies but the choices made by clients are entirely their own.

The benefits of having a doula are well documented and proven.

Medical Benefits include:

Decreased use of analgesia and anaesthesia
Lower rates of operative birth
Increased breastfeeding
Increased infant attachment
Decreased postpartum depression

Additional benefits are psychosocial:

Higher satisfaction of birth experience
Improved self-esteem
Increased likelihood of improved perinatal out-come

Throughout your pregnancy I will work with you to help you understand the physiology and biology of birth and help you understand your choices around birth, parenting and feeding.

During our two antenatal sessions we will work together to overcome any fears and anxieties and see the positivity and beauty in your upcoming birth.

During labour and birth I will offer you and your birth partner emotional reassurance and keep the birthing atmosphere calm and stress free, if you doubt yourself I will keep you grounded and remind you of the self belief we have established, enabling you to feel secure enough to be able to trust your instincts, trust your body and fully let go to allow your body to do what it needs to do to birth.

I will help you on a physical level,. helping you to overcome any tension or discomforts (both during pregnancy, birth and postnatally) through massage, homeopathy, traditional belly dancing techniques, aromatherapy, birth positioning, use of rebozo's and slings, exercise and nutrition. I will help your birth partners to use these 'tools' so they play a more active part in the labour and birth process. I do not come between you and your partner but rather support you both.

As your doula I will be closely engaged with you throughout your pregnancy and especially so as the birth of your baby gets closer.

I will provide the whole-hearted support and guidance you need during your pregnancy, helping to ensure you and your baby experience the kind of birth you want.

Included in the doula support package:

An initial free meeting to see whether I am the right doula for you
Meetings at intervals convenient to you to discuss the progress of pregnancy, birth wishes, preparation for labour, massage….. this list is open and endless!
I will be available by phone / email at any time to discuss any matter
I will be on call for you for 24 hours a day from 38 weeks and for the duration of the birth (however long it is) and for 2 postnatal meetings by arrangement
I will also make every effort to be available for the birth of a baby ready to be born before 37 weeks gestation.
Access to my free to loan library of books, CD's and DVD's.
I include an essential Natural Skin care ‘New Mum kit’ ; Labour oil, bath salts, Room Spray and solid moisturising bar, which has a RRP of £35

What is Support?

Support is unconditional.
It is listening
Not judging, not telling your own story.
Support is not offering advice
It is offering a handkerchief, a touch, a hug…. caring.
We are here to help a woman identify her options
Not to tell her which options to choose.
We are here to discuss steps with the woman
Not to take steps for her.
We are here to help a woman discover her own strength
Not to rescue her and leave her still vulnerable.
We are here to help a woman discover that she can help herself
Not to take that responsibility for her.
We are here to help a woman learn to choose
Not to make it unnecessary for her to make difficult choices.
~Anonymous~

Having a “postnatal” Doula means that the mother does not have to shoulder the overwhelming responsibility of motherhood alone. The modern nuclear family is often separate from local community support networks with families living far apart, making it difficult for mothers to cope. Postnatal Doulas specialise in guiding and empowering parents through these early days.

As a Post natal doula I offer warm relaxed guidance, big smiles and large hugs.
During those trying early times I will never criticise you, tell you what to do or how to do it.

I consider this to be a great honour to be of service to a mother during her tender transition following birth. My role is to serve her in her hour of greatest need as she adjusts to her new role as mother and begins the healing process from her birth experience ; physically , emotionally, and spiritually.

I will protect your space and your time needed to nurture yourself throughout the transition from women hood to motherhood—to be the mother you want to be and do it your way.

Postnatal support is so very important for mothers and families; the mother—baby bond and father—baby bond in those early days.

Every mother deserves to enjoy a ‘lying in’ period, allowing her time to get to know and learn from her baby. It also frees her to spend more time with older, sometimes emotionally needy siblings. I work to empower families and I facilitate this any way I can.

As a Postnatal Doula I come to your home and support you in whatever way you feel would benefit you the most.

Some of the ways in which this can be done are:

Be a listening ear or a shoulder just for you. I attempt to protect those early days for mother and baby bonding. Many visitors being naturally excited to meet baby, often forget that mum needs some TLC too.
Assistance with breastfeeding and/or bottle-feeding. Including information about expressing milk.
Offering support in mother’s physical recovery after childbirth.
Demonstration on newborn care, such as nappy changing, bathing, massage, sleeping, swaddling and development.
Helping with windy and colicy baby and offering coping techniques.
Assisting with the care of older siblings and helping them adjust to the new family member, allowing you time to rest or simply ‘be’
Organisation of the nursery.
Running errands and grocery shopping.
Light housekeeping e.g. Meal preparation, tidying, washing, ironing or dog walking.
Offering a variety of holistic and complementary therapies.

88 % of women who had a postnatal doula were still breastfeeding at 6 weeks and 67% were still breastfeeding at 6 months (This compares with 21% at six weeks and 7% at three months according to the Infant Feeding Survey of 2005 (Bolling et al 2007

As your Postnatal Doula I will come to your house for up to 10 hours a week for 2-6 weeks, working a mutually agreed upon number of hours per day and days per week.

What is Support?

Address

Telephone

Email

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