The role of a doula/birth companion
Birth is one of the most significant events in our
life. - It is a powerful rite of passage for all
and the beginning of the parenting journey for the
mother and father.
Our experience of birth is now acknowledged to have
a profound and long lasting impact on our physical,
emotional and spiritual health. Research has shown
the importance of emotional support during labour
and birth to enhance our experience of birth as
well as positively influence the birth outcome and
support the bonding process. Nevertheless, the
great technological advances in the obstetric field
in the last century have mainly focused on the
physical safety and pain relief of the labouring
woman, leaving her, the baby and father often with
very little emotional support.
In most traditional cultures, there would be a wise
woman working alongside the midwife, holding and
comforting the labouring woman.
More recently birth companions/ doulas have been
fulfilling this role for the whole birthing family.
Modern birth companions/ Doulas are women
especially trained to give emotional and practical
support during the pregnancy, labour, birth and
postnatal period, leading to more satisfying and
empowered experiences, and a decrease in
interventions, caesarean sections and postnatal
depression.
More and more women and couples are now choosing to
have companion/doula support. Those who want to
embrace all the different aspect of pregnancy and
birth (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual)
may choose the support of a holistic birth
companion/doula.
What
does a doula do?
(from the Doula UK website )
The services offered by a doula vary greatly
according to the needs of the
mother-to-be/parents-to-be. A doula's role has to
be flexible to fit in with the given situation e.g.
the type of support will differ for a first time
mum to that of a woman who has children already.
Every birth is unique and therefore every woman's
experience is also unique.
Before childbirth the doula will usually meet with
the mother (or couple) at least once face to face,
and then perhaps be available by phone or for
additional meetings if necessary.
During labour the doula is able to offer help and
suggestions on comfort measures such as breathing,
relaxation, movement and positioning. The doula can
also encourage the father to participate in the
birth to a level at which he feels comfortable. The
doula's most important role is to provide
nurturing, continuous support and reassurance.
After childbirth the doula may follow up with a
couple of postnatal visits to help the new mum
settle at home with her new baby, or alternatively,
the mother may decide to employ a postnatal doula
for a period of 6 - 8 weeks.
Sometimes this will mean that the mother employs a
different doula to the one that attended the birth
as not all birth doulas can offer extended
postnatal support, whereas there are doulas who
ONLY offer this type of postnatal support.
The
role of a childbirth educator
A childbirth educator offers classes to women or
couples during the pregnancy and /or postnatal
period. Those classes aim to teach women/couples a
variety of tools to help them prepare for the Birth
as well as provide a place to meet and form bonds
with other women and couples.
The
role of a pregnancy and postnatal circle
facilitator:
A
Mother's circle facilitator facilitates women
circles during pregnancy offering emotional
support, information and a safe space for women to
meet and share their experiences, the celebration
as well as the dark moments of the journey of
pregnancy.
Creativity, movement, bonding with baby, optimum
nutrition, self- care, complementary therapies for
wellbeing and dealing with changes and challenges,
can all be part of the sessions, since sessions are
often led by the
women’s needs and interests.
The postnatal groups offer vital support and
information at a time where women are facing many
changes in their life and can feel they lack the
models and basic skills to fulfil their new role.
Curriculum