A Good Doula

A great doula, not only has the ability to empower a woman to have a beautiful birth experience, but she also is full of medical knowledge. Which is very helpful during the pregnancy, during labor, and long after you have gone home. Having medical knowledge from the position of the baby, to the cons of using oxytocin/pitocin or having an epidural. Meeting a doula is the most important part of the entire idea of having a certified birth assistant. You want to be sure that you along with your partner feel completely at ease with this person. You want to see that she is prepared, “dressed to impress”, and shows a type of patient confidentiality. You want to know that she will be available to answer question, and if she is unsure she will know how to find the answer for you. 

Knowing she will visit with you several times during your pregnancy and prepare you for labor can ease your mind. She will be there to teach you different techniques of breathing, focusing, and moving about to ease the discomfort of pre labor, into labor and delivery. Having the knowledge that you can move about freely, change positions; along with the additional knowledge of what is happening in your body, hoping all this information will help a baby descend quicker.  It may be a great idea to introduce her to your doctor, so you may invite her to go with you, to your next doctors appointment. Your Doula will work with you to prepare a “birth plan” so that you will know what procedure you will allow the staff to do, to you and your newborn, and let the staff know, what you are totally against, unless it is medically necessary.

When the time comes and you begin the first stage of labor, she will be there; and will probably be there until about two hours after the baby is born. She will act as an advisor, she will be sure that the staff is aware of your “birth plan”. She will not answer questions from the staff, she may remind you of what you want, but she or her partner will answer the medical questions. She will support your wishes, she will be the shoulder to lean on the person to cry with, laugh, and scream with, and she will totally understand what you are going through. You and your birth team works as just that a  “TEAM”, together you have a mutual goal, to help you realize the power you have within yourself. While your in labor, she can help to supply nutritional snacks, and beverage, while being able to give your partner a rest or break; remember she is there totally for you.

After the baby is born she can take photos, video, and most doula, will send you a written outline, or story board about your birth experience, for you to remember for years to come; besides she will see and hear things that perhaps you missed, or at the very least from a third parties perspective.

She may visit you while in the hospital, then she will visit you two or three times during your postpartum period, which is the first six to eight weeks after you arrive home. She will help with the baby, with diapers, with nursing or preparing formula, and answer any questions you may have. During her visit she may suggest you take a relaxing shower or bath, or if you look over tired, she will advise you to take a nap.

She is there for you, and she loves what she is doing, so together with the right person, you will be creating the best “birth team” possible.