Carol knew when she became pregnant that she would need help after the baby was born. Several weeks later her doctor informed her that she was carrying twins. Now she knew for certain that she would need an extra pair of hands, but whom could she count on? She had no family close by and most of her friends and neighbors were gone all day at their own jobs. While surfing the Internet one night, she came upon a woman who had utilized the services of a postpartum doula. This woman shared her experience with Carol and told Carol she would never consider not having a postpartum doula in the future. Carol found out that the postpartum family and is proficient in family dynamics, newborn care, and feeding methods.
Carol made several phone calls and interviewed a postpartum doula. She discovered studies that show that women who have social support after the birth of a baby are far less likely to experience postpartum depression, tend to breastfeed their babies for longer durations, and make a smoother adjustment to parenthood. This was important to Carol since she wanted to breastfeed the twins but had never encountered anyone who had breastfeed multiples. The doula that Carol and her husband selected reassured them that she could help her with breastfeeding issues and had resources to lactation consultants at her disposal. Already Carol felt better equipped to handle the upcoming birth. Not only was she going to have the help she needed but the person she was hiring was a professional.
Typically postpartum doulas will do whatever is necessary to free the new parents to care for their baby. This includes light housekeeping chores, sibling and baby care while mother rests, meal preparation, and laundry. She also has a vast knowledge of baby care and feeding issues and will help the new parents to become comfortable with feeding and caring for their newborn. Each doula performs those duties she feels comfortable with and it is the responsibility of each family to decide what their own needs will be and to communicate that information to the doula. It is not the function of the doula to act as a housekeeper or babysitter.
Most postpartum doulas are trained and certified by an organization that is nationally or internationally recognized and has evidence-based programs in place. Although postpartum doulas do not give medical advice or perform medical procedures, they are trained in the normal fashion and advise the family to call a healthcare provider for assistance when appropriate.
There are many kinds of certified doulas, including Antepartum Doulas, Labor Support Doulas, Childbirth Educators, Postpartum Doulas, and Lactation Educators. Antepartum Doulas provide help to women requiring bed rest, or who are considered high risk during pregnancy. These specially trained doulas have a vast knowledge of how to provide emotional and physical support to women requiring special care during their pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
In addition to postpartum doulas, there are labor support doulas. Studies show that women who utilize the services of labor support doula have shorter labors and need fewer interventions (forceps, medications, or cesareans). The labor support doula does not provide medical advice or treatment, but supports the birth family with emotional and physical comfort measures. She visits several times with the family prenatally to help them have an understanding of labor and birth and a doula's role during birth.
During labor, the doula makes recommendations for positive positions for labor and birth, provides massage and other comfort techniques, and stays with the couple throughout the birth process providing continuity of care and a familiar face. The labor doula does not take over the role of the primary support person, labor nurse, or the doctor or midwife, but becomes part of the team and does not interfere with the birth process or tell the mother how to give birth. Most women who choose a doula for their birth fell more empowered by the process.
After the birth, the labor doula keeps in contact with the family for the initial postpartum period and can provide resources such as postpartum doulas, lactation consultations, or any other services the family may require to help make a smoother adjustment.
Whether or not a family decides to hire a labor support doula or postpartum doula, it is comforting to know these choices exist.
Provided by Crystal Sada, who has been providing services to birthing families for over 26 years in NJ and PA as a childbirth educator, labor support and postpartum doula, and a childbirth educator and doula trainer and owner of Helping Hand Doula Services located in Columbus, NJ. She is the Director of Postpartum Programs for Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association.
