I'm putting it out there :-)

I know each of you has your own style, and ways of doing things, but for the newbies that will join us, what does a doula do?

Why would you want a doula or why should you have a doula?

To make me cups of tea, and provide stimulating conversation.

You know.... you still haven't answered my question lol!!


(Cath, Jane, Jami, feel free to make up for lisa's lack of question answering)

xo

Hmmmm... that is an interesting question - because I think it changes every time. Lisa's question was valid - it's about what the woman and her partner need from you, everyone is different.

The general standard information goes something like this - several meetings before the birth to get to know one another, provide relevant information to help the woman/couple to make decisions around their birth and to help them write down their birth preferences, sometimes it involves attending an appointment or two with the woman/couple if needed.

Then there's the birth :) A doula comes when requested - often to the home first and then, if they are birthing away from home, to their choice of birth place. She stays until the baby is born and the woman/couple are ready for her to leave.

A birth doula will come for one or two meetings after the birth - particularly to give the woman/couple the opportunity to debrief the birth.

(There are also postnatal doulas who come after the baby has arrived and help out around the house, look after bub while the woman sleeps, they are someone the woman can talk things through with - those sorts of things.)

What do we do at the birth? A doula has a "tool kit" and uses whatever is appropriate at the time - including reassurance, guide husband/partner in ways to help, massage, visualisations, affirmations, suggest ways to help things along if needed, sit quietly or keep the mood light (whatever is appropriate at the time), breathing, guard the space, look after other children - oh my goodness, the list goes on and on.

The doula has an understanding around birth and the things that can impact the birth process. She is quietly taking everything in and doing whatever she can to help the woman have her best possible birth experience.

Is that more of what you were after? xx

hehe now that I can answer in some capacity.

This doula, when she has her doula wings, intends on protecting the space for deaf women - and helping them to have a beautiful birth experience, where they feel safe, respected, and nurtured.