Doulas
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Doula? What's a Doula? Written by, Bushra Finch, Doula - United Kingdom
Doula? What’s a Doula?
Written by Bushra Finch, Doula – United Kingdom
When I tell people I am a doula, a common response is "Doula? What’s a doula?" I completely understand, because they were my exact words when a midwife asked me how long I’d been a doula.
Let me explain. I am lucky that in my community it is customary for a birthing woman to be accompanied by an experienced mother, either a member of her family or a friend. So, I was a doula before I ever heard the word. Consequently when the midwife at my friend’s birth asked me how long I’d been a doula, I hadn’t the slightest idea what she was talking about.
Later that night, as I left my friend with her husband and their new baby, the midwife told me how pleased she was that I’d been there. It’d been a busy night for her with two women to attend and my presence had allowed her to devote herself more to the other woman who was otherwise alone. She persuaded me to think about training as a doula so that I could be a birth partner to more women than simply those in my own community. I am so grateful to her for showing me that something I loved doing not only had a name, but a career path and payment!
At home I did some Internet research and soon found Doula UK. This is an association run by doulas for doulas. They are setting standards for doulas and training courses and have a philosophy and a code of practice for members to work to. There is also a map so that women can find a doula in their area.
"If a doula were a drug it would be unethical not to use it" says Dr. John Kennell who has done much research into doulas. The support of a doula can reduce the need for medical intervention during labour, for example opiate drugs, epidurals, forceps or caesareans. It can also decrease the chance of post natal depression, increase the success of breastfeeding, enhance bonding and increase the mother’s self esteem.
The term doula has only been in use since the seventies, although what it stands for is ancient. It is a Greek word that, roughly translated, means a woman in service of another woman. Many cultures across the world retain the community participation in birth, with friends and female family members offering assistance to pregnant women, before during and following the birth. It is something largely lost here in the west, to the detriment of the birthing woman and her partner.
Fathers have only recently been invited into the birthing room and now not only are they expected to be present, but they’ve also been given the enormous job of providing uninterrupted and unconditional emotional and physical support, guidance and advocacy to the woman he loves. With overworked midwives usually attending to more than one woman, this job is largely his alone, and more and more men are admitting they are unprepared for and unsuited to the task. Men feel ill equipped to shoulder this huge responsibility and are relieved to have the reassuring and calming presence of a doula. Researchers found that having a doula on hand during the birth is more beneficial than having the father as the sole source of emotional support.
So, what exactly does a birth doula do?
Generally, a doula meets with her client before the birth, probably at least twice, stays with her during the labour and birth, however long it takes and also makes one or two post natal visits. There will usually be lots of phone calls and e-mails between the doula and her client. But, because every doula is different, we each bring our individual approach, knowledge, experience and skills.
For myself, the first meeting is for getting to know each other. I ask about past experiences and what you are hoping for with this birth. We will discuss the physiology of birth and how we can achieve an environment that will optimise the birth process. We will discuss what happens during the birth, the first few hours, bonding, breastfeeding and anything else that comes up In the course of our explorations. During the second meeting, we will go through these same things but specifically related to you. In this way you can formulate your birth plan. During your pregnancy we will also talk regularly on the phone and often correspond by e-mail. If something crops up in the pregnancy I am happy to do some research and point you to website and support groups to enable you to make informed choices about your labour and birth. After the birth I am available to help with breastfeeding advice and support if you need this. Sometimes it’s simply a case of debriefing the birth: between you, me and the father we can put together the whole story.
Doulas don’t perform any clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, foetal monitoring or vaginal examinations. We are not there to make decisions on your behalf, although we will explore with you possible courses of action and consequences. Once you have made your decision, your doula will support you in it and make your needs a priority for everyone in the birthing room.
During your labour your doula will be there to stay by your side until your baby is born, assisting you to have a safe and satisfying birth. She will do as much or as little as you want or need. Sometimes she might sit in the corner reading a book (although she’ll still be listening to know that you are coping well); you might want her to hold your hand or massage your back; you may start to forget your breathing and need gently refocusing; you may need a reminder to change positions; you may begin to get tired and need something to boost your energy; you may need encouragement that all is well; you may need all of this, or none of it, or something else entirely. Immediately following the birth your doula will defend the precious time while you and your partner meet your baby.
Every birth is unique; we never know beforehand what will happen. Each labour is its own journey and the only constant is the privilege I feel at being invited to travel with you. Oh, yes, and I always cry at the birth.
For more information on doulas, or to find details of training courses in the UK,
visit www.doula.org.uk
Bushra Finch, Doula – United Kingdom
Web: www.birthvision.co.uk
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Doula? What's a Doula? Written by, Bushra Finch, Doula - United Kingdom
Doula? What’s a Doula?
Written by Bushra Finch, Doula – United Kingdom
When I tell people I am a doula, a common response is "Doula? What’s a doula?" I completely understand, because they were my exact words when a midwife asked me how long I’d been a doula.
Let me explain. I am lucky that in my community it is customary for a birthing woman to be accompanied by an experienced mother, either a member of her family or a friend. So, I was a doula before I ever heard the word. Consequently when the midwife at my friend’s birth asked me how long I’d been a doula, I hadn’t the slightest idea what she was talking about.
Later that night, as I left my friend with her husband and their new baby, the midwife told me how pleased she was that I’d been there. It’d been a busy night for her with two women to attend and my presence had allowed her to devote herself more to the other woman who was otherwise alone. She persuaded me to think about training as a doula so that I could be a birth partner to more women than simply those in my own community. I am so grateful to her for showing me that something I loved doing not only had a name, but a career path and payment!
At home I did some Internet research and soon found Doula UK. This is an association run by doulas for doulas. They are setting standards for doulas and training courses and have a philosophy and a code of practice for members to work to. There is also a map so that women can find a doula in their area.
"If a doula were a drug it would be unethical not to use it" says Dr. John Kennell who has done much research into doulas. The support of a doula can reduce the need for medical intervention during labour, for example opiate drugs, epidurals, forceps or caesareans. It can also decrease the chance of post natal depression, increase the success of breastfeeding, enhance bonding and increase the mother’s self esteem.
The term doula has only been in use since the seventies, although what it stands for is ancient. It is a Greek word that, roughly translated, means a woman in service of another woman. Many cultures across the world retain the community participation in birth, with friends and female family members offering assistance to pregnant women, before during and following the birth. It is something largely lost here in the west, to the detriment of the birthing woman and her partner.
Fathers have only recently been invited into the birthing room and now not only are they expected to be present, but they’ve also been given the enormous job of providing uninterrupted and unconditional emotional and physical support, guidance and advocacy to the woman he loves. With overworked midwives usually attending to more than one woman, this job is largely his alone, and more and more men are admitting they are unprepared for and unsuited to the task. Men feel ill equipped to shoulder this huge responsibility and are relieved to have the reassuring and calming presence of a doula. Researchers found that having a doula on hand during the birth is more beneficial than having the father as the sole source of emotional support.
So, what exactly does a birth doula do?
Generally, a doula meets with her client before the birth, probably at least twice, stays with her during the labour and birth, however long it takes and also makes one or two post natal visits. There will usually be lots of phone calls and e-mails between the doula and her client. But, because every doula is different, we each bring our individual approach, knowledge, experience and skills.
For myself, the first meeting is for getting to know each other. I ask about past experiences and what you are hoping for with this birth. We will discuss the physiology of birth and how we can achieve an environment that will optimise the birth process. We will discuss what happens during the birth, the first few hours, bonding, breastfeeding and anything else that comes up In the course of our explorations. During the second meeting, we will go through these same things but specifically related to you. In this way you can formulate your birth plan. During your pregnancy we will also talk regularly on the phone and often correspond by e-mail. If something crops up in the pregnancy I am happy to do some research and point you to website and support groups to enable you to make informed choices about your labour and birth. After the birth I am available to help with breastfeeding advice and support if you need this. Sometimes it’s simply a case of debriefing the birth: between you, me and the father we can put together the whole story.
Doulas don’t perform any clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, foetal monitoring or vaginal examinations. We are not there to make decisions on your behalf, although we will explore with you possible courses of action and consequences. Once you have made your decision, your doula will support you in it and make your needs a priority for everyone in the birthing room.
During your labour your doula will be there to stay by your side until your baby is born, assisting you to have a safe and satisfying birth. She will do as much or as little as you want or need. Sometimes she might sit in the corner reading a book (although she’ll still be listening to know that you are coping well); you might want her to hold your hand or massage your back; you may start to forget your breathing and need gently refocusing; you may need a reminder to change positions; you may begin to get tired and need something to boost your energy; you may need encouragement that all is well; you may need all of this, or none of it, or something else entirely. Immediately following the birth your doula will defend the precious time while you and your partner meet your baby.
Every birth is unique; we never know beforehand what will happen. Each labour is its own journey and the only constant is the privilege I feel at being invited to travel with you. Oh, yes, and I always cry at the birth.
For more information on doulas, or to find details of training courses in the UK,
visit www.doula.org.uk
Bushra Finch, Doula – United Kingdom
Web: www.birthvision.co.uk
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