I already have my partner/mother/sister, do I still need a Doula?
A doula in no way replaces any of your support team, but rather enhances the experience for everyone involved.
Dads and Doulas
There have been many articles written on the subject of “Dads and Doulas” – differing roles and how a doula can support the dad/other birth supporter through the birthing journey. Examples are here and here and here.
However, one issue that stands out to me is how much pressure society has placed on fathers during the birth. It was only a few decades ago that fathers weren’t even allowed in the birthing suite, yet we now expect fathers to intuitively know how to support and negotiate in the hospital system.
In traditional society, men were usually kept away from the mother during her birthing experience, possibly undergoing their own ritualistic process. Yet here we are today expecting this new generation of fathers to be a “birthing pro” who knows the variations of normal birth; exactly what to do; what to say and be able to manage a hospital environment for the benefit of their partner.
What seems to be forgotten is that the father is seeing the person that he loves go through probably the most challenging physical and emotional experience of her life. It is usually quite an emotional and physical experience for the father – just to differing degrees from the mother.
A doula reassures the father and allows him to concentrate on his partner so that the experience can be theirs together. A doula can also provide ideas in which the father can support his partner. By being free to concentrate on his partner, the lovely birthing hormone, oxytocin, is released which in turn supports the normal labour process.
As your doula, we spend time during the pre-natal sessions going through the support level you require from your partner & your birth team and how to achieve your goals. We also discuss issues such as breaks for support people and how support people need to look after themselves during a long labour; what a women needs at different stages of labour and how they can encourage you and your body during labour to achieve your birth intentions.
There are lots of articles online about dads and doulas:
Men at Birth: Why She May Need More than Your Support
Dads and Doulas
Other Birth Support
During birth women become extremely sensitive to their environment, including the people surrounding them. It is also very instinctive for a labouring mother to want to be surrounded by the important women in her life. However, it is important to consider the energies and influences that a person brings with them into your birthing space.
Are they supportive and confident of your achieving your goals? Do they understand what you are trying to achieve, even if that is not a choice they would make for themselves? For example, a mother watching her "little girl" going through labour, may want to make the pain go away for her - at the cost of undermining the labouring mother's goals. However a supportive mother-in-law, may have enough emotional "distance" to over-ride her personal concerns and help you achieve your birth intentions. A friend who has achieved the birth you want to emulate, may have better understanding and empathy of your goals, than a sister who has had a traumatic birth.
Studies have shown that an unsupportive birth team can actually lengthen labour.
The article, Options: Labor Support, provides a more in-depth look at different typs of labour support.
Dads and Doulas
There have been many articles written on the subject of “Dads and Doulas” – differing roles and how a doula can support the dad/other birth supporter through the birthing journey. Examples are here and here and here.
However, one issue that stands out to me is how much pressure society has placed on fathers during the birth. It was only a few decades ago that fathers weren’t even allowed in the birthing suite, yet we now expect fathers to intuitively know how to support and negotiate in the hospital system.
In traditional society, men were usually kept away from the mother during her birthing experience, possibly undergoing their own ritualistic process. Yet here we are today expecting this new generation of fathers to be a “birthing pro” who knows the variations of normal birth; exactly what to do; what to say and be able to manage a hospital environment for the benefit of their partner.
What seems to be forgotten is that the father is seeing the person that he loves go through probably the most challenging physical and emotional experience of her life. It is usually quite an emotional and physical experience for the father – just to differing degrees from the mother.
A doula reassures the father and allows him to concentrate on his partner so that the experience can be theirs together. A doula can also provide ideas in which the father can support his partner. By being free to concentrate on his partner, the lovely birthing hormone, oxytocin, is released which in turn supports the normal labour process.
As your doula, we spend time during the pre-natal sessions going through the support level you require from your partner & your birth team and how to achieve your goals. We also discuss issues such as breaks for support people and how support people need to look after themselves during a long labour; what a women needs at different stages of labour and how they can encourage you and your body during labour to achieve your birth intentions.
There are lots of articles online about dads and doulas:
Men at Birth: Why She May Need More than Your Support
Dads and Doulas
Other Birth Support
During birth women become extremely sensitive to their environment, including the people surrounding them. It is also very instinctive for a labouring mother to want to be surrounded by the important women in her life. However, it is important to consider the energies and influences that a person brings with them into your birthing space.
Are they supportive and confident of your achieving your goals? Do they understand what you are trying to achieve, even if that is not a choice they would make for themselves? For example, a mother watching her "little girl" going through labour, may want to make the pain go away for her - at the cost of undermining the labouring mother's goals. However a supportive mother-in-law, may have enough emotional "distance" to over-ride her personal concerns and help you achieve your birth intentions. A friend who has achieved the birth you want to emulate, may have better understanding and empathy of your goals, than a sister who has had a traumatic birth.
Studies have shown that an unsupportive birth team can actually lengthen labour.
The article, Options: Labor Support, provides a more in-depth look at different typs of labour support.
