Moms-to-be who would like a more natural alternative to standard medical hospital delivery and postpartum care have a new choice: Doula services from Peaceful Journeys!
In the modern Greek language, doula means “female helper,” but it began as doulē, meaning “female slave.” These original women rose out of bondage by becoming skilled in pre- and post-natal care for mother and child, and in delivering babies while keeping their mothers as safe as possible. These women not only left slavery behind, but grew to occupy an elevated status among ancient and then modern civilizations, due to the critical service they have provided in every society ever since.
You may not have heard of doulas, only midwives. While both are certified professionals, the training, licensure and daily practice are somewhat different. A midwife is a healthcare provider, while a doula is more of a childbirth coach and ongoing advisor to the mother. You might decide to work with a midwife instead of an obstetrician for prenatal care and to deliver your baby. For doulas, there are two types, and some doulas hold certifications for both:
Birth Doula
A birth doula offers support throughout the pregnancy, labor and birth. A birth doula will support you during your birth in the hospital, birthing center or home. The birth doula works closely with the midwife, OB/GYN and nurses and her primary job is to support the mother emotionally and physically. Many women report far less need for drugs and other intervention at birth when a doula is present.
Postpartum Doula
For the comfort and security of knowledgeable, experienced help in those first few weeks after baby’s arrival, a postpartum doula helps ease new parents through the hours immediately following the new baby’s birth into the new routine they’ll need to establish, especially with existing children present.
Which doula services will you need or want? That depends on your birth plan. Good questions to ask yourself when seeking doula services:
- Do you want pregnancy support?
- Do you wish to have your doula present during birth?
- Will you be breastfeeding?
- Are you seeking daytime or nighttime services?
- Do you have other children who will be impacted by the birth?
- Do you have a partner to provide physical and emotional support once the baby arrives?
Contact us today to talk with our own Theresa Moore, a Certified Postpartum Doula and Birth Doula to learn more and discover the difference having a doula might make in the quality and comfort of your pregnancy, birth and aftercare.
Theresa received her training through the International Doula Institute.