聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 There are numerous misconceptions and misunderstandings surrounding doulas and their services offered. They are often confused with midwives or are considered naturopaths who push for natural births, but in reality a doula offers support and information helping you realize the best birthing plan for you.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 So, what is a doula?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The word, doula, is an ancient Greek term which translates to 鈥渁 woman who serves.鈥� Today, however, the term points to two types of educated professionals. The first is a birth doula who provides physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, and just after birth. The second is a postpartum doula who offers emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Cochrane Library conducted a study in 2011 which focused on 21 controlled studies of over 15,000 women who had doula care compared to those who did not have continuous support throughout the birthing process. According to the study women were 34 percent less likely to rate their childbirth experience as being negative.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Observer had the opportunity to sit down with Jen Balfour, a local birth and postpartum doula, to discuss what a doula does and the common misconceptions society has surrounding them.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Balfour became a doula because of her own children, 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 the case with many birth workers, they find themselves on this journey through their own birth or have supported a sister or loved one during theirs.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Balfour became a doula because of the births of her own children, 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 that case with many in this field.聽 They find themselves on this journey through their own birth or having had to support a family member or friend through theirs.聽 When I found out I was expecting my first, I was terrified.聽 I went on to have really great experiences and realized then just how much our culture perpetuates that fear of childbirth.聽 There鈥檚 a quote out there that when you change the way you view birth, the way you birth will change and I couldn鈥檛 agree more.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Learning more about what doulas do, Balfour found herself on a journey to become a trained doula; she is now both a birth and a postpartum doula.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As a birth doula, Balfour describes her services, which ultimately is to support the woman going through the birthing process and the family.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he birthing process is an intimate and personal moment in someone鈥檚 life,鈥� Balfour said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It鈥檚 a moment that women will remember for the rest of their lives and a doula is there as someone who supports women through labour and early postpartum period.聽 A doula can help the woman and her partner prepare for birth by meeting with them prenatally.聽 You discuss birth preferences and various options, practise comfort measures for labour and learn about the physiological process of childbirth.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 On her website, , she describes the birth doula as someone who 鈥淧rovide[s] emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as remind you of the information you learned prenatally that will help you make your own informed decisions.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A common misconception surrounding doulas is that they replace the woman鈥檚 partner, which is not the case: 鈥淎 doula simply adds to their support and makes it possible for partners to participate at their comfort level. The husband or partner is then able to focus their love and attention on the mother, freeing them to be physically and emotionally present for the birth of their child, too.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A birth doula does not offer medical advice or interprets medical results, provide second opinions, make decisions for people, and a doula does not answer or speak on your behalf when discussing the birthing plan.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The postpartum journey can be a difficult path to navigate for women and their newborns. In this situation a postpartum doula looks to support in a nurturing and non-judgemental way. Postpartum doulas help women through the transition period, they are there to discuss the newborn鈥檚 needs with, help facilitate bonding, and postpartum doulas aid in infant care to help a parent become confident in bathing, dressing, feeding (breast feeding or bottle feeding).
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hat postpartum period is not a set time,鈥� Balfour explained. 鈥淔or some women they鈥檒l keep a doula for three or four months, there鈥檚 not a set or defined amount of time. It鈥檚 for as long or as short a time as you need.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚f a baby has siblings a doula can entertain them for a little while, so as to encourage uninterrupted bonding time between baby and mother.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 They also help with meal preparation and light housework such as laundry, running errands, and changing bedding.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A doula is there to assist the parents in learning how to care for their baby and do not provide child care without a parent at home, any major housekeeping, psychological counselling, or transportation of any family member.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎 baby is something new and someone saying you鈥檙e doing a good job can be so helpful,鈥� Balfour stated.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Balfour says that when finding a birth doula or a postpartum doula that it is essential to go through an interview process with doulas to find the right one for you.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淓very doula is different and you want someone whose philosophy works with what you want,鈥� Balfour explained. 鈥淭he perfect doula for one person may not be the perfect doula for another.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎n interview is highly recommended. It鈥檚 important to make sure you鈥檙e on the same page because it is a very intimate and personal moment in a person鈥檚 life.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Balfour says locally there are organizations including Doulas of Regina, which she is a member of, at . In the immediate area there is Balfour, Alicia Beaulieu, Criston White with Bundle of Love Birth Services, and Randi Fingas. Their information can be found on Facebook: 麻豆视频east Saskatchewan Doulas.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 very important to interview and we all really encourage each person to find the one that鈥檚 right for them,鈥� Balfour explained. 鈥淭here is no one doula, but a doula for every woman. And every woman deserves a doula.鈥�
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