~ A doula is a person, generally a woman, who provides informational, emotional, physical and advocacy support during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.
~ Doulas are individuals and each of us has her/his own strengths and areas of expertise. There are assistants with different specialties such as fertility, high-risk pregnancies, difficult birth circumstances, adoption, breastfeeding, postpartum depression and so on.
~ Many professionals attend births; however, there are doulas that contract exclusively for Pregnancy and/or Postpartum support.
~ Private doulas contract with the client, and while they should compliment the caregiver and birthplace they serve only the clients wishes. Doulas provide advocacy by supporting informed choice. A doula should never speak for the client or interfere with her client's ability to make the choices that are right for them.
~ The doula only ensures that the client has the information and support necessary to make decisions that are right for them, and then the doula supports those choices 100%.
~ Sometimes this means that the information the doula provides may seem to contradict the practices of the provider. This is because, just as each doula is different in the way they practice, each doctor/midwife has a different style of practice and different practice protocols.
~ It is important that the birth team (provider, staff, support person, friends and family) are able to support the wants and needs of the birthing woman. If one piece of the puzzle does not fit then the support may faultier, which may create tension and unhappiness.
~ It is the Patient's/client's responsibility to ensure that those who she has asked to attend to her physical, emotional and medical needs during her pregnancy and birth, support her in the way she needs to be supported.
~ This means that, as a patient and a client you should hire those who agree with your views, and will support your needs and wants 100%.
~ Your birth team works for you and you are the one in charge of the choices you make. A doula can help you sort through your options, define your needs and wants and offer you the physical and emotional support you desire.
Fees depend on services required. Accommodations are available for those who request payment assistance. ~No one will be turned away~
~ Doulas and other childbirth support professionals have gained popularity throughout the U.S. and the U.K. There are several training organizations, and many hospitals either have a staff doula program or attempt to train nurses in non-clinical care support. ~ Several studies clearly indicate that a pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum experience is enhanced with the support of a compassionate, empathetic, and supportive birth assistant. ~ As a Doula and a Registered Nurse I am able to take my training as a non-clinical care provider, and a clinical care provider and enhance my client support to offer complete holistic care. ~ Being a doula and a Registered Nurse affords me the medical knowledge to assist my clients in making informed choices, as well as the understanding of the medical environment to assist clients in understanding the cares offered to them by medical staff.
Sun Buddies Doula Service Pregnancy and Birth Assistant
The Doula, Your Provider and You
There are generally two issues brought up when considering a doula for your support.
~ The first is partner and doula.
~ The doula will never replace the partner, whether the partner is the baby's dad, grandmother, aunt or other close significant person in the baby's life!
~ The doulas job is to enhance the relationship between the mother and her partner. Research says that doulas do exactly this by creating a warm, trusting environment for the parents to communicate in. Whether it be supporting choice, protecting privacy or actively helping with the birthing process, the doula is a support person for both the birthing woman and her chosen support system in a calm and supportive manner.
~ Research shows that with doula support men relax and more freely support the birthing woman in the way she desires to be supported. In circumstances where there is not additional support, or the partner chosen for support is unable to or uncomfortable with certain forms of support, the doula is able to compliment what support the partner brings to the birth with her knowledge and physical presence.
~ The second is the provider.
~ There are so many wonderful, empowering and supportive providers available for the care of you and your baby. A providers who realizes they are a form of support, hired to assist the birthing family should emergency or medical need arise is an endearing member of the woman's birth team.
~ These special providers welcome the addition of a doula to the birth team and assist families in creating the birth they desire and consider both the emotional and physical well being of mother and baby when intervention is required.
~ It is important to remember that as the birthing consumer you are the one who must make the choices in your care. Your provider gives you specialty care, offering information and advice to assist you in your healthcare choices.
~ It is your choice what kind of birth you want; it is your providers responsibility to meet your needs as fully as possible while appraising you of the healthcare choices available to you and your baby.
~ A doula is a wonderful addition to the birthing team, and offers information, education, research assistance and complete support for your choices as a birthing consumer.
