How Can a Doula Help?
I am positive that I could write an entire book on all the ways a doula can be of help in the birth room. Something that is most interesting to me about traditional birth spaces is that husbands were not even included in the birth room until the 1950 - 1970’s. Traditionally, women relied heavily on the wisdom of other women and experienced midwives since ancient times. Their roles were to provide physical support such as massaging, holding, positioning, etc), offer emotional encouragement rooted in spirituality and wisdom, provide food and herbal remedies to support birth, to offer prayer and spiritual support, and to care for the other children in the home.
The rise in Male Physicians didn’t begin until the 1700-1800s, which is where more medical mindedness began to enter the picture surrounding birth. Once birth shifted to hospital settings in the 1900’s instead of the home, typical hospital rooms excluded family and other women. Unfortunately, many mothers were often left to labor alone and sedated.
A huge part of my passion for the importance of doula support is in bringing more women back into the birth room. Especially women who are not focused on modern medicine, but holistic and natural approaches to birth. Throughout my training as a doula, I quickly recognized there is little to no emphasis on spiritual support in the birth room. Much of what is missing for women is a woman who prays over them and their baby and can offer spiritual comfort and wisdom… someone who intentionally welcomes God through the Holy Trinity, Mother Mary, and the Saints in for protection, comfort, and help.
Birth is one of the most spiritual things a woman can go through. In the births I’ve attended, I can quite clearly feel a veil in the room is lifted during labor. Many doulas and witnesses to women giving birth acknowledge the birth room “time warp.” I have so far attended a few births for 24+ hours. While exhaustion overcame me, I still only felt like I was there for maybe 5-6 hours. It is because God is on different time, and when life enters the world, God is very present.
I don’t believe myself to be a qualified “prayer,” and often doubt my ability to even pray for myself. However, I arm my clients with prayer passages that bring comfort and help during their most vulnerable times. All affirmations and meditations provided are rooted in scripture and the rosary is used as needed. While I am Catholic, I grew up protestant and can equally support a variety of clients with tailored approaches. All clients will receive a variety of education and support resources leading up to birth from the moment they sign our contract.
As a doula, I provide 1-2 in-person prenatal appointments and 1-2 postpartum appointments in my client’s home. This helps me get a strong understanding of my client’s goals when it comes to birth and offers a stronger opportunity to explain alternative options and holistic approaches to birth prep. It is important to also recognize the 4th trimester (postpartum period) as apart of birth. So many people put so much emphasis on birth prep, they forget the importance of prep for breastfeeding and the difficult days that follow the birth of their baby. The whole process from 1st - 4th trimester is where I am most passionate about providing support to women seeking a different experience than what is “normal” in America.
I believe that the issue of fear and convenience culture in birth can be combatted with education, birth prep movement, and psychological support. Some of my most successful clients in reaching their birth goals have been incredibly invested in the educational aspect of hiring a doula. I ensure to arm my clients and their husbands with recommended books (tailored to their birth goals,) handouts and video guidance on breathwork, and movement techniques for prenatal comfort and birth prep. I help prepare a birth preferences document (to encourage inclusion and quality conversations with providers.)
A good doula should always stay up to date on appointments with your provider leading up to birth. While we cannot give medical advice, we do offer additional guidance and alternative approaches that are often available when the provider is aware of your goals. Some of the most important decisions are often made before a woman ever even enters the birth room (ex. laboring at home, choosing whether or not to induce labor, etc.)
I truly believe that if we can change the way women give birth, we can change the world. So many women are immediately off to a “rough start” when having babies the overmedicalized way. It makes it harder for adaptation and leads to higher rates of postpartum issues when the birth was traumatic. Higher risk of postpartum issues impacts the way we feel about our own mothering, thus leading to vulnerability and doubts that allow “the enemy” to begin infiltrating the minds of mothers. Mothers have a direct impact on the way of the world in the years following their children’s birth. It is important that, as a culture, we recognize the trickle effect that poor birth outcomes have on our society as a whole.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7
“These words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
