I love being a doula. Following the mothers lead during her labour, offering suggestions often without words, reminding her over and over again how amazing she is. She is more instinctive and primal than she gives herself credit for. Before we got this far, we have built a relationship through private antenatal classes. This gave us a chance to get to know each other, and to figure out what her birth preferences are. She knows that she has the option to have me in the hospital alongside another birth partner, and this puts her mind at ease.
For this is what ‘doula-ing’ is. It’s putting the mothers mind at ease, so she can get on with the business of giving birth. When the mother knows that everything else is getting taken care of, and that everything is ok, that she is safe and feels listened to, she then finds it much easier to tap into her relaxed mind. This helps her body to open up, and labour to progress quicker. She has a team around her, she has familiarity in an otherwise unfamiliar room. This process is important, is manageable, and the best news is she will be meeting her baby soon!
She knows the birth of her baby will remain with her forever, so she wants to do everything in her power to make it a joyful memory. Hiring a doula helps her to work towards that goal.
Doula Dee has experience with breech babies, pelvic girdle pain, general pregnancy aches and pains, anxiety in pregnancy, birth preferences, epidural, no epidural, hospital births, alternative pain management, rebozo, antenatal education, birth education, antenatal breastfeeding education, breastfeeding support, postpartum support, babywearing support, and she’s just great to have a chat with over a cup of tea.
Timescale of hiring a doula.
15 – 25 weeks: Make contact and schedule a time that suits for a meet up. This is very informal and gives you both a chance to see if you are right for one another. It is usually free and is approx 1 hour. Your doula will then hold 1 spot in your due month for 2 weeks. When you decide to hire her, you will receive a welcome pack via email.
25 – 30 weeks: First Antenatal Appointment. This appointment forms the basis for the second antenatal appointment. We work out what’s important to you, and what’s not so important. We also touch on normal labour and delivery, we also talk about what speeds it up and what slows it down.
30 – 34 weeks: Second Antenatal Appointment. Here we revisit your birth preferences, and talk about how we can work them in to your labour. We also cover how to know your in labour, when to call the hospital, and when to call me.
34 – 39 weeks: This is a good time to think about life after birth. Antenatal breastfeeding classes, and learning how you can carry your baby with your hands free are good places to start.
37 – 42 weeks: This is when I am on call for you. This means I have my phone on me at all times, and up loud – even at night. Even at Christmas. I will have childcare plans in place so that I can meet you in hospital quickly when you are admitted and in established labour. I will then remain with you for the duration, and until an hour after birth. I can also provide immediate breastfeeding support if required.
Day 1 – 10 After you get home: One 1 hour visit every day for the first 10 days after you get home. From talking to mothers throughout the years (I’ve been supporting breastfeeding mothers since 2010), the first ten days seem to be the days where they feel the most vulnerable. Mothers who have added support have been shown to breastfeed for longer and have lower risk of postnatal depression.
From day 10 on: Doula Dee holds regular free meetups for parents. Monday mornings we meet for a walk in the park, Thursdays is the Cuidiu breastfeeding group, and the first Friday of the month is the BWI Sling meet. So there are lots of opportunities for continued support.
Testimonial:
It is often said it takes a village to raise a child. But I think that it actually starts from the very beginning, bringing that child into the world.
I had a traumatic experience with the birth of my first daughter, beginning with induction and ending with every drug and intervention available. I was overjoyed when she finally arrived but every time I drove past the hospital I felt tremendous anxiety.
When I found I was pregnant again in December, I hoped my next experience would be different and more pleasant, so I reached out to Deirdre. I had met her shortly after my daughter was born. She provided breastfeeding support out of her home at the time and was a great support to a new momma without a clue!
Let me say that hiring Deirdre as my doula was the best thing I ever could have done for me and my second girl. The knowledge I gained through our meetings, the support along the way, and the birth- day itself. I can’t put into words the experience, but I couldn’t have made it through without her. I felt calm and relaxed even upon admission to the hospital. It was a long day but Deirdre was there every step of the way, helping me through the contractions, providing water and ice when I needed it.. just the simplest things made a world of difference. With her help I was able to bring a happy healthy 10lb10oz baby girl into the world on 29 Aug at 6:31 pm with no interventions and virtually no pain meds. Just a bit of gas and air at the end. The midwives were still talking about it the next day, not believing how calm and relaxed the day was.
I highly recommend Deirdre in everything she does, but most definitely as a doula. She is a true rock star! Thank you Deirdre!!
Benefits
Research supports that doulas shorten your labour, decrease your risk of cesarean birth and other interventions, increasing your satisfaction and ability to breastfeed, and with less interventions your baby is also more likely to have a higher APGAR score, and need less special care.
There is a domino effect in childbirth where one intervention often leads to another and another… Doulas are protective of stopping or delaying the first domino, but even when interventions are needed, doulas reduce the likely of having more.
When continuous labour support was provided by a doula, women experienced a:
1. 31% decrease in the use of Oxytocin intravenous drip
2. 28% decrease in the risk of Caesarean birth
3. 12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
4. 9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
5. 14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care unit
6. 34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
Book your free 60min Doula consult here.
Evening or Weekend appointments available on request.