For many people, navigating the path from pregnancy to the postpartum period can be a confusing time filled with anxiety. Many mothers are filled with questions as they try to understand what is and is not normal during pregnancy, birth, or the postpartum period. Friends and family may have insights to provide, but their knowledge is often limited to their own experience or stories they have heard from other friends. This is one of the many, many areas that a doula can be valuable to you and your family. In today’s blog, we will be exploring what a doula is, the different types of doulas, their services, and why you should hire a professional doula.
Doula defined
A doula is a professionally trained individual that provides support for you and your partner during your pregnancy, birth or postpartum period. During those three periods, a professional doula provides non-judgmental, physical, emotional, informational and educational support to help you in each period. A doula does not replace or fill the role of dad or your partner but is there to assist you and your family. They will allow dad or your partner to be as hands on or hands off, as they want to be in each step from pregnancy to the postpartum period. There are two primary types of doulas we will discuss in this blog: birth doulas and postpartum doulas.
What is a Birth Doula?
Birth doulas perform their work during pregnancy, labor, and delivery and there to walk with you through each. This professional doula is a wellspring of information on the ins and outs of pregnancy and birth. They can make product recommendations to help you with common and not so common pregnancy symptoms. As trained professionals, they can provide you with information about the benefits of both hospital or home births. They can even help you in crafting a birth plan that fits you and your family’s desires regardless of where you decide to deliver. When it is time for you to deliver, they will be ready at a moment’s notice to join you at the hospital and help you through the labor and birthing processes. They can provide you with the emotional support you need to bring new life into the world. Rather than reading through countless articles on the internet or trusting in information from friends and family that may be inaccurate and outdated, hire a professional birth doula.
What is a Postpartum Doula?
Postpartum doulas provide care and support for mom and baby during the postpartum period. As a professional doula specializing in postpartum care, their job is to “mother the mother” after she gives birth. The recovery period for moms can be stressful, painful, and challenging as you are trying to recover physically and emotionally while caring for your baby. A postpartum doula can provide you with product recommendations for you and your baby, care for the baby so you can take a shower or sleep, or even prepare light meals and snacks for you and your family. They can use their knowledge of newborns and the postpartum period to help you identify when you might need to contact a doctor, certified lactation counselor, or other medical professional. There is no need to walk the postpartum path alone; instead, hire a postpartum doula so that you can have the time you need to rest and recovery from birth.
Reach out to Tennessee Family Doulas today to learn more about the services we have to offer.