The word “doula” is Greek, and means “woman’s servant”. For thousands of years, women have served other women during their births, and their support has been proven to have positive outcomes.
“It is a matter of the woman being comfortable, not stressed, in a place where she feels safe, without people fussing, without other people stressing, without anyone else trying to have the baby for her, no clocks, no timing, no telling her what her body already knows.” — Libby Williams
A doula is a woman who has been trained in childbirth, either professionally or through experience, to aid women in their prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum experience. Her main goal is the mother’s health, wellness, and comfort. She will provide emotional, physical, and informational support throughout the process.
Usually, doula’s are available 24/7 for texting and phone call support, and are available in the weeks surrounding a mother’s birth.Her place is always by the mother’s side, or helping to do the things a mother needs to have done.
Months before your baby is due, you should already hire your doula, so everyone can build a strong relationship in preparation for the child. They are able to lower your birth risks, first and most importantly by helping you write up a cohesive birth plan. Doula’s concern themselves with the mother’s health and wellness, and will aid the mother in making nutritionally sound choices, and this leads to reduced rates of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes during pregnancy. They are able to aid in laboring techniques, which results in statistically lower use of epidurals and other pain interference during the birth process. Having a doula has been proven to reduce c-section rates, as well as give the mother and father a greater satisfaction with birth experience.
Doula’s are not there to take the husband or partner’s place; they are there to
“My husband (partner) is my left hand and my doula is my right.” — from “Doula’s Making a Difference”.
support and affirm both parents. Doula’s give the partner comfort and confidence in their role, can help the partner remember key decisions in rapidly changing situations, and can make sure the partner is in the right place at the right time.
Just as importantly, a doula gives your medical staff assistance as well. If you end up deciding that you would like medication, your doula can remind you of your birth plan, or tell you about your options as needed.Doctors and nurses tend to feel their patients are more informed when they have a doula in the room, and they also know that the mother with a doula is usually calmer and less anxious than other mothers. This leads to quicker, safer births.
Lastly, having a postpartum doula can lead to reduced postpartum depression, as well as gives the mother the much needed rest that she not only wants but requires! More and more evidence is showing that how a mother is taken care of in the year after her child is born (but especially during the 4th trimester!) effects her for the rest of her life! It is so vital and important for a mother to spend her first month postpartum in bed, and this is where a postpartum doula can come in. She can give the motherbreastfeeding support, help with small housework such as laundry and cooking, and look after the baby for a moment so mom can grab a quick shower! A postpartum doula is also a good person to talk to about postpartum belly binding, if you think you are interested.
Black infants consistently have had the lowest rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration across all study years. Black mothers may need more, targeted support to start and continue breastfeeding (cdc.gov). Hiring a doula can help you gain confidence while breastfeeding a newborn.
Every woman should have a doula at her birth–and worldwide there are thousands! There are so many women eager and willing to give another woman the care she deserves during her child bearing experience, please be sure to ask around your town for help no matter what your financial situation, or how well you think you can handle everything alone!
Please contact me if you have any more questions about what a doula is or does!
At the moment, I service Postpartum mothers through belly binding and pregnancy, postpartum, and birth rituals. If you are looking for a birthworker of color still feel free to talk to me, however! I am connected with hundreds of birthworkers across the United States (and some beyond!) and would love to see if we can connect you with someone who can closely align with your personal needs!
“The way a woman gives birth can affect the whole of the rest of her life. How can that not matter? Unless the woman herself does not matter?” –Beverley Beech and Belinda Phipps
In West Africa, there is a tradition of women who bind their bellies while they are still pregnant! Two reasons modern women are choosing to bring this ancient tradition to the foreground is pregnancy pain and diastasis recti.
Around the 3rd and 4th trimesters, many women’s inner-most abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis) become weaker under the pressure of the increasing (and necessary!) weight of pregnancy. She may have lower back pain, and ligament pain due to the releasing of the hormone “relaxin”, which is preparing her for her bodies “opening”/giving birth. Her abs may even split due to the pressure, and this is called “diastasis recti”, and can be aided through the use of a belly binding wrap to act as an outer ward set of abdominal muscles helping to hold the weight in place, relieve pressure, and reduce damage/ heal the stomach.
There are a few ways that a pregnant woman (or her doula) might be able to tell she has developed diastasis recti while pregnant. One way is definitely the pain she may experience in your stomach as well as pelvis. The other way is if she notices her stomach is drooping lower than the usual axis angle of 50-60 degrees. Because the abdominal muscles cannot support the baby as they should, it can cause the infant to lean or tilt forward on to the pelvis area, creating pain and even hindering the beginning of the birthing process (the babies head can never truly nestle deep into the pelvis, if it is caught on the edge).
I actually was able to realize this had happened to me during labor, and due to my phenomenal doulas, was pulled up and in with a rebozo cloth, as well as a few other techniques, and my labor was kick-started into active labor within 3 hours of this! However, had I been aware of the positive effects of belly binding my heavy, misshapen belly weeks before, I might have been able to avoid a few days of labor! Definitely ask for advice from your local midwife, doula, or other type of birth worker if you think belly binding could relieve you from pain, or even help your baby be in the right position for labor!
The green line represents the approximation axis that is ideal for baby, and the red line indicates the approximate actual position of the baby.
In West African culture, wearing a “lapa” is also considered a special protection for your unborn child from many things, including the evil eye. It is a beautiful way to celebrate the pregnant female form in all of its glory. Some wraps from Senegal are hand woven and trimmed in gold and silver thread, embroidered with intricate sequences of needlepoint. When the mother has given birth, it can also be used for babywearing, and the mama can wrap both herself and her baby up inside of the wrap.
The Lapa (or any belly binding cloth from most any indigenous or tribal culture worldwide) is effective against back pain, ligament pain, and can give physical support for a mother who cannot stop her work or care for other children during pregnancy. It can help prevent, halt and cure diastasis recti and give a pregnant mother relief in her last trimester of pregnancy. Lastly don’t forget to use it when you are postpartum for self healing and “closing” of the womb and body after pregnancy!
The Lapa (or any belly binding cloth from most any indigenous or tribal culture worldwide) is effective against back pain, ligament pain, and can give physical support for a mother who cannot stop her work or care for other children during pregnancy. It can help prevent, halt and cure diastasis recti and give a pregnant mother relief in her last trimester of pregnancy. Lastly don’t forget to use it when you are postpartum for self healing and “closing” of the womb and body after pregnancy!
I can’t control this one.
Again
I find myself embarking on adventures
With you…
Unsure of where the road takes us I have had to learn to trust
I have had to learn to breath
I have had to learn that
When it comes to us
Things will be different and
Unexpected.
I consider so many possibilities
But
In the end I
Release them all into
The still night as you
Snore beside me in your peace.
I could never predict
Where the path we hold hands on
Will lead to.
I’m not alone
These days.
Even in the darkest of depths and
The highest of vibrations
I can feel a familiar turn of
life I
Hold dear to my soul and
Cherish…
I can’t forget–
Every stretch and release of
Feelings within are
Shared with two who
Will be
Because I chose.
The Path of a Goddess 