In a maternity care system where care providers run busy practices, they often have little time to spend one on one with their patients – even though they probably would like to. Doulas have a unique place in this system because doulas are able to build a relationship during pregnancy and carry that relationship into the birth space.
Unique Role of Doulas
Families share their life, their plans, their hopes and also their fears with their doula. The doula knows so much about how to care for and support their clients and that knowledge is what helps us support families to have the best birth experience. We call that knowledge relational support and it is the foundation of what doula support truly means.
Relational support also creates the good stuff – oxytocin, and every birth needs more of that! Surrounding a birthing person with a supportive birth team impacts the experience in so many positive ways and the more the team feels that love, the more good stuff is brought to the birthing room.
The doula will constantly support you from labor at home, through the transition to your place of birth, and until the baby arrives and everyone is snuggled together. She is familiar with birth in all its variations and options that may arise in the course of labor. A doula is a sounding board as you consider your options and make suggestions for your comfort. Her presence allows everyone to be who they need to be during labor while supporting the laboring woman.
Bridging Care
Doulas don’t do it all though – one of the things they are best at is being a bridge to other forms of care. Doulas network with all the local resources that serve expecting and new parents. A doula can recommend a great lactation consultant (shout out to Bayou City Breastfeeding!), find a new mom’s group or a pelvic floor physical therapist. Sometimes it really is knowing all the right people, and it is a doula’s job to know all the right people…then connect you when you need them.
As a doula, providing relational support is my favorite part of the job. When labor is happening, the doula supports and cares for the expecting woman, even if it doesn’t go as planned. Relational support is the reason why research shows that women that have doulas at their birth have a higher level of satisfaction with their birth experience no matter how the birth occurs.
Contact Us
Great Expectations Houston Doulas would love to help you build your oxytocin advantage with one of our doulas. We also love sharing names of the excellent providers. Contact us to schedule an interview with one of our doulas.
www.besthoustondoulas.com
