When you meet someone new, often one of the first questions they ask is what do you do? When I started this journey, I would simply say, “I'm a doula”, which often got blank stares and would end up with me going off on a 15 minute tangent on what exactly I did.
Recently I ran into an old acquaintance who I hadn't seen in a few years. As we caught up, of course he asked, “Where are you working these days?” This time I was ready. I took a deep breath and very confidently stated, “As a doula, I offer physical, emotional, and education support to women and their partners from preconception through the postpartum period. I run my own business, Breaking Birth Barriers, and have the honor of attending many women during their birth.” He was intrigued and asked to learn more.
I informed him that is where it gets tricky to describe what exactly I do. You see each person I support has different needs and a different way to have those needs met. I remind myself that each birth will look different and just because something works for one person, it doesn't work for everyone. The great thing about hiring a doula is through the time spent prenatally, your doula is able to figure out what ways she can best support you when the time comes. There is an established relationship of trust and support that cannot be matched by a labor and delivery nurse you're meeting for the first time.
Usually by the time a woman chooses to venture to the hospital, she is already in what I like to call “labor land”. This means that many rational decisions are out of sight and out of mind and 100% of her focus is on the best way to get her baby out. That is where having a support team is so handy. The doula can stick with mom and work through those tough contractions while her partner can answer the one hundred and one questions the hospital staff is throwing out.
A doula is often a vital playing in “holding space”. Holding space is being willing to support a person, by walking along side in their journey without judgement, trying to impact the outcome, make them feel inadequate, or trying to fix the situation at hand. When a doula is holding space for a family, she is opening herself up to offer unconditional support, and letting go of any judgment or attempt to control the situation. Above all, this is what a doula does.
As a doula I wear many hats over the journey of your pregnancy. I am there to answer your questions when you think something is off. I am there to help your partner learn to support you through your labor. I am there to hold you hair while you vomit in transition. I am there to help with that first latch. I am there when you need support at 2 am with a newborn who just won't sleep. I'll always be in your corner, every step of the way.
Alecia Miller, CD
This post is part of World Doula Week Blog Challenge Series. Please click the image below to see the work of some other amazing doulas serving around the country.
Recently I ran into an old acquaintance who I hadn't seen in a few years. As we caught up, of course he asked, “Where are you working these days?” This time I was ready. I took a deep breath and very confidently stated, “As a doula, I offer physical, emotional, and education support to women and their partners from preconception through the postpartum period. I run my own business, Breaking Birth Barriers, and have the honor of attending many women during their birth.” He was intrigued and asked to learn more.
I informed him that is where it gets tricky to describe what exactly I do. You see each person I support has different needs and a different way to have those needs met. I remind myself that each birth will look different and just because something works for one person, it doesn't work for everyone. The great thing about hiring a doula is through the time spent prenatally, your doula is able to figure out what ways she can best support you when the time comes. There is an established relationship of trust and support that cannot be matched by a labor and delivery nurse you're meeting for the first time.
Usually by the time a woman chooses to venture to the hospital, she is already in what I like to call “labor land”. This means that many rational decisions are out of sight and out of mind and 100% of her focus is on the best way to get her baby out. That is where having a support team is so handy. The doula can stick with mom and work through those tough contractions while her partner can answer the one hundred and one questions the hospital staff is throwing out.
A doula is often a vital playing in “holding space”. Holding space is being willing to support a person, by walking along side in their journey without judgement, trying to impact the outcome, make them feel inadequate, or trying to fix the situation at hand. When a doula is holding space for a family, she is opening herself up to offer unconditional support, and letting go of any judgment or attempt to control the situation. Above all, this is what a doula does.
As a doula I wear many hats over the journey of your pregnancy. I am there to answer your questions when you think something is off. I am there to help your partner learn to support you through your labor. I am there to hold you hair while you vomit in transition. I am there to help with that first latch. I am there when you need support at 2 am with a newborn who just won't sleep. I'll always be in your corner, every step of the way.
Alecia Miller, CD
This post is part of World Doula Week Blog Challenge Series. Please click the image below to see the work of some other amazing doulas serving around the country.