Birth in Harmony Doula Care
Often described as mothering the mother, the support of a known doula during labour can significantly reduce fear and tension, and increase feelings of comfort and confidence, resulting in a better labour and more satisfying experience.
As your doula, I am employed privately by you and your partner, and provide you with care that is completely independent of and complementary to the care provided by your midwife, nurse, doctor and hospital.
Through regular visits with you and your partner during pregnancy, we get to know each other and develop a comfortable, caring and trusting relationship. During that time, we explore your hopes and wishes for your pregnancy, birth and baby, and talk through any fears, concerns or questions you may have. I fill in any 'gaps' in your knowledge so that you are well-informed of your options (caregiver, place of birth, pain relief, routine tests and procedures etc), and can work in a positive way towards the birth that feels right for you. As your doula, I fully support whatever choices you make as I believe only you can know the best birth for you.
Each time we meet, I offer you a wide range of information, books, DVDs and other resources from my doula library. If desired, I can also provide you and your partner with individually tailored birth, breastfeeding and early parenting preparation sessions. If you would like to create a birth 'plan' in order to communicate your preferences and choices to your care-givers, I can assist you with this.
Once you are in labour and feel you would like me with you, I come to your home, hospital or birth centre and offer continuous care until after your baby is born. I ensure your birth space is as quiet, calm and private as possible, helping your labour to progress well and you to feel safe and in control. I encourage you to work with your body and your baby and to follow your instincts. I help you to interpret medical advice and information, and provide an objective viewpoint, so that you can make informed choices about your care and that of your baby.
Following the birth, I remain with you: holding the space while you bond with your baby, assisting you with initial breastfeeding, helping you shower, preparing a post-birth meal and taking photographs. Generally I will leave you a couple of hours after the birth when you are comfortable and your family is ready for some quiet rest together.
During the early days and weeks postnatally, I can support you in the emotional and physical recovery from birth, and assist you with breastfeeding education and support, newborn care, mother-baby bonding, baby sleep/settling and provide opportunities for you to talk about your birth experience. Should you feel you would like it, I also offer assistance with light housework, errands, childcare, and cooking a nutritious meal.
I can also record your pregnancy and birth with photographs, such as the ones displayed throughout this website, and can help you to plan and hold a blessingway (a birth blessing or motherbaby 'shower').
My aim is to increase your faith in your natural abilities and strengths, and for you to feel safe and supported on every level so you can 'let go' and embrace birth and parenting with joy and confidence.
Labour Support
Just
as every woman is unique, so too are each woman's expectations and
preferences for her labour, and for her labour support.
Examples of labour
support include:
Emotional Support
- Encouragement, reassurance
- Breathing, positive sound, visualisations, affirmations
- Being a calm presence with faith in your abilities
- Emotional support for your partner
- Companionship, nurturing
- Respecting your need for time by yourself and with your birth partner, and encouraging others to do the same
Physical Support
- Suggestions for positions and movements to reduce discomfort, to increase the effectiveness of labour, and/or to re-position your baby
- Assistance with natural pain relief such as counter-pressure, massage, heat-packs, bath/shower, calming touch, rhythmic movement, breathing, sound
- Provision of simple homeopathic and herbal remedies and aromatherapy oils
- Suggestions for ways your birth partner can support you
- Creating a safe, calm and comfortable birth space
- Protection from outside distractions and disturbances (holding the space)
- Taking care of practical tasks to support your labour, so your birth partner can focus on you
Informational Support and Advocacy
- Supporting you to feel confident and assertive in communicating your needs and preferences
- Assisting you to seek information and options
- Helping you to interpret information and advice so you can make informed choices about your care, and that of your baby
Birth in Harmony Principles of Practice
- The birth experience is a key life event for mother and baby and one they will remember for the rest of their lives
- Pregnancy and birth are honoured as natural events, not medical conditions
- Parents have the right and responsibility to be fully informed about pregnancy, birth and parenting choices
- Parents' health, lifestyle and environment play significant roles in the health of the baby, the ease of birth and the recovery of the mother
- The importance of the mother's emotional, mental and physical wellbeing is recognised and supported
- A natural and sensitively managed birth affords significant benefits to the mother, baby, father and family; therefore both the potential benefits and risks of any intervention warrant careful consideration
- Optimal development for babies and children is promoted by breastfeeding, secure bonding, continual physical contact (carrying in arms, sharing sleep), maintaining their genital integrity (no circumcision), and providing a consistent and loving response to their physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs
- Babies and children are by nature social beings, born with a drive to love and be loved, to learn about their world through spontaneous play, exploration, and participation/inclusion in the activities of their elders, to cooperate with others, and to contribute to their world. They are most able to develop to their full potential when treated with care and respect.
- A father's presence and loving involvement is significant to the mother, father, child and family
- Support and community enhances parents' opportunity and ability to nuture a secure bond with their children, to be the parents they aspire to be, and to build and maintain a strong and sustainable partnership with each other
Birth in Harmony Principles of Practice have been adapted in part from the Alliance for Transforming the Lives of Children (aTLC)'s 'Blueprint of Principles and Actions www.aTLC.org, and the 'Kindred Continuum of Principle and Manifesto' www.kindredmagazine.com.au
