A Woman's Work Doula Services

Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 1:29 PM

A Woman’s Work Can Be More Fulfilling

I had, what I would call, a completely antiseptic and aided birth that involved a combination of:  Nubain, an epidural, Pitocin to enhance the intensity of the contractions, an attempted vacuum extraction and finally, a c-section with epidural morphine to round out the experience.  In hindsight, I felt completely disempowered throughout the childbirth process and I, like many first-time Moms, did not know all the options available to me.

During my first pregnancy, I looked into doula services but that idea was quickly discouraged when I felt that it was discouraged or disregarded as important by my OBGYN practice.  Sans birth plan, full understanding of the labor and delivery process and the essential education and emotional support for myself and my birth partner, I felt determined that, second-time-around, I would be at the center of the decision-making process—and fully understand how a qualified and trained doula could enhance labor and ease tension.

According to the DONA International Website, the world’s premier doula organization, a birth doula offers “emotional support, encouragement and wisdom throughout labor and birth” whereas “postpartum doulas support women and families through the transformation that a new baby brings to a family.” 

I felt that the DONA Website was a good starting place to learn about doula services but absolutely nothing can replace the perspective of a practicing doula.  Last Wednesday, I had the privilege to speak with Nicole Nordberg, a DONA-trained doula and owner of A Woman’s Work, prenatal, birth and postpartum doula services based in Plymouth Meeting, PA. 

Nicole openly discussed the scope of doula services for prenatal and postpartum women with the type of understanding of the field, compassion for partners embarking on labor and delivery and genuine excitement of the process that is fundamental.  

What is a doula?

Doula comes from the ancient Greek and means ‘servant to women.’  Today, the term refers to a person who assists women in the birthing process from prenatal all the way through postpartum. 

What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?

A doula does not provide medical support but many doulas have been trained as nurses or certified midwives.  Some doulas that have a nursing background or have been certified as midwives have found that they rather take on a role that is less medically based in favor of one that provides more emotional support to the laborer and her birth partner. 

Why do you feel that most people come to choose a doula?

Basically, it’s word-of-mouth—Moms hear through others about the positive experience they’ve had with doula support Many expectant Moms may hear through a friend that they had a wonderful birth experience or a more natural birth experience that they attribute to the support of their doula.  Some of VBAC Moms that need the emotional support and encouragement through this type of labor.  

What is the training process to become a doula?

A doula does not need to be trained.  Doulas can receive formal training through DONA, Doulas of North America.  The curriculum is independently-based and includes a combination of childbirth preparation classes and position papers.  The position papers document an individual trainee’s comprehension of the role of a doula in the childbirth process. DONA wants each doula trained through their program to fully understand that this is not a medical field but rather one of more emotional support and encouragement for the birth partners.  That being said, doulas are trained to know a lot about the prenatal, labor and postpartum process through a medical and physiological standpoint but any thoughts about medical issues during the process should be communicated to the birth partners who can be prompted to address these types of issues with their medical care providers.  A doula does not engage in direct conversation with medical staff, which must be clearly understood and expressed by each doula who seeks to receive DONA training and certification.  In addition, DONA-trained and certified doulas are required to take continuing education units (CEUs) every couple of years for recertification purposes.

What do you, as a doula, do for the birth partners during the prenatal time?

The prenatal preparation involves an initial consultation, two (2) face-to-face prenatal visits and regular phone and e-mail contact.  The birth partners also receive help as they write their birthplan.  A Fear Assessment Profile is also given separate to each partner.  Fear Assessment Profile is a phenomenal tool to help partners communicate individual fears about labor and delivery with each other—some of these fears are realized during the assessment. The overall goal of the assessment is to aid in the bonding process between partners.

What do you, as a doula, do for the birth process during labor and delivery?

Doula services during labor and delivery involve consistent emotional support for both birth partners.  This can vary from massage, encouragement, delivery of food and coffee and offerings of general breaks to the birth partner, as needed, to reenergize.  The most important piece is the objective emotional support, pampering and encouragement that aids and intensifies the birth experience shared by both partners. 

What do you, as a doula, do for the birth partners during the postpartum period?

Services include one (1) postpartum visit.  Doulas help with the emotional aspect of the transition to life with a baby, which can be especially powerful for first-time mothers. 

In your experience, are there more first-time or second or more-time around Moms going for doula services?

Definitely second or more-time around Moms.  A commonly heard statement is that these Moms didn’t have a great birth experience the first time around and they are looking for a more fulfilling experience. 

Freedom of More Choices 

As we closed the interview, Nicole candidly said to me, “every woman should have a doula and services are available to every woman regardless of socio-economic situation.  The services are out there and you definitely don’t need to have financial resources to have support.” Nicole herself does up to four (4) pro bono births a year and she noted that many doulas in the Greater Philadelphia Area offer similar services.

About Nicole Nordberg, DONA-Trained Doula

Nicole has received her doula training formally through DONA.  To learn more about Nicole Nordberg’s doula services through A Woman’s Work, please visit http://www.lilaguide.com/ListingView.aspx?lid=521367&scid=7021888.  To receive a listing of doula services within the Greater Philadelphia Area, please visit http://lilaguide.com/philly and click on the category for Doulas.