As doulas, we are privileged to work with many different women and families. Each family that we work with brings their own perceptions and expectations of our role. Some families hire a doula to help them achieve a drug-free childbirth. Others had a hard time during their first birth and just want everything to be different. No matter the situation with our clients and their individual reason for seeking out doula care, an intimate relationship often develops.
Each relationship a doula has with her client is different, and the same doula can have a different relationship with different mothers. For instance, some mothers really like to call and check in with us, prenatally. She may be upset after a doctor's visit, or after an argument with her partner. Her phone call to us may start out about how she's feeling, or how her last prenatal appointment went, but we will definitely ask "How's everything else going?," and this sometimes opens the floodgates of what's really going on. We invite her to unload on us. Really, it is our role, and we cherish it.
And we really do love our jobs- we love hearing about your cramps, loose bowel movements, your backache, or your leaking urine. We love to hear all about the emotional ups and downs you're going through, too.
During your labor, the relationship you've built with your doula really kicks into high gear. Many mothers find that they feel much better with no clothes on especially during transition (when you're dilating from 7-10 centimeters). Your doula is used to this. She is used to mothers ripping off their clothing, and she won't bat an eye at your nakedness, or your bodily functions which are likely under less control than you are used to.
After your birth, your doula will stay and help you get started with breastfeeding. So, once again, she will likely be up close and personal with your body. This, of course, depends on your comfort level and needs.
Remember that your doula has likely seen it all- she will not be put off by your emotions prenatally, she wants to know the nitty gritty details of how your body's doing during your pregnancy. Once you think labor may have started, she'll want to know exactly how you're feeling. During labor and birth, she is there for you. She will maintain her empathy and professionalism no matter how clothed or naked you are. She will hold your hair back if you get sick, and she will walk you through the beginning stages of breastfeeding.
Through all of this, nothing is too much information for your doula.
Each relationship a doula has with her client is different, and the same doula can have a different relationship with different mothers. For instance, some mothers really like to call and check in with us, prenatally. She may be upset after a doctor's visit, or after an argument with her partner. Her phone call to us may start out about how she's feeling, or how her last prenatal appointment went, but we will definitely ask "How's everything else going?," and this sometimes opens the floodgates of what's really going on. We invite her to unload on us. Really, it is our role, and we cherish it.
And we really do love our jobs- we love hearing about your cramps, loose bowel movements, your backache, or your leaking urine. We love to hear all about the emotional ups and downs you're going through, too.
During your labor, the relationship you've built with your doula really kicks into high gear. Many mothers find that they feel much better with no clothes on especially during transition (when you're dilating from 7-10 centimeters). Your doula is used to this. She is used to mothers ripping off their clothing, and she won't bat an eye at your nakedness, or your bodily functions which are likely under less control than you are used to.
After your birth, your doula will stay and help you get started with breastfeeding. So, once again, she will likely be up close and personal with your body. This, of course, depends on your comfort level and needs.
Remember that your doula has likely seen it all- she will not be put off by your emotions prenatally, she wants to know the nitty gritty details of how your body's doing during your pregnancy. Once you think labor may have started, she'll want to know exactly how you're feeling. During labor and birth, she is there for you. She will maintain her empathy and professionalism no matter how clothed or naked you are. She will hold your hair back if you get sick, and she will walk you through the beginning stages of breastfeeding.
Through all of this, nothing is too much information for your doula.
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