What does a doula actually do?
What does a doula actually do?
This is one of the common questions searched for via Google. In this post, Kent-based birth doula and birthkeeper, Naomi Gale (it me), answers this question.
A doula is a non-medical companion to support antenatally, during and postnatally.
Doulas support you physically, emotionally and spiritually through the rite of passage of birth into motherhood.
A doula isn’t a replacement for a birth support partner, but to support all involved.
Some doulas support at birth and postnatally. This means couples are receiving one-to-one pregnancy and postpartum care in a way that is very much missing in today’s modern society. Doulas offer a range of services within their packages from massage touch to cooking meals to yoga care. What a doula offers and the packages depends on the doula and their background.
I offer a range of Kent-based doula packages found here which includes my pelvic health work and more.
The term doula originates from the term ‘gossip’ or ‘female slave’ which is very typical of the way society depicts the support of a woman to a woman. Essentially doulas have always existed, it’s simply that the rise of medical intervention, and men at birth meant doulas have been less prevalent.
With the rise of challenges within the medical system and the fact that women are receiving less care from within an overstretched NHS, doulas are needed more than ever.
To understand where the power has been taken and why we need doulas more than ever you can purchase my book here.
To explore my Kent doula packages based in Margate pop over to here.
