In Praise of Doulas

One of my favorite TV series is Gilmore Girls. It's a fast-talking drama about a single parent mom who raises her teen through college. We get to know the entire fictional town and all its characters over the seven seasons. It is well-acted and Carole King even sings the theme song. A few episodes focused on Liz having a baby with her new husband TJ. Liz was the sister of Luke, the hot owner of the local diner. She married a man short on intellect but long on patience and love and was blind to his faults. When the baby was born, she agreed to name her Doula, after their birthing coach.

Before I get to my point, I must share that this story reminds me of how my Norwegian grandmother got her name. Her sisters were Thora, Berghold, Astrid and Margaret. Her full name was Nanny Arvilda Larsen. She was born second from the last at time when their mother was sewing for an upper crust family in Norway. Her employers had a nanny for their children.

Back to doulas. When the Gilmore Girl episode ran, I had to Google the word. That's when I learned that these are amazing women trained to coach a pregnant woman through her childbirth experience. She is the advocate for the mother in labor and works in connection with the OB and nurses. Her role is to represent and speak on behalf of the mom and give voice to her needs and concerns. Doulas are even covered by insurance so I am surprised that every mother-to-be doesn't take advantage of this opportunity.

A few years later, I met my daughter's mother-in-law who has been a childbirth educator all over the world for years. She has an R.N. and trains doulas. I have learned even more about the benefit and blessing of having someone who is totally on your side there all along. They won't let you get bullied into tests or procedures that are not necessary and stand for the healthy delivery of your baby. Many doulas are also nurses.

Doulas enable the focus of the birth to be on the baby and is a reassuring voice even afterward when breastfeeding is introduced. They are excellent resources and passionate about pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.

Had I known about doulas when I had my babies, I know I wouldn't have gotten lost in what the nurses and doctors insisted they do. I know someone would have believed how I felt and I know I would not have been induced and left in a mess with some drugs that didn't do what was promised. I would have been valued, and so would my babies. And I know I would have been set up for success right away.

Thank you to every doula out there! You are making a difference in this world and are a tremendous blessing!