doula/things she could do

jesscardona · 08-08-2006, 09:34 AM

okay, what if you're with your client at the hospital the is born, and she asks, I'm not sure how to change a diaper, can you show me?
Is that something you can do?

MindOverLaborDoulas · 08-08-2006, 09:38 AM

I've done that a lot. I didn't know that it might be a sticky question

.... fill me in!

fearlessbirth · 08-08-2006, 09:41 AM

Hmmm...I've done that. Just Friday I showed grandma how to swaddle the baby. I never thought about it being an issue. But I suppose there could always be some type of liability involved. But, I don't think any type of liability would ever stop a doula from holding and cuddling with the sweet baby so I don't see how it's any different.

. That's just me.

However, if it's something that I don't have 100% factual knowledge on (like client just called me with BF question last night) I refer to LC or LLL b/c I don't ever want to 'think' I'm right without knowing 100% that I'm right and pass along wrong information. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

jesscardona · 08-08-2006, 09:50 AM

Oh no, I don't think there's nothing wrong with it at all! I'm just asking, b/c now a days, it's just that you have to have to be careful with everything b/c they will sue you for anything and it's like in a birth you can't say anything, and it's so ridiculous that, that's why I'm asking just in case...

1stimestar · 08-08-2006, 01:05 PM

You can certainly show mamma how to change a diaper.

loveslabor · 08-08-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesscardona

okay, what if you're with your client at the hospital the is born, and she asks, I'm not sure how to change a diaper, can you show me?
Is that something you can do?

Definitely. I would also be sure to find a support group for new mothers pronto!

scarborogal · 08-08-2006, 03:24 PM

Funny, I had a mom today in my class with her hospital birth plan she went to the section of after the birth about the vitamin K and other stuff and I said, that was out of my scope of practice and I could only help her with "this stuff" at the top of the page. But as for changing a diaper, I think I would have no problem with showing mom how to do that.

K.

tlcdoula · 08-08-2006, 05:22 PM

I definitely help the families. If the nurse is there though I might kind of look to her to see if it is okay especially if she is currently working with the mom and baby. I would never want to step on toes and risk my reputation, so if the nurse was busy with them I would wait until she left and then help.

doula Michele · 08-08-2006, 05:34 PM

I would.
Lots of the nurses ask me to help...they say " great the doulas here" and get me to get moms settled in, or help after baby is born.
One time they even had me holding a very unhappy little guy who was being put up for adoption, and they were trying to keep him calm, and work.
LOL they handed him to me!

RosyDoula · 08-08-2006, 06:28 PM

Liability with changing a diaper???

Geez, what have we come to in this society?

erad76 · 08-08-2006, 08:11 PM

I do non-medical tasks. Non-medical tasks include diaper changing, initial breastfeeding, and any information that a childbirth educator would know. I can tell a mom what a certain medicine or proceedure is, but I cannot tell her if it is appropriate for her. Does that make sence?
I'm the first one to defer to the nurse or ask for input because I want to create rapport with the whole team, but I also know that I am asking out of curteousy not because I need permission.