I am on call for my third birth and each time I feel as if I haven't done enough prenatally. This couple is my first that has actually taken CBE (the useless hospital course and one other in their old city - they just moved here a couple moths ago) so I am hoping they got some good information from that. I also suggested a couple books but am sure they didn't read it (they did just move into their house last week). I need to create an actual lesson plan, I think.
Right now, I just go over forms and stuff (I have an info sheet and a planning sheet, which discusses, likes, dislikes, pain tolerance, relaxation, fears etc.) at the first appointment and answer questions about interventions to help them get an idea of what to put on their birth plan. Then, at the second, we go over their birth plan/preferences, hospital procedures specific to our hospital, and comfort measures.
I need advice on what to cover.
I am thinking something like:
First Prenatal
1. Forms etc. (maybe e-mail them beforehand, so they can fill them out on their own and then they'll have time to think on some of the questions and formulate their own questions)
2. Questions they need to consider about the birth and questions to ask their doctor.
3. Stages and Phases of labour and what is normal
4. Common Interventions, Risks/Benefits, When to use
5. Parts of a Birth Plan
Second Prenatal
1. Review Birth Plan
2. Hospital Procedures (where they go etc.)
3. Comfort Measures
The second appointment seems a bit light, what would a good topic to go here? Does this plan look reasonable?
I have fallen out of specific topics for my meetings, tho generally we talk about client desires and late pregnancy stuff as per client request in the first meeting and go over the specific things a client needs to know to approach her birth. If I were to break it down, it would look similar to your outline.
I wouldn't worry that the second meeting looks light. Frankly, talking about what to expect from hospital, home or transfer births and also how best to prepare for dealing with contractions is a lot to talk about.
Of course, if my clients have not taken my CBE, we may add breastfeeding basics into the second class.
It's all really about helping the client identify their needs and talking to them about what they desire to know, enhanced by your particular insider's expert knowledge. The first class helps them to know their options and find out where they are at mentally about what kind of birth experience would be ideal and the second class is about giving them the info they need to achieve that and meet the various challenges they may meet in labour.
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I add a postpartum section to my prenatal. Usually parents are so focused on the birth they don't plan properly for postpartum. I also go over comfort measures when we talk about stages of labor. I stress to my clients that I am not a CBE class and most of what I go over should be review for them.
I have found that my clients who make the best use of me are super motivated and self educated. It seems the more I have to spoon feed clients the less likely they are to own their birth and make informed decisions about their care.
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What you have outlined sounds like a great foundation. I'm sure lots of other interesting and informative discussions follow on from the topics you've outlined.
I do agree with Marilyn - I make sure to look a bit past the birth as well - breastfeeding, basic newborn care, support services in her area etc etc.
Sounds like you're doing a wonderful job. And remember - it's not your role to be the source of ALL knowledge.
Sara
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You feel like you haven't done enough because you are new at this. In your heart you know that with experience you will be able to serve your clients even better then you are now. Don't worry, it IS a process. I would start off with a list such as yours but only keep it in the back of your mind. I do my prenatals similar to Hamiltonbirth. I have a list of topics in my head to cover, if needed, and then in conversation I asses what their needs are and how I can fill them.
Embrace the process. One can not become an experienced doula without experience. So know that you are great where you are right now but you will learn something from each experience. From each birth, give yourself the benefits of self evaluation. I am NOT promoting knocking yourself around with guilt, mind you! You should be able to come away with thoughts such as this type of client with x personalities and situations behaved in such a manner and I wish I would have thought to give them information about xyz. Not every client needs or wants information about xyz. Becoming a more experienced doula and becoming a GOOD doula from that experience is about reading people and following your intuition which is just little pieces of things you have learned wandering around in the back of your mind. Good luck and have fun.
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1stimester, thanks and you hit the nail on the head. Being a good doula is all about reading people and then being able to provide for their particular needs.
The more experienced I become, the less it becomes about all the info I provide or the tricks I know. My hands, my voice, my encouragement are by far my most valuable assets. I help my clients best when I can give them a sense that they can meet and best any challenge, not when I can arm them with info. Because when they feel they can meet a challenge, they are more confident birthers and parents, they develop a sense of what they need to know and seek out the info from me and their other resources.
Being a great doula is about working yourself out of a job - if I might paraphrase a wise doula.
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Being a great doula is about working yourself out of a job - if I might paraphrase a wise doula.
Yep, and the longer I practice the less I do at births.
Prenatals we just covered in another thread, but mine are open to whatever the client wants more info on but I do have a few topics that I cover with every client.
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