Can this goal be reached in community programs?

consider the lily · 05-07-2010, 01:50 AM

Hello, ladies. I am not currently serving as a doula, but am in the process of evaluating if this is the right season of my life to begin what I see as an opportunity to be of service to women. I believe that it is and have my family's support to begin a trainging program. My main ministry is to my family as wife and mother, but I feel that my own life/birth experiences could perhaps be used to assist others.

With that as a means of introduction, I'll ask my question. In working with the mothers generally serviced through community based programs/hospitals, it doesn't seem to me that there would be adequate time to really earn the right to counsel and educate a woman before her birth. To what degree do you feel that you are able to be successful in these endeavors? In asking the question, I see that "successful" needs to be defined for each of us, doesn't it? (grin) My definition would probably include some idea that there was movement (an increase in) the mother's valuing or becoming attached to her new baby because of the process of the birth itself.

Could you ladies please give your opinions as to whether or not this type of a goal can be accomplished while servicing women that you have not been able to develop a relationship with ahead of time? Thank you so much.

dorothyh · 05-07-2010, 06:38 AM

There is definitly value in having a doula, even if the client doesn't meet her until labor.

That being said, it is easier when you have had the opportunity to meet the client ahead of time. But I think having a doula, even one the client doesn't meet until labor, has teh benefit of overall having the client more satisfied with her birth experience, which I think would lead to increased mother/baby bonding.

consider the lily · 05-08-2010, 11:42 PM

Thank you, Dorothy. So basically, even if the mother and doula do not have a history through which to bond, the mother and child will still have a better chance at bonding by having a doula present.

DoulaMegz · 05-09-2010, 07:21 AM

Frankly, through the program I work with, there's plenty of time to establish a trusting relationship, even with the high social risk population I work with. We are required to do 4 to 5 prenatal appointments with each of our moms (each an hour or more, usually more), and 2 postpartum appointments after the birth. Is there still a trust barrier? Yes, usually, but they do come to respect your opinion most of the time and learn that you are trying to help them to be stronger as mothers and as women. Many of our moms surprise even us with their dedication to birthing strongly and safely. We have the highest breastfeeding rates in the state, and it's no small feat, these women are on average, 300% below the poverty line; many are survivors of trauma, abuse, sexual abuse, and more; and most have to return to work at or before 6 weeks. We are able to equip them with the strength to believe in themselves, then learn the value of themselves. They become strong and competent mothers.

doulajamie · 07-06-2010, 11:14 PM

I work in substance abuse treatment. We have some moms who enter the program in their first trimester and some who enter a few days before delivery. If they enter early, we have a chance to educate and build relationships through childbirth education classes, prenatal home visits, and attending OB visits with them. In some cases, we have connected with the mom at the birth. Our population is mostly homeless, high school education or less, single, and addicted...which makes them "vulnerable". In the focus groups for the first year participants in the program, bonding was a huge topic of discussion. The nurturing given by the doula provided a blueprint for nurturing the baby. 70% of our moms initiated breastfeeding, which is incredible since when I started two years ago, no one on staff could remember a client breastfeeding (now if I could just get that sustained number up!!) I think it is a do-able goal!!!

If I were starting from scratch for a community based doula program, I would a) require some type of committment/action from the mother, and b) I would offer incentives for participation. I think that while a financial contribution may not be needed, there should be a committment to participating in the program and gaining information about birth. Incentives would encourage this participation for a culture that thinks in terms of "what's in it for me?".