I was fortunate enough to have the support of my mother and mother-in-law when I brought each of my own babies home. The knowledge they passed on and their tremendous emotional and logistical support made my transition to motherhood dramatically easier and more successful.
When my grandson came into this world 6 1/2 weeks early, my son and daughter-in-law had no family close by. They lived in Washington and we were 1000 miles away. I saw how difficult it was for them and I visited as often as possible. I gave them support and help which was wonderful when I was there, but I was never there long enough. My daughter-in-law was wise enough to hire a postpartum doula and I saw what a difference it made for both her and my son.
It was after the birth of my grandson that I realized I had found my passion. Nothing gave me more pleasure than providing help and a non-judgmental ear and seeing what a difference that made in the home environment.
My goal is to reduce the stress that every new mother feels as she deals with issues for the first time. For couples who live far from family and other support, the doula can help fill the role of supportive mother and/or mother-in-law and ease the transition into their new family life. Some modern women think they can do it all with the help of a book or the internet, but in many cases, something or someone suffers. It might be the health of the mom, the relationship with her spouse or partner, or the increased stress the baby senses when mom is overtired and physically exhausted. My role as a postpartum doula is to validate the new mother’s knowledge and instincts and to serve as a support system allowing the new mother to regain the strength she needs to take care of her baby, herself and her spouse/partner.