By Ifetayo White
Ifetayo White
As a working doula, being PRESENT was the greatest gift that I brought to either the prenatal, birth, or postpartum stage of a family’s experience.
Would it make a difference or would it have made a difference for you during your pregnancy if there were a skilled woman who engaged with you for several visits during your pregnancy to create a relationship with you, to deeply listen to you and your partner’s needs and desires for the birth of your child, and shared wisdom about the birth experience and simple measures for comfort and support? And how would it feel or have felt to have this woman present with you without interruption from early in your labor until a while after your baby’s birth… tuning in to you, supporting you, and advocating for your wishes at birthing while providing emotional and physical comfort, and bringing an energy of calm presence to the birthing space?
What difference would it make for you or have made for you if there were a woman who would visit your home for a time after the birth of your baby and be present to hear what you needed? A woman who would care for the baby and other children so you have time to sleep and rest, and who would share wisdom about taking care of your body, mind, and feelings during your postpartum stage, as well as share tips for caring for your newborn baby?
This woman would be present as your birth or postpartum doula!
Perhaps the word doula is not even familiar to you, or you have no knowledge of what her role is. A doula is a person, usually a woman, who provides a range of non-medical support to a pregnant woman and her partner prenatally, during birth, and postpartum. And, I believe, whose greatest support is by being present to you and helping you stay as present as possible with what’s happening during those three stages.
Once engaged by a family or pregnant mom, a birth doula immediately begins to form a bond and trusting relationship with the mother and partner, spending time getting to know as much as she can about the family and the mom’s health, prior birth experiences, and wishes for the current birth. If requested, she can also be present at prenatal appointments. If necessary, she can educate the family about the stages of birth, comfort and self-care measures, birth plans, and rituals to support their experiences. Her intention is always to be present so that the mother and partner feel safe, supported, and as prepared for the birth as possible. The birthing family and the doula will clearly outline in a written agreement the terms of support to be provided before, during and after the birth of their baby, and the cost of the service.
Depending on the terms they have agreed upon, she will arrive at the home of the family when she feels that her presence will support early labor. Or if agreed upon, she will meet the family at the hospital or birthing center or home, and provide continuous support until about an hour after the birth. Primarily, however, the doula will bring a calm, professional, caring presence to the birthing environment.
Usually, the doula services agreement will include one postpartum visit shortly after the birth to hear the mom’s experience of the birth and to suggest whatever immediate support would benefit her family. If desired by the family, she may also be engaged as a postpartum doula who will visit the new family in order to provide whatever support is agreed upon for the new mother and baby. Research tells us what many have long suspected…that those new parents who have support and feel secure and cared for after the birth of their baby are more successful in adapting than those who don’t. It has been observed that the level of postpartum depression and other mental health challenges goes down.
If we look at the history of childbirth in the world, we will discover that not until modern times were women separated from birthing environments where they were surrounded by otherwise experienced women. Now pregnancy and birth are considered, and continue to be considered, medical conditions requiring specialists and, often, highly technical surveillance and interventions.
A serious question has been raised often in the news lately. Why does the number of maternal and infant deaths during birth and the first-year post birth continue to rise in the U.S., a country with the most technically advanced medical system in the world? Why do the numbers of pregnancy-related deaths, especially of black and brown women, continue to be out-of-proportion to those of white women? Why do less developed countries have better birth outcomes than the U.S? What can make a difference?
According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), the number of pregnancy-related deaths in South Carolina has been increasing in recent years. The state’s Pregnancy-Related Mortality Rate for 2021 was 47.2 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births, with the majority occurring in the postpartum period. South Carolina ranks 8th highest for maternal mortality in the United States. In SC, the mortality rate for pregnant or postpartum non-Hispanic Black women is nearly twice the rate for non-Hispanic White women.
The top 3 leading causes of maternal deaths from 2018 to 2021 in SC:
- Infections
- Mental Health Conditions/Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
- Embolism
Almost 90% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. The Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Maternal and Child Health is supporting the Center for Disease Control’s Hear Her Campaign to educate women, families, and health care professionals about the warning signs for life-threatening complications associated with pregnancy.
It has been well documented that positive birth and postpartum outcomes for women and infants are higher when there has been either a midwife or doula present at the birth, and ongoing support is available for at least a year after birth.
I am sure that the doula presence is a gift that makes a marked difference to the healthy beginning of life for babies and mothers.
Ifetayo White is an Elder Doula and Postpartum Doula Teacher at Choices Birthing and Wellness Support. She is also a Reiki Master Teacher and founding Director of The Lowcountry School of Reiki at Neesa’s Home. She is in love with her life and enjoys being a mom and grandmother, walking at the beach, and playing with friends. Her book, Reiki Heart and Soul; Many Stories, One Bright Light is available locally at Penn Center and Zen Den.
