Doula Jane Stevens
Interview with Jane Stevens, Postnatal Doula offering support to new mothers during baby's early days. Jane has lived on the Costa Tropical for five years, and travels extensively with her work, supporting mums both in the UK and overseas.
Could you define for our readers the definition of a doula and the services a doula offers women?
"Doula" (pronounced "doola") is a Greek word meaning "woman servant" or "caregiver". It refers to an experienced woman who offers emotional and practical support to a woman before, during and after childbirth. In the United States, many mothers have employed doulas during the last twenty years, and with financial cuts affecting more and more hospitals in both the UK and overseas, many mothers living in other parts of the world are now doing the same. Some mothers are looking for support when they give birth, and others are seeking help when they leave hospital with their new baby. Both of these are really important for ex-pats, who often don't have the support of their family nearby.
What percentage of your clients are from the international community?
During the last six months I have worked with an English couple in Sussex, whose precious baby girl was born as a result of IVF treatment, an Australian couple living in Kent, whose second baby was born 7 weeks early - they also have a lively two year old son. I have also worked with a num from the Isle of Man, who has an Argentinian husband. They live on the Costa Tropical in Spain, and have a new baby girl and another daughter, who is two years old. I am currently working with a single mum, who is German, and lives in Andalucia. She is expecting her first baby very soon, and in December I will be working in London with another couple who are also expecting their first baby. Mum is Indonesian, and Dad is Italian.
Why do they choose to work with a doula?
Research has shown that an experienced doula can:
*Give you emotional and practical support.
*Decrease the chances of you suffering from postnatal depression.
*Increase the likelihood of you breastfeeding baby successfully.
*Support the bonding process between you and your baby.
*'Mother the mother' and help the rest of the family adapt to the arrival of baby.
A survey of mothers done 6 weeks after delivery also shows that a greater proportion of doula-supported women were continuing to breastfeed, and also they reported a greater self-esteem. They suffered from less depression and had a higher regard for their babies and their ability to care for them than mothers who did not enjoy this support. (For details regarding the source of the above research, kindly refer to my website http://www.doulaservice.webs.com)
How do people go about finding a doula, and how do they know if they are fully qualified?
I would begin by chatting with other mothers in your area, and by doing some research on the internet. When you find somebody you feel comfortable with, take time to meet them if possible, and chat with them, and tell them exactly the kind of support you are looking for. Ask them about their training and their work experience, and don't be afraid to ask them if you can take up references from their previous clients. Most important of all, make sure you feel relaxed with them. Check out their qualifications. I personally chose to train in the UK, since I felt a British qualification would be recognised wherever I was working, and I am happy to travel to work either in the UK or overseas. I am also a member of both Nurturing Birth, who I trained with, and Doula UK, and any potential clients can see my details on their websites to verify my credentials, and also see their Codes of Practice, which I adhere to. Some doulas have nursing backgrounds, but if they haven't ask them is they have done a First Aid Course. I've completed a Paediatric First Aid Course, which I believe offers clients more peace of mind, and I always offer parents the opportunity to chat to one of my former clients.
Are there any associations for doulas in Andalucia?
Not as far as I am aware.
When you first got involved in childbirth support, what did you aspire to provide for women and has this changed?
I've always loved babies, and as well as being a parent and grandparent, I've also spent a great deal of time helping friends out with their little ones in the past. This gave me an understanding of how important it is to support parents to develop their own style of parenting, rather than to try and impose my own ideas. When I undertook my formal training to become a doula I felt it was particularly important to learn as much as possible to enable me to support mothers on a practical level and to ensure that I had the answer to any questions that a new mum may have regarding the needs of her new baby. As I've spent more and more time with new parents, however, I've come to understand that it is probably even more important to spend time listening to Mums and supporting them emotionally, as it is to help them with a baby who is struggling to feed, or do a little ironing while they're taking a much needed rest! Hormones can play havoc, and a bit of reassurance that she's a great mother and is doing OK at a time when a new Mum is feeling overwhelmed by how much her life has changed, and she's wondering whether she will ever get a good night's sleep again, makes a world of difference! Also, if Mum is relaxed, baby is more likely to be relaxed, and that makes life easier for everyone!
What advice would you give to women from the International Community who are preparing to have a baby in Andalucia?
It seems to me that the level of maternity services varies from one hospital to another, and it is therefore really important that parents make informed decisions, to ensure that they have the support they feel suits them best at this important time. I would suggest chatting with local mums to see how they found the services offered at the hospital where they gave birth, and if they don't feel that this is what they are looking for, there is lots of information available on the internet these days. This can prove invaluable, and there are options out there, including of course employing a private midwife and / or a birth doula.
How do you feel about using pain medication during labour?
I feel that mothers should try and prepare themselves as much as possible for giving birth, and that if they do so, and they have the right support, very often this is not necessary. However, I also believe that we are fortunate to live in an age where there are a number of options open to mums seeking pain relief, and that everyone handles birth differently, and mothers should not hesitate to ask for this, if they need it.
What labour coping techniques do you like to use?
N/A. I only provide postnatal services.
What is your opinion of the pre- and post-birth services for women in Andalucia?
I think it's sad that there isn't more communication between doctors and mothers-to-be, and that there isn't more flexibility in the system. Fortunately lots of information can be found on the internet, and there are so many great books around now, so a new mother can educate herself, and if she doesn't feel comfortable with the support she is offered by her doctor, she should look elsewhere for this. There are a number of options open to parents these days, but it is important to start doing your research early, as some of the best professionals get booked well in advance. I believe that in Andalucia there is very little support for new mothers, and when ex-pats are far their extended family, this can be a challenging time, which is why I have chosen to do the work I do.
There has been concern about the number of Caesareans performed in Spain – do you think the concern is justified?
Yes, I do feel that the level is higher than it should be, but evidence shows that women who have the support of a doula when they give birth are less likely to need medical intervention.
What percentage of mothers opt for a natural and/or home births?
I believe that the percentage is less than 2% in Spain, but this is becoming increasingly popular, as mothers are becoming more aware of their options.
If a mother opts for a home birth do you deliver the baby or do you work alongside a midwife? If so do you have specific midwifes with whom you work?
I only do postnatal work, however birth doulas do not have any medical training, but work alongside a midwife or doctor, to offer mothers emotional support, and to ensure that they have someone with them who can concentrate solely on their needs during the entire duration of their labour and birth.
How do you help mothers after the birth? Do you feel there is adequate support for mothers in terms of caring for the baby and breastfeeding?
Judging by the comments I've received from new mothers in Spain, the support they receive is often inadequate, and if they don't have supportive families, this can be a problem.I have chosen to work solely as a postnatal doula, as I love working with babies, and I find this and "mothering the mother" after her baby has arrived, really rewarding. I normally live-in with a family when they bring their new baby home, and stay between two and six weeks with them, working five days a week during this time. I have a supportive, practical and non-judgemental approach, and my aim is to ensure that new mums have the most satisfying time that they can during those magical early days. I also try and support the whole family, so that they can relax and savour those magical newborn moments which can never be recaptured. There’s the first bath, the first outing with the pram, yawns, hiccups and teeny tiny sneezes… every day is filled with small moments to treasure! Unfortuantely, no matter how many books a mother may have read, babies are not textbook, and many new mums these days have never even held a baby, unlike in the past, when large extended familes were the norm. As a result, most need to be supported while they learn new skills, from mastering nappy-changing to introducing the foundations of a daily routine, at a pace that suits them. They need time to learn to recognise the needs of their baby, and how they express those needs (usually quite loudly!). Needless to say, this process takes twice as long if they’re trying to combine it with cooking, cleaning and entertaining, which is why I believe mothers should allow themselves a 'babymoon' period.The early weeks with your newborn are very special – a time of recovery, discovery and phenomenal exhaustion! Some cultures have a six-week lying-in period, where the family rallies round to care for the new mum. That might not be practical in our society, but with a bit of support and encouragement from someone who can offer both practical support, encouragement and a little guidance, when needed, those early weeks with a new baby can still be a very special time. It takes about six weeks to recover from the birth and get breastfeeding established, and overdoing things can take it's toll physically. Rushing through that period will leave mum exhausted, increasing the chance of problems from infections to postnatal depression. A quiet, relaxed 'babymoon' period will also benefit the newborn baby. The transition to the outside world is hard, so he also needs reassurance that the strange new world he enters when he leaves the womb is a safe place, where all his needs will be met.
For more information, please visit Jane´s website http://doulaservice.webs.com or call (+34) 680868692 (ES) or (+44) (0)7786 505697
