Labour of Love

Last week they did a short segment on Doulas on the Today Show. I missed the show, but was able to see the segment tonight online. I was both pleased and discouraged by the way doulas were portrayed on the show, we were labeled as "a luxury most women cannot afford".

The doula and client that they interviewed for the show were wonderful and gave a really positive review on doula services, I was encouraged by that. Then they went on to interview a doctor from the States who was very hostile towards doulas and stated that doulas are actually 'banned' by the hospital she works at...WOW. They must have had some really horrible experiences with doulas to go to those lengths to avoid having to work with them...SAD and very frustrating to me. This OB mentioned that doulas can make delivery rooms a hostile place and can actually endanger the lives of babies if they counter the information that the doc has given to the client. If these said doulas were certified, this should never have been an issue. As a CAPPA certified labour doula, I sign a code of conduct in order to be certified that I agree to "not say anything to undermine a client's confidence in her caregiver" and also that I am "not permitted to give medical advice". If I work outside of those boundaries then I am held responsible and can lose my certification. Now, if the doulas in this case were NOT certified then they can tell their clients whatever they want and I can definitely see where that can be a problem.

To me a doula's job is truly a labour of love. With my clients I read over non-biased information about medications and interventions from published books and studies, before their labour begins so that once they are in the delivery room, they are equipped with all of the information they need to make an informed decision. I have personally experienced and instance where a client had been lied to by hospital staff who are trying to convince her to make a certain choice, but I chose not to take the opportunity to speak against that in the delivery room when it happened. My client was well-aware that she was being mis-informed on how the medication could affect her and her baby, because we had reviewed the research on that medication, so it was not my place to stand up and start a fight. I also make sure clients know that I will not speak FOR them to their medical staff. I teach them what kinds of questions to ask so that they can gather all of the information necessary to make informed choices, but I want them to be active participants and be responsible for their own births...that's my job. It is not my job to 'run the show' or try to convince them to make the decisions in their birth that I would choose for myself.

As a quiet-natured person (at least I think I am ;), I speak very little when a woman is in labour. My hands are my greatest tools when I am supporting a couple. I am amazed by how God has blessed me with the ability to 'tune in' to my clients and to be able to know what they need and what may help them during their labour. I'm not saying I'm perfect, often on the long drive home from a birth I am going over in my mind whether there was something I could have done differently; better, but on the whole I think I'm able to quietly support these couples through their labours. As I wait for my next client to deliver I am well aware of the fact that the nurses and doc may be 'defensive' when I they find out that I am a doula, but I trust that my quiet way will ease their worries as the labour goes on. There are many times when I have felt the tension in the room when I've first introduced myself to a nurse, but I've never left after a birth where that tension has remained. I am not on the 'other team' from the nurses and doc, we are all wanting the same outcome for that couple: the safest, and most beautiful experience possible. When we all realize this and work together it's such a beautiful thing. I just kinda wish I didn't have to go through that awkward stage each time and I absolutely love when I work at small hospitals like Goderich and Clinton where the nurses all know me and the 'team' atmosphere is there right from the start. As a person who does NOT like conflict this is just a little part of the job that is tough for me...the rest is just following my heart.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27808452/ Here is the article from the show, it was very nicely written and gives a much better glimpse of what doulas are really about.

Here's hoping for some beautiful births coming up (and some great nurses :)

Mel