Top 3 Ways Your Doula Supports You, Even At A Distance
Now that social distancing has become a way of life, and doula support has become virtual, you may be thinking of changing your plans to hire a postpartum doula.
You might be thinking, “How will she help us if she can’t feed or settle the baby, or assist with household chores?”
A doula provides three types of support:
Physical support
Emotional support
Educational support
COVID has only taken away 1 of 3 – we’ve still got you!
Skeptical? Read on!
1 - Skip the Google Search Rabbit Hole
For most of us, our go-to in an unknown situation is a Google search.
But sometimes when searching for information about what’s “normal” for a newborn, or for a body recovering from birth, reading through search results can cause an avalanche of anxiety. And many even create even more questions!
When you’ve hired a doula, you have access to a simple work-around – text, call, email, or video chat her!
She’s an expert on this season of life for both you, and your baby. She will answer the question you started with, and provide answers to all your follow-up questions, too.
And she’s got another amazing benefit to offer…
2 - Your Very Own Professional Matchmaker
When you ask your doula a question, she may let you know that what you’re experiencing could be outside the scope of normal. Don’t worry, she’s not bowing out!
She knows the limits of her own knowledge and expertise, so she prepared ahead of time to be your professional matchmaker and refer you to the right kind of specialized provider who is qualified to help.
Your doula is constantly networking and collaborating in your local community, and will link you up with providers she thinks would be a good fit for your personality and parenting style. You can skip the stress of posting to multiple mom groups online, or searching through lists of providers from your health insurance website, and start with a short list of pre-screened professionals to reach out to.
And through this whole scenario, your doula’s most amazing superpower has been hiding in plain sight.
3 - Being Heard is Beautiful
When you contact your doula about baby’s weird skin or unusual crying, or your own unruly bodily functions post-birth, you might not notice what she doesn’t do.
She doesn’t immediately respond with, “Oh yeah, my baby did just that, plus…” or “If you think that’s weird, let me tell you what happened to me!”
Unlike others you might go to for support, your doula’s own personal experiences are far from her thoughts as she listens. Her focus is solely on what you are sharing with her.
She will pause, and wait for you to tell her more.
If she has answered several questions about your baby, she will offer gentle questions about your emotions and physical well-being.
She never loses sight of the importance of your recovery after giving birth.
If you can’t see all the parenting wins and learning you have accomplished, she will point them out, and celebrate them with you.
She is an expert in supporting you and your baby in your transition to life after birth.
All of that, and she hasn’t stepped foot in your home.
Have we changed your mind about the benefits virtual postpartum doula support can offer?
Let’s talk! We can’t wait to learn more about how we can support you and your family!
