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DOULAS EASE MATERNITY CRISIS
More doulas in hospitals and homes would help ease the current crisis in maternity care, according to Jean Birtles, director of Britain's only national doula agency,
Top Notch Doulas."Because midwives and maternity services are overstretched, mothers are losing out on the support they need during and after childbirth.," says Jean. "Midwives are having a terrible time. They're being forced to concentrate only on the absolute necessities, because there aren't enough of them to go around. This means they can't give the comfort and support they'd like to give to new mothers."
Doulas, who are not medically trained but are trained in social and psychological support, can fill this gap. Doulas are women who have been mothers themselves and who can help other mothers by providing comfort, support and confidence in the birthing room and by providing physical, emotional and social support after birth.
Doulas are like surrogate mothers or sisters who can help with breastfeeding, help train mothers in the care of their newborn, do a bit of cleaning or just hold a mother's hand and calm her fears. In short, doulas exist to mother mothers.
To help cope with the increasing demand for doulas in hospitals and private homes,
British Doulas is running four new courses for would-be doulas in May, June, October and November this year. The course includes information and training in physical and psychological changes in pregnancy, alternative pain relief, massage for the labouring mother, family support, reactions to motherhood, post-natal depression, baby feeding and nutrition for mother and baby. There will also be a visit from a working doula."Hardly a day goes by without yet another report or survey showing how little support there is for new mothers," says Jean Birtles. "Midwives are doing a wonderful job against incredible odds and we want to help ease their burden as well as giving mothers the comfort and support they need and deserve."
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