If you or a friend is expecting this year or next then please introduce them to MooBaaKids for useful information on our pregnancy and birth pages as well as classes and groups to join once they’re in the swing of it all!
One of the services on our page really piqued our interest – those of the doulas we list. Not knowing much about them and having never used one ourselves, we spoke to one local doula about her work and also got some great tips to share with you for both the birth and the first days and weeks at home.
Lisa Sykes, mother of Emily, Hebe and Sid, has worked as a doula for the past year – including with families from Skipton and the surrounding area. Pronounced ‘doola’, the word means caregiver in Greek and is the name given to a woman who gives emotional and practical support before, during or after childbirth.
Lisa said: “Giving birth can be the most wonderful experience and I see my role as a doula to prepare, inform and empower women and couples so that they can have a very positive experience and really relax and enjoy it.
“Like a lot of doulas, I came to the work after the births of my own children. My first was a very difficult birth and I realised I needed to come to the next ones better informed about my body and the birthing process.
“I realised that giving birth is not a one size fits all experience and worked out what I wanted as an individual and listened to myself much more. I had the most amazing experiences with my next two births and realised I wanted to support other people in reaching the same thing so decided to train as a doula.”
Doulas also offer post-natal care working flexible hours to suit the family, offering practical and emotional support to the new parents in the home following the birth. There is no formal training path as such but Lisa undertook an accredited course and is listed with the professional body, Doula UK – one of around 600 so listed in the UK.
Lisa added: “We work with women or the whole family at any stage they might contact us be it well in advance or a matter of weeks before their birth. We are not there in a clinical capacity but to offer research-based information along with our own experiences and give practical support to enable people to make their own informed choices. We hope to empower families so they can have the birth they want that’s right for their circumstances.” Lisa has worked with 17 families in the past 12 months and that increasing numbers of people are turning to doula services.
And it’s not just the preserve of the rich. “We have wealthy clients but equally those who are from socially deprived areas. We see all kinds of family units from the traditional to what might be described as very modern – basically anyone who recognises the value of objective and continuous individual support,” explained Lisa.
Lisa added: “You’ll find that doulas are not in it for the money. They are usually like me – aware of the huge privilege of their work. We really connect with the people we work with and invest a lot of our emotion and time into helping them as best we can. Our work never becomes routine. Without fail I am amazed and delighted at the work I do - at the miracle of the birth of a child.”
Lisa gave us some general advice about preparing for the birth of a baby:
* Ante-natal preparation is vital. Find out as much factual information as you can. Research your options whether you’re giving birth in a hospital, birth centre or at home. The ‘standard’ option is not always right for everyone so really think about what you want.
* Mental and physical preparation is so important. Consider relaxation, self-hypnosis and visualisation if you think it will help you and check out local pregnancy yoga or Lazy Daisy gentle movement for birth classes.
*There is an excellent Lazy Daisy group locally contact Email amanda@lazydaisybirthing.co.uk or visit www.thelazydaisychain.co.uk for details
*There are some free classes planned in Otley and Harrogate on 20 and 21st December – check out the MoobaaKids events page for details!
* Above all don’t be scared by other people’s stories or pre-conceived ideas. Believe that this can be a positive experience
because it really can be. Giving birth is a wonderful thing and it’s such a shame that people can let fear over-shadow and affect how they deal with it.
And some top tips following the birth of your baby:
* Don’t underestimate the importance of skin to skin contact. It’s vital for bonding with your baby. This close contact just as nature intended had numerous benefits including regulating the baby’s body temperature and getting you used to one another.
* Indulge yourself and your family. Enjoy the ‘babymoon’ as it’s such a special time. Really take the time do whatever suits you and your family and if this means time to yourself or sleeping and just being with your baby then do it!
* Enlist as much support as you can…be demanding! This is your time at home with the new addition to your family. Limit your visitors and ask that those who come bring you something nice be it a cake, Radox or your dinner for the evening! Or ask them to put the kettle on while they’re there. People love to help and offer support and are generally very pleased to be asked!
If you’re currently expecting we wish you all the very best with the rest of your pregnancy, birth of your baby and the early days.
A recent Cochrane review that involved over 15 thousand women concluded that having continuous support of a doula reduced risks in child birth. Women who have a doula are shown to have shorter labours, are less likely to feel that they need pain relief, less likely to have a forceps or c section delivery, were less likely to feel negatively about their birth experiences.
If you’d like more information then please visit www.doula.org.uk or for information about Lisa’s services then visit http://www.everyday-miracle.co.uk/
