Tag: Virtual Support

World Doula Week 2021

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World Doula Week has been productive!

*Porch meeting with new client to drop off my packet of information we’ll cover at our prenatal meetings. So nice to meet this couple in person as we’ll be conducting our prenatal visits virtually.

*Prenatal visit with client to review my childbirth education materials and begin to develop their birth plan.

*Driveway visit with past client who is moving out of state to bid farewell. I cherish the relationships I develop with clients and appreciate the honor of being welcomed into their lives at a sacred time.

*Attended a DONA International Mood Disorder workshop. Being aware and informed about postpartum depression and anxiety and knowing how I can better help clients is important to me.

*Met with the Milwaukee BOMB doulas to learn more about the valuable work they are doing to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in our city.

*Conducted two initial conversations with potential clients seeking virtual doula support.

*Supported a recent client to get them through some breastfeeding challenges of the early weeks. This is part of my standard birth doula service.

*Attended the DONA International Regional Meeting where I connected with other Wisconsin doulas and learned about what DONA is doing to shift to using inclusive language and lots more to lead the birth world in serving birthing families.

*Read Welcome To Fatherhood: The Modern Man’s Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Fatherhood by David Arrell.

*Awaiting call from client with expected due date of April 1st to support them through their labor and birth.

*Giving thanks for the opportunity to do the sacred work of supporting families during this special time of their lives. I love being a doula!!

*Celebrated an early Easter with my immediate family in person. The reason I adhere to the strictest protocols on safety with COVID-19 is so I can be with the people I love the most.

*Oh! and was filmed to be in a movie! Actually, my hand was filmed writing a paragraph in cursive Italian for a movie about Nuvolari, an Italian race car driver.

No two weeks are ever the same as a doula. That’s what I like about this work, there is always more to learn, more people to connect with, and more to do to make for better birth on earth. NOW THAT’S A PRETTY GOOD WEEK!

  • Delivering packet to client
  • Prenatal visit materials
  • Virtual Doula Support
    Staying connected and in the room
  • Celebrating with family
  • My movie debut
Virtual Doula Support

Doula support in the time of social distancing

Published on by joannbishopdoulaLeave a comment

Babies continue to be born despite the happenings in the world around us including a worldwide pandemic. The social distancing requirements to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 impacts our ability to be physically close to one another. This however, does not mean that we cannot be virtually close and continue to be connected and share conversation, information and support. With creativity and flexibility, you can still have the invaluable support of a professional certified doula near you.

As a birth doula, I know now, more than ever, it is critical to have the continuous support of a qualified and experienced birth doula beside you. Anxiety levels are heightened right now because of the uncertainty around us. The added concerns over the new regulations and fear from the unknown from the COVID-19 create higher stress levels in the mother. Most hospitals have limited the number of people who can be present in labor and delivery to one which is most often the husband or partner of the laboring woman. But as your doula, I can still be present to you via the excellent technology available to us today. I will work harder than ever to keep you empowered and feeling safe throughout the process of labor and birth.

We develop a plan together of how we will communicate when you are laboring at home and at the hospital; this may be FaceTime or Google Hangout. Having a long extension cord and charging cord for your device will give you flexibility in where you place your phone or iPad. A stand or means to prop your phone or iPad is also helpful. I can still be near you, see you and give suggestions on position changes and comfort measures. We can discuss any options presented to you during labor and make sure you are using informed consent and have the information you need. I can still coach the partner in ways to comfort and support you. Postpartum, I will encourage you to do skin-to-skin with your newborn and give advice on baby latching and nursing. The information you desired and wanted will still be there for you. You are not alone in this. Your doula can help you and support you despite not being physically in the room. We’ll get through this together.