What is a Doula?
INTERVIEW WITH BIRTH DOULA, SYLVIA SCARLETT!
I couldn’t let world doula week pass us by without introducing you to one of the sweetest doulas in the area. Prior to having my daughter 5 years ago, the word doula never even popped up. I thought I had did all the research there was when it came to preparing for my first pregnancy and birth and yet found it surprising no one had ever suggested I look into hiring a doula.
There are still people today I meet that don’t know what a doula is or they feel like they don’t need one… I’m here to say that I truly believe MOST families can benefit from having a doula present during their pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey.
and YES even if this is baby #5!!
When my daughter was about a year and a half, I was introduced to the sweetest local doula who not only introduced me to the birth photography world but has since been a pillar in our area for birth advocacy and motherhood support.
I want you all to meet Sylvia, Birth Doula and founder of Sacred & Surrendered Births, a Doula Collective.
Sylvia and her team have the passion of serving pregnant and birthing women well with dignity and grace! Having all experienced wonderful births experiences, they want to share a little of the birth magic with YOU! Whether you’re birthing at home or hospital, their team offers personalized prenatal, birthing, postpartum and breastfeeding support. Sylvia was so kind to take a moment and answer some of the FAQ’s mamas may have when it comes to hiring a birth doula.
BUT first….
What is a Doula?!!
DONA (Doulas of North America) a doula is a “a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their client before, during and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.”
Evidence based birth says: According to Dr. Christine Morton, author of the book Birth Ambassadors, a birth doula is a companion who supports a birthing person during labor and birth. Birth doulas are trained to provide continuous, one-on-one care, as well as information, physical support, and emotional support to birthing persons and their partners.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
- What does my time with a doula look like?
“Your time with a doula should feel like you’ve found “your person,” in my opinion. I and my team strive to ensure the basic needs of support are met while also making ourselves available for personal connection. This is a vacillating journey where all women deserve the opportunity to find connection with someone else who absolutely gets it and just so happens to be really great at guiding families through childbirth. “
- What type of training do doulas receive? Are they certified?
“Most all doulas attend a certification workshop, but not all doulas get certified. Depending on the organization utilized for training, the hoops in which you have to jump through can make certification secondary to the actual work of being a doula. Not all good doulas are certified. Not all certified doulas are the best. I personally chose not to subscribe to certification, as it felt merely like a membership than an asset to my business. Instead my team and I took extra training through Spinning Babies so we were better informed on the physiological aspects of childbirth- understanding the why behind the why of safe, vaginal birthing. “
- Are doulas for just hospital births? Just home births?
“I love this question and get it all the time. Not at all! Doulas are for birthing women who desire an above average birthing experience. The primary focus of most OBs, nurses, and midwives is the health and wellness of mother and baby. Your doula fills in all the many support and education gaps in between pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. “
- How can hiring a doula benefit my birth? OR Why do you feel like doulas are soo effective?
“Statistically speaking, you’re less likely to have a non-emergency related cesarean birth and experience a more positive experience. I feel that the support and care my team and I offer our doula families brings such positivity because our sole focus is your comfort and well-being. While we will likely swoon over your new baby the moment he/she is born, we’re about the mamas. 100%. So the moment we step into your sacred, birthing space our every thought and desire revolves around you, your comfort, and so much more! You can’t necessarily say the same for a midwife or OB making rounds to other families on the L&D floor or even at a birthing center.”
- Can my doula still help me if I choose to have a medicated birth?
“Absolutely! Extra hands never hurt nobody haha! Esther, Jen, and I believe that having us as your birth support is warranted even more if/when mamas opt for a medicated birth, whether planned or last minute decision. Freebie birth tip: you want to stay moving despite an epidural making you more imobile so that the cardinal movements baby must make during birth are done with ease. Also, we love to reassure our birth clients that utilizing an epidural is simply taking a tool out of “birth, tool kit.” It can sometimes be one of your best tools considering certain birthing circumstances.”
What sets them apart from your medical providers?
“Our aim is to come alongside you in labor to stand in the gap where standard prenatal care meets empowered, informed birth advocacy. Specializing in guiding moms and dads to find balance between the physical and spiritual components of labor to aid in the positive birth experiences while also honing in on the physiological aspects of birth. It’s more than dilation and pushing, Mamas!
We would love the opportunity to serve you and your family in this most exciting and intimate time. You are not alone!”
Where can you connect with Sylvia and her team?
Website: https://www.sacredandsurrenderedbirths.com/ Social: https://www.instagram.com/sylviascarlettbirthdoula/
