Vol 11 Issue 4
FOCUS ON: Doulas and re-imagining birth
IN THIS ISSUE:
- The European Doula Network
- ‘Multicultural’ doulas in Norway
- A doula in Belgium
- The evolution of Red Tent Doulas
- The importance of birth doula training
- Peanut balls during labour
- Making Birth Better organisation
Author: Mary Nolan
Author title: IJBPE Editor; Emerita Professor of Perinatal Education, University of Worcester, UK
Description: Mary Nolan, IJBPE Editor, describes the challengers faced in Midwifery and the emergence of doulas as a choice by women to counter the failures in maternity services.
Author: Fungisai Gwanzura Ottemöller
Author title: Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Norway
Description: Immigrant women in Norway have high fertility rates and are responsible for between a quarter to a third of all births. Women who have migrated as refugees or asylum seekers are at higher risk and have poorer outcomes, before, during and after birth due to the lack of knowledge about their pre-migration birth outcomes and the lack of cultural competence in the maternal health services. The ‘multicultural’ doula program was implemented to help provide equitable health services for these women. In this article, I share my journey to becoming a doula, and from my perspective and experiences as a doula and a migration researcher, I discuss the role of the ‘multicultural’ doulas and the power dynamics around how the program is run.
Author: Nicola Mahdiyyah Goodall
Author title: Doula, Doula Trainer, Co-Founder of Red Tent Doulas, Director of Wysewomen Publishing
Description: Nicola Mahdiyyah Goodall describes the evolution of the Red Tent doulas from a community and sisterhood to the ‘new’ role of a doula
Author: Debbie Young, Amy Nevland
Author title:
Debbie Young, President, International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA), USA
Amy Nevland, ICEA Director of Education
Description: Throughout history, women have customarily been surrounded by other women during their time of labour, birth, and the vital first few months of the postpartum period. The support a woman needed came from a mother, sister, or neighbour who offered assistance and encouragement. In addition to familial support, there was likely a woman trained in birth, like a midwife, in attendance. Debbie Young and Amy Nevland of ICEA explore the emergence, training and certification of doulas.
Author: Debbie Mitchell
Author title: European Doula Network, Core Organiser
Description: The European Doula Network (EDN) has grown significantly since its humble beginnings around kitchen tables some twenty years ago and now represents approximately 5,000 doulas who provide non-medical support during childbirth and other life transitions. Doulas play a crucial role in offering emotional and informational support to the Mother-Baby dyad and to people in minority groups and marginalised communities who may encounter difficulties receiving much needed holistic care. The Network is dedicated to raising awareness about the positive impact of doula care, promoting the inclusion of doulas in healthcare settings and advocating for doulas facing professional challenges. The EDN regularly conducts research to better understand the evolving needs of doulas and their clients, ensuring continuous improvement in doula practices. The Network’s annual meetings and many initiatives provide opportunities for doulas to connect, share experiences, and support each other, enhancing the community spirit that is central to our work.
Author: Trudi Webber
Author title: Make Birth Better Training Lead
Description: From a single social media post to an influential, established name in the birth world: this is the story of the foundation of Make Birth Better, a Community Interest Company in 2018. Since then, it has evolved into a robust network of thousands of parents and professionals dedicated to ending suffering from birth trauma through support, training and campaigning. Quote: “We believe we cannot understand birth trauma unless we look at the impact trauma has on the wider system”.
Author: Wendy Proctor
Author title: Midwife at North Bristol NHS TRUST UK, UK; Authorised Peanut Ball Trainer with Premier Birth Tools
Description: Midwife Wendy Proctor shares the advantages of using a peanut ball during labour. As educators in prenatal care, it is crucial that we impart evidence-based knowledge to empower parents and ensure they have the best possible birthing experience. When discussing childbirth, we delve into the specifics of different birthing positions and we can also inform them about how the use of a peanut ball may help prevent intervention in case their labour progresses slowly.
Author: Dr Jonathan Sher
Author title: IJBPE Contributing Editor and Founding Partner of Scotland’s Coalition for Healthier Pregnancies, Better Lives (while the former Deputy Director of the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland
Description: Dr Sher explores the accessibility of preconception and interconception messages in the Netflix drama Dr Stork
