Doulas and covid and policy, Oh my!
This past year has felt like we are living in a movie. We are Dorothy from Wizard of Oz, up in the air spinning in the eye of a tornado. We are juggling so many things at once and trying to navigate our way through birth, babies and motherhood, just to name a few. Then it all comes crashing down in a place that we don’t recognize with a ton of munchkins running around. All the rules have changed.
We have all given up so many things. Baby showers, weddings, funerals, birthdays and more. Every profession has had to continue to change the way they operate and it has not been easy. We all need as much support as we can get and that should be standard with a huge life changing moment like childbirth.
How do we navigate through this? How can you have the support you desire for your birth, postpartum and beyond?
You may not be able to follow the yellow brick road if it doesn’t give you the support or options you want. Here are a couple ways you can help advocate for doula support.
1- Talk to your primary maternal care provider often and early on in your pregnancy about your desire to have a doula support during childbirth. Print off and bring evidence-based information about the benefit of having doula support and discuss it with them.
2- Make yourself familiar with your provincial health guidelines. Alberta Health Services has made specific exceptions for maternity patients. As of Dec 2, 2020 the guidelines state, “To meet the care needs of some birthing circumstances, an additional designated support person may be considered by the unit manager/charge nurse if space is conducive to maintaining physical distancing requirements.” That’s right, your doctor is not the one who is giving permission for doula support in the hospital.
3- Call the Labour and Delivery unit in your hospital and ask to speak with the charge nurse specifically. Let them know you are planning on having a doula for support “according to your birth plan.” Ask them if they can add the name of the doula to your file and if they need any information from them to be allowed admittance.
4- Have a birth plan and specifically state you would like the support of a doula to be in attendance at your birth.
Birthing families go through a lot to prepare for the arrival of a new child. If doula support is important to you, I am ready to walk along side you and help advocate for your voice to be heard. If you can get a message, a haircut and go to the mall why can’t you have a doula?
“There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.” – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Roots to Fruits! ;) Kristine