Guest - Both Hands Doula Care

What is a Doula?

I am absolutely thrilled to have a guest on this week’s blog! Chelsey of Both Hands Doula Care here in Kamloops B.C. She is a Full-Spectrum Birth and Postpartum Doula with a focus on postpartum support. She also has experience with emotional and physical birth trauma and postpartum mood disorders. 

I got to ask her a couple questions and we talked about how our missions are very similar. We both strive to support and empower families in a non-judgmental, inclusive way. She is a very compassionate, caring, and dedicated person and I’m so happy I am able to share her with you. Here is our question/answer session for you, if you have any questions please feel free to leave them in the comments or message myself or Chelsey!   

How has your journey brought you to being a Doula and what for you, is at the core of being a Doula?

My journey to becoming a Doula began with my own birth story. I had a difficult pregnancy which led to a traumatic birth and subsequently I experienced fairly significant postpartum mood disorder. 

I feel that if I had prepared for my postpartum journey and if my husband and I had the support of a skilled postpartum companion that my experience may have been different. I’d like to be that port in the storm for other new parents. 

What can a family expect from their Doula?

A birth Doula provides non-medical support throughout pregnancy, birth and the immediate postpartum. This can be in the form of birth planning, information sharing, providing community resources leading up to birth. 

During labor and delivery, the Doula is there to maintain a calm environment, provide physical and emotional support, help with positioning for optimal delivery, advocate for and empower the birthing person, and to work in tandem with the birth partner. Doulas also support surgical births! In the immediate Postpartum, Doulas continue to provide comfort care, assist with breastfeeding/latching and to debrief with the birthing person (and partner, if applicable). 

• Some areas of Postpartum care are:

- meal preparation: Wholesome, recovery-focused broths, snacks and meal preparation for the new family

- laundry: The amount of laundry a newborn creates is a sight to behold. Babe’s laundry is washed, folded and put away

- light household cleaning: Clutter can be very triggering for a postpartum parent. Light household duties such as kitchen and bathroom cleaning, tidying of living room and nursery, dishwasher loading/unloading, and garbage removal can all be taken care of for you

- nursing support and encouragement, if this is how you choose to feed babe

- physical recovery: An herbal sitz bath prepared for you, a warm cup of tea, and a freshly made bed to return to… heaven!

- newborn bathing and diapering tips

- sleep support: Sometimes all you need is someone to hold babe for 4 hours while you get some much needed rest

- support and education for partner: This is totally new for the non-birthing parent too. Let us help you adjust to this new world of parenthood and partnership

- 24/7 phone, text and email support

What are a couple of misconceptions that you'd like to clear up?

1) That Doulas only support home births. This is totally not true! I personally support and advocate for the birth that the birthing person wants. Be it at home, in hospital, a vaginal delivery, cesarean... I support all births and all types of families. My practice is full spectrum and inclusive. 

2) that Doulas are midwives. Doulas are traditional birth attendants, support persons, and companions. We don’t catch babies or provide medical care. Midwives are skilled and regulated health professionals who provide maternity care for healthy birthing people and their babies. 

3) that Postpartum Doulas are “baby nurses”, or nannies. Although as a Postpartum Doula I’m focused on everyone’s care and recovery, this does not mean I’m there to babysit older siblings or walk the dog. 

What is something special that you have learned or something that has touched your heart through your experiences as a Doula?

How absolutely sacred the fourth trimester is. This time is imperative to parent/child bonding, as well as physical and emotional recovery. Birth is transformative, and as we have birthed our babes, we also are reborn as mothers and fathers. Our culture is not supportive to Postpartum recovery and it’s my goal to help shift the narrative on that. 

Thanks again to Chelsey for describing what a Doula is and how she provides support to families. I am so happy that we have such caring, supportive systems like her available to soon-to-be and new families here in Kamloops. Even if you aren’t expecting, she’s a great resource if you have questions or just want to know more, so don’t be shy and reach out. Here is her contact info and where you can find her! Thank you again Chelsey.

Instagram @both_hands_doula

Website www.bothhandsdoula.com