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A Day in the life of a Doula

24 July 2019 by Birth in Holland Leave a Comment

Two repeat clients in one day!

It’s a weird life, this doula-ing. Generally my workdays are filled with driving to an intake, a birth preparation meeting, giving an occasional massage or giving a private yoga course. But the rest of my workdays are actually not typical workdays. I live my life with my family while working! We go out to diner while working or I go to the sauna while working and sleep in my own bed while working.

24/7 on call!

How can that be? Well, I’m constantly on call. Wherever I go, I take my phone and if I go further from home than an hour drive I even take my doula-bag with me. That’s because you cannot plan birth.

Recently I had a wonderful full day of loving my work and a perfect example of how crazy and unexpected, yet wonderful, my life as a doula is. I had my three year old running up to me to wake me up at 6.00 in the morning, as she does often. Then I got up, did some yoga and had breakfast with my three children. During breakfast I texted my client to check what time she’d be going to the hospital for the induction that was scheduled for that day. I let the babysitter know what time I’d be needing her to watch the children and continued to clear the table while the kids got in the bathtub. I took a quick shower, because you never know how long you’ll be gone for a birth and packed my lunch and healthy snacks (watching what I eat because frequent midnight snacks and sugars at birth don’t agree with my waistline.) My clients let me know the hospital was not in a hurry to start the induction and I still had time.

So I played boardgames with my children for a while and then an uneasy feeling that maybe my clients would be needing me soon at the hospital, made me ask my babysitter to come anyway. She arrived at 11.00 and within 5 minutes I got a call it might be nice if I came to the hospital.

Birth number ONE

At the hospital I met my clients and after a bit of talking did a foot massage with pressure points to help the contractions to get going. After two hours we discussed that maybe some privacy might help move things along and I had some time to catch up on chit chat with the midwife and the father. When we got back to the room things progressed quickly. Seeing as this was a repeat client I knew quickly how to comfort her pain with some counter pressure and I watched as this strong woman gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl.

As the, once again, new parents were meeting their baby I took pictures and comforted the emotional father, who was deeply impressed with the intensity of birth. After the placenta was born the parents slowly settled into watching and cuddling their precious girl. After the baby had her first feed, she was checked, dressed and had time cuddling with dad. She was soon ready for another feed so I said my goodbyes, promising to meet them the next morning to take pictures of the two big brothers meeting their sister for the first time. I cycled the 5 min ride home from the hospital somewhere past dinnertime, content after a lovely workday.

As I locked my bike, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I was too late to pick up so I listened to the voicemail while walking into my home. It was another client who had been having some mild contractions the past hour and with the intensity now increasing she would like me to come. So I had the chance to kiss all my kids goodnight, say hi and bye to my husband who had just come home and grab a sandwich.

Birth number TWO

Then back on my bike, because this client lived close by and I was on my way. The door was unlocked so I wouldn’t disturb the two boys who were sound asleep and like a ninja I made my way past their bedrooms to the bathroom where my client was breathing through contractions. I helped her onto her bed while her partner was preparing the birth pool. Again the place where she felt most of the pain was similar to where she had experienced pain in the birth two years before where I had also been to support her. So while placing a warm hand on her belly we discussed calling the midwife because the urge to push was coming up. As her partner was busy I called the midwife who arrived 30 min later.

I loved how affirming and trusting this midwife was, telling her to follow her instincts and how powerful and wonderful she was doing. As soon as the bath was half full she got in and let the warm water from the hose just run over her. I made a few pictures as she squeezed her partners hand for comfort… and some more pictures as she in her own power at her own pace birthed her baby. After some cuddles, an attempt to feed and birthing the placenta, we helped her out of the pool and onto the bed to feed her baby boy. After the birth pool was drained and cleared and everybody got sleepy.

Home to bed

I headed home for some rest. It was nearly 2.00 in the morning and I had to get some rest before going to my first client for that promised photoshoot. As I got on my bike to head home all I could think of was how strong and powerful these birthing goddesses had been, and how grateful I was they had left just enough time in-between for me to be able to attend both births. Boy, do I have the best job in the world or what?!

Filed Under: Birth, Doula support, Midwifery, water birth Tagged With: doula, doula support, on call, repeat client, water birth

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Enjoy this special unique celebration today. Doul Enjoy this special unique celebration today. 
Doula Sophie welcomed a baby into the world in the early hours of this morning. A couple who hired her after following the Confident Birth course. Congrats to the new parents.
If this is your first Kings day in The Netherlands today, enjoy. 🎊🎉 🇳🇱 🧡
A walk a day keeps the dr away!? Well in this case A walk a day keeps the dr away!? Well in this case we are just advocating for staying fit and healthy during pregnancy. Keeping your body active helps you during labour and recovery postpartum. 
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If you choose to formula feed your baby from the b If you choose to formula feed your baby from the beginning then the baby will need a small amount of formula in the first two hours after birth. 

In the hospital they have the bottles all ready for you, you don’t need to bring your own. Look how cute this inny mini bottle is.💕
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You have prepared well, you are waiting for your b You have prepared well, you are waiting for your baby. Trust that you have enough information, stay calm, enjoy your last weeks of pregnancy. 
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And when it is done and you have your baby in your And when it is done and you have your baby in your arms, you will know it was possible, you did it and your body and mind are capable of so much more than you think. 
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A healthy period to give birth is between 37 and 4 A healthy period to give birth is between 37 and 42 weeks pregnancy. Within this time frame it is absolutely fine to have your baby. ⁠
Based on the best evidence, there is no such thing as an exact “due date,” and the estimated due date of 40 weeks is not accurate. Instead, it would be more appropriate to say that there is a normal range of time in which most people give birth. ⁠
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About half of all pregnant people will go into labour on their own by 40 weeks and 5 days (for first-time mothers) or 40 weeks and 3 days (for mothers who have given birth before). The other half will not. (evidence based birth) ⁠
Only 5% give birth on the exact due date. ⁠
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Baby will come when baby is ready. The wait is so worth it!⁠
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#duedate #duedates #babyfirst #patience #waitingforbaby #birtheducation
Our favourite ‘CONFIDENT BIRTH’ saying. - - - Our favourite ‘CONFIDENT BIRTH’ saying. 
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We trust that all our preparation will pay off. - We trust that all our preparation will pay off.
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Many of the expats and internationals we work with Many of the expats and internationals we work with have a mother (or both parents) come over from their home country to help around the birth period. 

The question often wrestled with is if the mother should be at the birth or not. 
The answer is always explained when we talk about hormones and what adrenaline does to the birth process. Usually the mother-to-be immediately knows the answer of how the mother(in law) would affect her stress levels during the birth. 

Its actually unusual that having your mum beside you during the birth is a helpful thing. It is possible and i have seen some amazing mums who know how to be and can separate themselves from their daughters experience but not many.

Was your mother around during your birth? 
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Midwifery in the Netherlands is unique and we need Midwifery in the Netherlands is unique and we need you desperately to help us keep it that way. 
The proposed integrated tariff for financing our maternity system will bring the primary care midwives under a monopoly controlled by the hospitals. This will bring an end to freedom of choice for pregnant women and an end to professional autonomy for midwives.

Gone will be your choice of caregiver. Gone will be the professional freedom to deliver the best care to our clients in an evidence based, excellent quality system. 

Help us keep bringing care to the community, the right care in the right place. Personal, high quality and highly accessible maternity care.

Please. Sign the petition 🙏 

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No, no, never will a doula replace the partner unl No, no, never will a doula replace the partner unless that is your specific request for some reason. 

The doula and partner become a team. 

Expecting the partner to be that whole support for themselves AND the birthing partner too is hard on the partner. 

It is so important that the partner also feels supported. This is a life event for them too. Being able to give support to the birthing partner and know someone has your back too is a game changer for partners. 
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#partnersupport #team #birthteam #bettertogether #dreamteam #birthpartner
Do the doula test! 2 questions to help you see if Do the doula test! 
2 questions to help you see if you would benefit from hiring a doula. 

The real answer is everyone benefits from having a doula. There are no down sides! 
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Doulas continue support during the first hour afte Doulas continue support during the first hour after birth and usually stay around 2 hours afterwards.
She does what is needed from helping with breastfeeding to processing the birth to making you a bite to eat and generally helping those first hours go smoothly. 

When you are all settled and showered and ready to rest she will go home to rest and recover herself.
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Do you know what ‘the doula effect’ is? Studi Do you know what ‘the doula effect’ is? 
Studies have shown that the continual support of the same one person during the whole birth process improves outcomes for mother and baby. 

Who doesn’t want that? 

The research shows that when doulas are present at a birth there is significantly less need for medicinal pain relief and more satisfaction with the whole experience. 

Sure your doula has lots of tricks of the trade but her main strength is purely her presence. It is like a super power. Doulas can sit with you for hours and bring a sense of calm and a quiet confidence into the space. 

Doulas affect the birth process positively. If doulas were a drug it would be unethical to use it!! 
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At Birth in Holland we are all about doula’s. Th At Birth in Holland we are all about doula’s. This week is World Doula Week and we will be highlighting some of the benefits of doula support and answering your questions about doulas. 

Doulas are for everyone no matter how you want to birth. Doulas support all kinds of birth. Doulas are the only one in the room who’s sole job is to support you. Doulas support with no judgement. 
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We are so used to googling everything. A question We are so used to googling everything. A question comes up and we google it, we want immediate information and we want it now. Google is always at our finger tips!

But when you are pregnant it can be scary to find out everything google says about what you are going through. This can lead to anxiety and often times uneccesary worry. Information is often misguided or sensational too. 

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Ask yourself these few questions: Is it wiser to ask a medical professional? Is the info evidence based? Is this making me more anxious? 
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We cover all elements of fundamental first aid in We cover all elements of fundamental first aid in our ‘First Aid For Babies & Children’ course & also cover CPR.

CPR is an accredited, certificated workshop given by trained Nederlandse Reanimatieraad teachers and gives a certificate that is valid for 2 years.

Book for the next First Aid coming up this later this month. Sunday 26th March. Still a few spots available! 
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Hoping for a water birth or just planning to use w Hoping for a water birth or just planning to use water for pain relief? 
Water is the most underestimated form if pain management for birth. 

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Your baby knows you already, yes you, Dads. They r Your baby knows you already, yes you, Dads. They recognise your voice, it is familiar to them. Even more so if you take the time to connect with them. They are already a little human being in the belly and can hear, although muffled. Make it a little less muffled for the baby and get up close and personal. 
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We get asked this question often: is it safe to ke We get asked this question often: is it safe to keep working out when pregnant?

For women who normally work out, run, do yoga every day before pregnancy and have a healthy all round fitness level, it is fine and important to keep it up. It is important to listen keenly to your body and when it needs to stop or rest. 

Having a good physical condition helps for an easier labour and good recovery after birth. 

For women who are not uber fit it is important to be active and do regular stretching to ease your labour and recovery. 

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