Don’t feel bad, I get this all the time. I’ll be out and meet someone new, and it’s inevitable that they will ask me, “So, what do you do?”
“I’m a doula,” I say.
“A wot? What’s that?” I hear.
“I’m a birth and postnatal doula. I support women both physically and emotionally during pregnancy, labour, birth, and in the early postnatal period.”
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. Sometimes I dream that one response, it’s weird… like my old pageant platform: “to bridge the gap between the elderly and young, teaching us that we all have something to learn from one another.” Goodness me! It’s been 15 years since I’ve had to belt that out and I still know it. Sad, I know.
So yes, back to my conversation with another human being that doesn’t insist on reading Hairy Maclary ten times before bed….
After my explanation, I usually get a, “Oh. That sounds good. So, you deliver babies and such?”
My response is always, “I wish,” and then I try to turn the topic to them. I hate trying to explain the difference between midwives and doulas and why I’m not a midwife – it’s entirely too political.
So yes, I am a doula – and I love it!
And my most had conversation is why I’ve decided to create this blog – so you get an insight on what a birth and postnatal doula does, whether it be with clients, midwives, continuous training, research on new baby gear and other products that may be of use to a pregnant or new mum.
Please feel free to comment or ask questions on anything – I am always more than happy to help should you require further assistance. And if you’re really desperate, go to my website, and drop me an email or give me a bell.
