FAQ
(Frequently asked questions)FAQ
(Frequently asked questions)
What are the
different types of Doulas?
Is it possible to meet the doulas in advance?
How do I know if I need a Doula?
Birth Doulas -
Is a Doula only useful during a
natural
birth (un-medicated birth)?
Can other family members or friends be present if I choose to have a
Birth
Doula?
What is the difference between the Doula, the hospital nurse and midwife?
Postpartum
Doula-
Who
needs a Postpartum Doula? Or better yet; who deserves a Postpartum Doula?
What
is the difference between a Postpartum Doula, a baby nurse and a nanny?
I
already have children, and am confident in my baby skills, how can a Postpartum
Doula help me?
When should I begin to look for a postpartum doula?
What if my baby is already here and I have discovered I need help?
How does a Doula nurture the parents into their roles?
What would be the need for overnight care?
How long do Postpartum Doula services last?
This
is such a private time for my family, how can I be sure I will feel comfortable
with a Doula?
Does a Doula help with breastfeeding?
How
much will a Postpartum Doula cost?
What if I can't afford the cost?
Can hiring a Postpartum Doula reduce my risk of postpartum depression?
Happiest
Baby on the Block -
What is Happiest baby on the block?
What are the different types of Doulas?
Like its name the Birth Doula provides complete support before, during and after your pregnancy and delivery. This support starts in your home and proceeds to the hospital. A Postpartum Doula provides parents with complete support, relief, education and care after coming home from the hospital. Doula Mary is a Postpartum Doula and can refer you to a Birth Doula through Birth and Beyond in Santa Monica or the Doula Association of Southern California.
Is it possible to meet the doulas in advance?
Absolutely! We offer a free consult, in the comfort of your home, which allows you to have the Doula come to your home and sit down with you and answer any of your questions about the services she provides. We believe that this consult helps you to make a more comfortable and informed choice for your family. Occasionally, a "Meet the Doula" night event is given at either the West Los Angeles location or San Fernando Valley.
How do I know if I need a Doula?
If you feel the need for support before during or after your labor, birth, or arrival home you would greatly benefit from a Doula. Doulas do not take over the role of the husband or family member, they work with the family to provide continued support and relief as well as ongoing education.
BIRTH DOULA-
Is a Doula only useful during a natural birth (un-medicated birth)?
Whether a birth takes place with medication or not, the whole experience can be intimidating and births can take many twists and turns causing unneeded stress and pressure on you the mom, which can change the course of any delivery. You may start the laboring process without medication but you may later change your mind and decide that you do want medication. (we follow your lead and support whatever decision you choose for your birth) Throughout your experience you will have your Doula to lean on and turn to in times of confusion and complete support. The Birth Doula is your advocate and supports you in communicating your desires during labor.
Can other family members or friends be present if I choose to have a Birth Doula?
Each hospital has a different policy, but most hospitals allow 2-3 people in each room. There are times they do not count the Doula as a visitor. Many times it's at the discretion of the Labor Nurse in your room. If you are going to be birthing in the Alternative Birth Center (ABC) there aren't the same hard fast restrictions as to how many people can be present .
What is the difference between the Doula, the hospital nurse and midwife?
The Doula provides non-medical labor support, education and comfort techniques as well as birth education before the birth as well as postpartum education, all in the comfort of your home as well as the hospital. You meet the hospital nurse when you reach the hospital and are assigned to a room. Hospital nurses can be awesome but usually have a lot of paperwork and medically necessary duties that they are responsible for during labor. Midwives are medical practitioners that provide complete obstetrical services and deliver your baby, they meet and examine you in the office and are intermittently there throughout the labor until its time to deliver the baby. The birth process takes team work and every professional plays an important part.
POSTPARTUM DOULA-
Any
family who wants a smoother transition!! You and every woman who has just
given birth deserve to be cared for. You deserve time to spend exclusively with
your new child, and time to rest and recuperate without household chores on your
mind. A sympathetic ear from a caring professional is also helpful. First-Time
Parents benefit from having an experienced, knowledgeable person to support and
guide them in the beginning times with their child. Growing Families find that
balancing their attention between the new baby and other children is easier with
extra help. People having twins or multiple births need additional help
and for longer periods of time.
What is the difference between a Postpartum Doula, a baby nurse and a nanny?
A
Postpartum Doula is a non-medical profession. A Postpartum Doula specializes in
the care of you, the mother, the household and siblings; offering help with the
baby when needed. A Postpartum
Doulas focus is to care for the family as a whole, newborn care, mom support,
light household upkeep, education for mom and dad, breastfeeding support as well
as sibling support. A
nanny normally cares for babies, and children exclusively. A baby nurse has
medical training, also caring exclusively for the baby rather than both the
mother and baby.
I
already have children, and am confident in my baby skills, how can a Postpartum
Doula help me?
Between
the 4th and 6th month is an ideal time to interview with your prospective Doula.
This allows you to focus on your birth, feeling secure in the knowledge that you
have help in place for the first few weeks after your baby is born. Any
time right up to your ninth month is a fine time to call, please remember a
Postpartum Doulas' schedule can fill up months in advance.
Call
and I will do my best to provide you with this specialized care. We can
look at what your challenges are and work to make things easier for you. I often
get calls from new mothers and fathers once the baby is home as they now realize
the need for help.
Self-confidence
has a tremendous impact on a person's ability to approach any task, and
parenting is no different. Doulas are taught to always consider parents'
feelings and always build confidence whenever possible. Doulas accomplish
this through praise, acceptance, and a non-judgmental approach. In addition, the
Doula will teach parents strategies and skills that will improve their ability
to bond with their babies. A calm baby who is growing well will help
parents to feel more confident in their skills. The Doula will share
evidence-based information with the partner that shows how his or her role in
the early weeks will have a dramatic positive effect on the family.
What would be the need for overnight care?
Overnight
services are used especially in the case of preemies, twins, triplets, and more.
All new families can benefit from using overnight services, not just
families with multiples, a lot of mothers with singletons would just like to get
those few extra hours of sleep. In some cases, if the father needs to be
away from the home overnight, the presence of a Postpartum Doula provides this
additional support to the mother during this transition period. Even for
first time mothers, experienced mothers who already have other children ... it
is very hard to function with your other children when you haven't received a
good night's sleep. Almost all parents, even those who have family help,
usually need some type of overnight assistance from outside sources.
How long do Postpartum Doula services last?
Most Doulas
provide services from 2 weeks up to 3 months, depending on the extent of
recovery or help needed. Ultimately,
I am there to work myself out of a job…this means that you would feel
confident and capable of the new responsibilities you have as a new parent and
that I have helped to connect you to community resources such as mother groups
so you have external support as well. If you feel you want help longer than
3 months, We can help you find a Nanny
or Mothers Helper.
Does a Doula help with breastfeeding?
Yes, most Doulas
have had some training in breastfeeding support, but most are not lactation
specialists. Mary has been trained as a Lactation Educator and can offer
resources and if you are in need of more extensive lactation support she would
generally refer you to a local lactation consultant.
It is important to interview any Doulas in whom you are interested. It is important that you feel comfortable with your Doula. I am here to help you discover how capable a parent you are. I am here to support you.
Doula
Mary's current prices are from $20-$30 an hour depending on the time of
day help wanted, and for what length of time. Her minimum is $20/hour for a
minimum of a four hour shift for a minimum of 5 days a week. This allows us to
trouble-shoot what is going on, teach you new skills and have some measure of
success. I am always available for more time and do suggest if your partner is
going back to work right away you get a postpartum doula for at least one
month.
Relatives,
such as grandparents are often glad to pay for this much needed service. Groups,
such as coworkers, or friends will sometimes get together to offer this
wonderful gift.
While
experts agree that sleep deprivation and feelings of isolation often accompany
postpartum mood disorders, having a Doula in your home can lessen the cause of
these symptoms; offering more opportunity to rest as well as someone with whom
to communicate your feelings. Postpartum Doulas cannot make the scientific claim
to reduce the risk of postpartum depression, however, an experienced
Postpartum Doula can, through observation on a regular basis, recognize the
possible need for outside help, and offer referrals accordingly.
HAPPIEST BABY ON THE BLOCK
What is Happiest baby on the block?
It is a system of tools, by Dr. Karp, to calm and soothe crying babies. Allow Mary to show you .
If you
have any questions not answered here, please feel free to call Doula
Mary @ (818)451-8560 or
by email at mary.cacciapaglia@hotmail.com
