How to DOULA in the age of Covid-19
“Did you know that providers are telling their patients, because of COVID-19, to avoid having anyone into their home a month before and two months after their baby arrives?”
This was the text I received from one of my doulas last week and it immediately caused me great concern.
The Covid-19 pandemic has taken so much from so many already. People have lost their jobs and any sense of normalcy in their lives. Students have lost their social lives, graduations and senior year functions. And most importantly, so many have lost family and friends to this global pandemic.
All the while everyone seems to be in a tailspin trying to keep up with the latest findings about Covid-19 and are changing protocol, sometimes daily, to ensure they are doing what’s best to keep themselves and anyone they come in contact with safe. While I understand the idea of keeping the home a safe space for pregnant women and their families, I also know that the month before and two months after birth are some of the most important times in which our doulas support women.
The time leading up to birth is when we meet with our clients, go over birth plans and discuss any questions or concerns regarding their upcoming birth experience. This time also allows us to develop a stronger bond with these families who have trusted us enough to invite us to be a part of this most sacred moment in their lives. Right now we are able to do these prenatal visits virtually, but it definitely makes things difficult when trying to demonstrate the techniques in which we would use during labor and delivery, exercises moms can do to help get their baby in the optimal position for labor and, honestly, meeting in person is just so much better for creating a bond of comfort and trust.
While handling the month prior to an estimated due date is workable, the part that REALLY concerns me as a doula are the two months after the birth when women, even prior to this pandemic, need the most support. One can also make the argument that because of this pandemic, our clients have lost the support of their parents or extended family, in order to reduce the risk of infection. Whether you’re having one baby or twins (or even triplets) every new mom needs support during this very vulnerable time. Add onto this the fact that when women give birth, they do not see their doctor for a follow up for SIX WEEKS postpartum. So many things can happen in those weeks. As doulas we are trained to not only provide breastfeeding support (something that is so lacking in this country), infant care support (something every new mom can use), but we also are trained to know what normal healing looks like during the postpartum period. And while we would never diagnose, we would most definitely be there to inform a new mom if there was a health concern for which she should be calling her provider.
Another way in which we support new moms as postpartum doulas is overnight support. I can’t tell you how many of our clients find this was just what they needed to make it through those first few, challenging months with a newborn.
Just a few weeks ago I had a client say to me,
“If it weren’t for you, I’m not sure our marriage would have made it through that time.”
While I know this was said tongue in cheek, I also know the stress the sleepless nights with a newborn can put on a family.
The following is a testimonial from a mom who was working with us before covid and how she came to the conclusion to work with us during the pandemic.
“As physicians during covid with premature infants, we were acutely aware of covid risks and worried about how to get the help we needed without putting our babies in harms way. Tracy and her team were great to work with and were very proactive with precautions while allowing us space to come to the decisions that were right for us. They wore masks the whole time, changed outfits when coming in and were vigilant about hand hygiene. I really felt like Tracy cared just as much about my children’s safety as I did. Despite the situation not being ideal, we felt comfortable in her hands and relieved to have great help amidst such stressful times.
-Snigdha A.
Because we know how essential doula support is to women and their families, we at Doulas of Berks County have put into place some new COVID-19 protocols which all of our doulas follow. Prior to any shift with our clients, all doulas fill out a Covid-19 Screening Questionnaire and take their temperature to ensure they do not have a fever. This questionnaire is kept on file with the agency and can be forwarded to clients upon request.
Upon arrival at a client’s house, all doulas change into a clean pair of clothing that is either laundered the shift before at the client’s home or at the doulas home, depending on our client’s request.
We also continue with our standard handwashing and sanitizing, as this is something all doulas were diligent about pre-covid.
Additionally, when our clients sign with Doulas of Berks County, they are provided with a questionnaire that allows them to give us direction on any other protective measures they’d like use to follow when being in their home. This includes where and when they’d like us to wear masks, how they’d like us to arrive, etc.
We also ensure that each client only works with one doula when possible (depending on the number of hours requested) and that each doula only works with one client/family at as time. Our clients appreciate knowing that the doula they’re working with is working solely with their family as it minimizes additional risk of contracting covid.
“As first-time parents, we were so thankful to have a doula during the uncertain times of COVID. We were undecided at first, as our daughter’s safety was of utmost concern. However, several factors made us feel very comfortable with the decision. First, we knew that each doula was only working with one family at a time. We were able to discuss our preferences at length with our doula, prior to making a decision or spending any money, to ensure that we all were on the same page on such things as wearing a mask, what to do if anyone experienced any of the COVID symptoms, whether we anticipated travel, etc. We were given the option to cancel and receive a full refund should we change our minds- this was important as the COVID situation changes daily. Our doula also completed a health questionnaire prior to every visit. We’re so thankful that we had the expertise of our doula, she not only answered all of our questions but also advised us of developmental or growth changes that might be coming. She gave us peace of mind and a great nights’ rest on many occasions- which is beyond priceless for new parents.”
-Akiko S.
So, while we are all trying to figure out just what to do to navigate safely though this pandemic, I encourage you to please reach out to Doulas of Berks County if you need any support before, during or after the birth of your newborn. You can do this knowing that we are doing everything possible to reduce risk of exposure, while ensuring that our new moms and their families continue to feel supported in a way that is paramount and so beneficial during the sacred time in a family’s life.