Thank you Brad and Lauren - guest writers for today’s blog post on the importance of doulas - even VIRTUAL!

We are Brad and Lauren - residents of Northfield, MN, and new parents to our precious daughter Genevieve, born during the COVID-19 pandemic at Northfield hospital.

Birth is already full of unknowns as a first time parent, let alone in the midst of a global pandemic. Our experience with pregnancy was full of extra stress dealing with hospital covid policies (that changed by the day and by the location), isolation from friends and family during a time where we needed extra support, and disappointment with missing out on showers, people sharing in our pregnancy process, and a lack of resources to participate in.  One of such resources was in-person birth classes. Thankfully, we found out about BirthED and were connected to a VIRTUAL Lamaze Class led by Liz Hochman.  After 2 of our 3 amazing sessions, we spontaneously went into labor at 35 weeks.  We ended up hiring Liz as a doula on the spot the day we went into labor, and because of Covid-19, only had the ability to have her on the phone throughout our labor and birth process. 

We were on the fence about hiring a doula in general, but if we had known then what we do now about the absolute necessity and benefits of a doula during birth, we would have hired someone much sooner.  

Apart from a birth partner, we believe a doula should become an essential position in any birth team, regardless of the birth setting.  Here are some reasons why:

• The doula provides support to the birth partner: Even with a supportive birth partner, the laboring person is not very present to help make informed decisions and ask relevant questions with their partner.  The doula acts as an aid to help the family advocate for their desired birth preferences.

• The doula helps interpret 'hospital lingo' to the birthing person and their partner so they understand what they are deciding or consenting to.

• The doula acts as a coach not only for the laboring person on pain management, breathing, and mental health, but for the partner with encouragement and advice for the best ways to comfort their birthing partner.  It takes the pressure off the birthing partner to 'be the expert' and instead allows room for them to focus on providing comfort and care to their birthing partner.

• The doula acts as the advocate for the family, and therefore comes to the birth with the family’s interests and preferences front of mind. Their objectivity and focus on the preferences of the family provides a sounding board and refocusing when you begin to fear or doubt your intentions.

• The doula spends time getting to know the family on a personal level so that they can provide a personalized birth experience.  This builds a level of trust that the hospital staff may never achieve since often times they are strangers to the couple. This helps when birth takes the twists and turns we know births can take. Knowing that the doula knows all about your needs and wants really helps when difficult decisions come up.

• The doula often remains on call for post-natal visits, which supports a holistic approach to welcoming a baby as more than just an action but a life change. This accommodates for the early discharge or 6 weeks from discharge to followup postpartum visit many hospitals are doing.

Though having a doula via video chat was better than no doula at all, we would have much rather had the ability to have an in person experience.  Here were the downsides to having a virtual doula vs. a doula on-site: 

• Inevitably there was an awkward dynamic of the doula being on video and the doula not being able to interact with the healthcare provider.  Part of the role a doula plays is in reading the room and making suggestions and offering encouragement accordingly.  Through the lens of a phone camera this is extremely difficult.  It is also hard for her to communicate and provide us informational support when they are limited to the volume and position of the camera.

• The doula was not able to carry out physical comfort measures to either the birth partner or the care provider.  In our case the hospital staff and care providers were not very effective with the comfort measures we were trying to implement and our doula had to give step by step instructions to the nurse and care giver to help my partner and I with techniques. It worked, but wasn’t ideal.

• Doula's often can give the birth partner a physical break from caring for the birthing person to take a bathroom break, eat some food, and emotionally process.  This was not possible over video.

• We had to move the camera around to make sure the doula had a good view of the birthing person, birth partner and active comfort measures.  In addition the camera frequently was blocked by the medical professionals.

During our labor and delivery we found the help of our doula, even virtually, to be invaluable.  We will be hiring a doula for every future birth that we have and will from this point forward be recommending it to other pregnant couples as an essential part of the birth team.  

Brad & Lauren (and baby Genevieve!)

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