These two women are passionate about what they do. They are doulas — professionals who provide care to women and their families during the birthing process, helping facilitate positive labor, delivery, and newborn parenting experiences. Sarah Bly (left) and Angie Works (with her latest addition) are trained in this old vocation that has found new popularity in America and are among a number of professional doulas in Cook County.
Two women, one accompanied by her small baby, sat in the Blue Water Café on January 10 to talk about something they are passionate about: being doulas – a vocation so old it’s described in the Old Testament but a word that’s brand new to many Americans. Personal experiences brought Sarah Bly and Angie Works to this occupation, and they want to help others have the positive experiences they have had working with doulas for themselves.
What is a doula?
“A doula is a labor attendant,” Works said.
“A support person,” Bly said.
“A mommy for the mommy,” Works added.
According to DONA International, a worldwide doula association (www.dona.org), “The word ‘doula’ comes from the ancient Greek meaning ‘a woman who serves’ and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.”
DONA International calls itself “an association for a relatively new group of professionals steeped in timeless tradition.”
Its website goes on to say, “DONA International began in 1992, when a small group of some of the foremost experts in childbirth decided that the time had come to promote the importance of emotional support for mothers and their partners during birth and the postpartum period.
“…Doula care has been studied extensively in scientific trials, and the results show remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for both mother and baby. … Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.”
Doulas can provide both emotional support and physical assistance to the mother during labor, helping her through the process of childbirth while other caregivers, such as doctors, nurse-midwives, or midwives, are attending to medical aspects of the experience. They can support or give relief to family members during labor. Sometimes they follow the family well after the baby is born, offering emotional support and tips on breastfeeding and even helping with household chores.
Bly said that the U.S. and England tend to have higher rates of unnecessary intervention during the birthing process, more cesareans, and more postpartum depression than a lot of other countries.
“A natural birth is the best start for your baby,” Works said. She explained that a natural birth allows a mother to feel more strongly the effects of oxytocin, a hormone that is produced naturally during the birthing process, sometimes referred to as “the love hormone.” Bly said that babies born by c-section have more lung problems after birth; one theory is that this is because fluids were not squeezed out of the baby’s lungs in the birth canal.
The DONA website cites research by the Medical Leadership Council: “Doulas clearly improve clinical and service quality; they provide an absolutely safe way to reduce cesareans and other invasive birthing interventions.” (From Coming to Term: Innovations in Safely Reducing Cesarean Rates, Washington D.C., 1996)
A doula can help support the goals a pregnant woman sets for the birthing experience long before labor begins. “I wasn’t sure I had high pain tolerance,” said Bly. She didn’t want to be swayed by the availability of drugs and intervention, however, and decided to give birth to both of her children at home, with the assistance of a doula and a midwife.
Both Works and Bly talked about how much it meant to them to know that they had the ability to give birth naturally. “That mental power when you’re in labor is amazing,” Bly said. She said that birthing children has made her a stronger person. “The whole birthing experience completely changed my life,” she said, and it led to her becoming a doula. “I wanted to spread this great feeling of strength and empowerment.”
“The whole process of birth changes your life—even for the dad,” said Bly. People think becoming a parent changes your life, but it starts before that, she said.
Works said that after having her first baby by c-section in a hospital, she decided she wanted a non-hospital birth the next time. Last fall, she had a baby girl in Duluth with the assistance of a midwife and the support of a doula. She talked about feeling out of control with the process when she had her first baby. “I wanted to help women not go through what I went through,” she said.
Works said giving birth naturally helped her prove to herself how capable she is. She said she thinks that if people had more information, they might make some different decisions about birthing their babies. “Sometimes you just need to be encouraged and believe that you can do it,” she said. “I want people to know that they can do it.”
Doulas can be helpful no matter what kind of birthing situation a mother is in. “I’m not against what the medical profession can offer us,” said Bly. Doula services can work hand in hand with medical services. “You can have a doula if you’re going to have a c-section,” said Bly, “if you want an empowering c-section.” Both Bly and Works are willing to travel to Duluth with clients when they have their babies.
When asked if doulas are finding acceptance among health care professionals, they said yes, to a certain degree. “Doctors are trained to fix things,” Bly said.
“And we’re trained to allow things,” said Works.
Duluth has a selection of resources for families who want birthing options and support. The Childbirth Collective (www.childbirthcollective.org) is a Duluth-based nonprofit that helps connect families with birth professionals.
Bly is part of a Duluth-based consortium called Birthing Ways Doula Connection (www.birthingways.org) that provides resources for parents as well as doula training. She offers a sliding scale for services that include three prenatal visits, care during the entire labor process, and three postnatal visits. She offers information on topics related to parenting and family life and helps families get connected to resources they might be looking for. She said that U-Care and Blue Cross have covered doula services, albeit sporadically.
Works was certified through Duluthbased Aviva Institute and mentored by Kristin DeArruda-Wharton here in Cook County. DeArruda-Wharton, a Statewide Health Improvement Program coordinator, has put together a brochure listing numerous doulas and labor support paraprofessionals available in Cook County.
Angie Works can be reached by phone at (218)387-1782 or (218)370-9301 or by email at lildoakers@gmail.com. Sarah Bly can be reached by phone at (218)387-3366 or by email at lylas32@yahoo.com. Information about Bly’s services can be found on her website at www.lylasdoula.com. “Lylas” stands for “love you like a sister.”
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