Tracey Sutton, founder of www.purebirth.org.uk which is based in Sale, Manchester is our special guest being interviewed today. Pure Birth is a natural birthing support service that offers a range of services including doula and hypnobirthing. Today we will be focusing on her role as a doula, which she has been doing for 7 years.
A doula is an ancient practice, which came from women having an experienced Auntie, older sister or wise woman at a pregnant womans side, to help her do the work of birthing. Today, doula is a return to the tradition of “women sitting with women”. The actual word has Greek origins and can be translated as ‘Womans servant’. ‘Birth Support’ and ‘Birth Assistant’ are other names doulas go by.
Tracey, when asked what inspired her to become a doula, said that most people do so out of experiencing their own birth trauma. But this was not the case for her at all and was quite the opposite in fact. Tracey knew she would work with birth one day following the nine weeks she did on maternity in her nurse training. But the desire to work with birthing grew stronger after having her first two children.
Tracey herself experienced two wonderful, amazing births – the first birth very long but still one of the most enriching and fulfilling times of her life. But her friends all around her were having different birth experiences, some very traumatic. Tracey couldn’t help feeling that this affected the way they started their times as new parents.
So, Tracey became desperate to do something to help make everyones births more amazing like her own were – which she recalls both were a day to treasure, an exciting challenge and most of all the journey to a new more fulfilling, whole life as a mother and woman. This is where Tracey’s journey began as a doula…
Q – Great Health Naturally: Although doula services are not a new thing, many people are still not aware of what a doula is or does, could you please explain to the readers exactly what services a doula offers to pregnant women?
A – Tracey Sutton: As birth has moved from home to hospital over the years – an element of care has been lost from the birth experience. It used to be that the women within an extended family would provide the nurturing, caring and security that a woman needs when birthing her baby. Although we have excellent midwives, birth centres and units, it is very likely that due to a lack of resources a couple will never of met the midwife who attends their birth. This leads to fear and insecurity. A doulas role is to provide nurturing and continuous support and reassurance through pregnancy, birth and in the early days with a new baby.
The doula (once chosen by the couple) will visit and get to know the couple at least twice during pregnancy to discuss and help plan the birth that the couple are hoping for, alley any fears, help to write their birth preferences and plan exactly what the doulas role will be in their birth as all births and preferences will be different and vary greatly.
The doula is then on call 24 hours a day, two weeks before the due date and two weeks after. The doula then attends the birth, first at home for as long as possible then into the hospital if that’s where they choose to birth. The doula is a caring, familiar person who the couple trust to help them with comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning, encouraging the partner to be involved as much as they want to be and liaising with midwives/doctors if necessary.
The doula will also visit once or twice to support breastfeeding and settling with the new baby at home if needed.
A post natal doula (either the same person or different) can also be employed by the couple to give longer support for feeding, look after baby while Mum rests, cook, clean and generally help Mum/couple to cope better in the early days.
Q – GHN: Is a doula service beneficial to the pregnant ladies partner or husband also?
A – TS: Yes definitely and that is something that people don’t realise, even the medical profession! The whole idea is to educate and guide the partner at the same time and encourage him/her to be part of the birth instead of an on looker. They are then much more able to help with any decisions that may be needed and the Mum feels confident that her partner can do this so she can focus on her body and baby and her breathing rather than worrying on the day itself. I teach partners massage techniques, how to help with positions that will help different stages of birth, how to make the environment right and how to ask the right questions if intervention is suggested for example. A doula should never take over the role of the partner but encourage and compliment it.
Q – GHN: Who can use a doula, and is there anyone that particularly should hire a doula?
A – TS: Anybody can have a doula, and it is not just for people who are single or have no family near by which is what people think. As I said before it’s all about support, continuity and being empowered in birth. It can benefit anyone and studies show below how;
Six controlled studies published in British and American medical journals concluded that the presence of a trained Doula resulted in the following:
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Q – GHN: At what stage of pregnancy does the doula begin her services with the mum-to-be?
A – TS: It depends on when the couple contact the doula but the sooner they start looking the better as some doulas get booked up very far ahead. This will ensure the couple get the dates they need pencilled in. A stronger relationship and trust can develop with more time.
Q – GHN: How does a doula compare to a midwife? Are they the same thing?
A – TS: No a doula does not have to be medically trained and is not there to deliver the baby like the midwife is. The doula is there purely to support the couple and guide them on their birth journey where as the midwife has to perform observations, write up notes, follow procedures etc and is there for the safety of Mum and baby as well as guiding and making sure the labour is running smoothly. A midwife may be looking after two couples at once, a doula is dedicated to the one couple for the whole birth.
Q – GHN: Does the type of birth a women is having (i.e. natural, caesarean etc) determine whether or not she can have a doula, or does this not matter?
A – TS: Most couples who hire a doula initially wish for a natural/normal birth but doulas can still be a massive support if the birth takes a different turn, ensuring the couple understand why procedures need to take place, reassure that its not the Mums fault that birth sometimes changes and to ensure that the birth preference list is still followed where possible so the birth is still a special experience.
Q – GHN: What is your favourite memory so far from being a doula?
A – TS: My favourite memory has to be a couple where the mum was so scared of birth she wanted a caesarean and her partner supported that as he didn’t know how he would support/cope with the birth situation after hearing so many horror stories from friends. They were referred to me for HypnoBirthing and through the programme, releasing fears and giving the couple confidence they had a beautiful home water birth with myself as their doula. The partner was amazing and they moved through the birth together and I had to do very little except keep encouraging them both! I was very proud of them and it really cemented in my mind how important pre birth support and care has such a dramatic effect on the birth.
Q – GHN: What is the greatest life lesson being a doula has taught you?
A – TS: Patience and how to be flexible.
Q – GHN: Do you have any tips for women when it comes to what they should be looking for in a doula should they wish to hire one?
A – TS: All doulas work differently and have different skills so it’s is very important to research all the doulas in your area.
Important questions to ask a doula at the meeting are:
What experience do they have, how many births, what type of births?
Any specialities ie. Water birth, homebirth?
How would they handle any conflict with medical professionals?
What extra skills do they have? Such as HypnoBirthing, homeopathy, massage etc.
What is their experience with breastfeeding?
The most important questions to ask yourselves after meeting a doula are:
Do we like this person?
Do we feel comfortable with her and can we trust her?
Does she have the same philosophy on birth as we do?
Does she listen to our personal desires for birth?
Thank you for letting us interview you today Tracey, and for informing our readers about all the wonderful support services you offer both the mother and father-to-be during such an amazing time in their lives.
Tracey Sutton is qualified in more than just the areas we covered today. The full extent of her qualifications are; a qualified nurse, qualified clinical hypnotherapist, hypnobirthing practitioner (full birth preparation course including breathing, relaxation, massage and techniques to cope with the feelings of birth) and she has also had training in acupressure for pregnancy and birth, techniques for turning breech or posterior babies. Plus, she is just about to qualify in aromatherapy and massage for pregnancy, birth and babies.
To contact Tracey Sutton please visit her website www.purebirth.org.uk or you can follow her on Twitter at HypnoBirthM33. To contact her directly please use the following numbers: 0161 905 3134 or 0780 379 7970.