How do doulas effectively work with partners of laboring moms?
As a doula, I often get asked about whether doulas interfere in a partner’s role in caring for his/her loved one in labor. My experience has been that partners are all interested in and able to be present for the laboring mom in very different ways. My job, is to help support the partner as much as I can so that he/she can be there as fully as he/she desires, without tiring out, or feeling undully worried. For example, I do things like remind the partner to drink water, eat, go to the bathroom, etc.. The old saying, “you can’t take care of someone else, if you don’t take care of yourself” is very true. I also am an educated person to have around, in terms of having good indicators for what is normal or not during labor. This is a big plus, because when the partner feels reassured that what is happening is normal, they have more emotional space to be present for the laboring mom. Having a doula present is also a big relief when it is time to migrate to the birthing center or hospital, a
