Doulas Initiatives Bring Support for Cape's New Parents

From birth to death, doulas help navigate life's biggest transitions. This growing profession shows a revival of community-based support, a more holistic approach to not only childbirth but the raising of a child, because it takes a village – and doulas.

What is a postpartum doula?

Both birth and death can be very isolating events whether people are becoming parents or are dying. Our society's purely medical and institutionalized approach to these two major life transitions is becoming outdated, and people are looking for more holistic, community-based experiences. The saying goes: it takes a village to raise a child, but yet new parents are expected to go at it mostly alone. Enter doulas – non medical support persons with evidence-based training. Whether it is birth- postpartum- or death doulas, they are here to help navigate through a process that can leave many people feeling lonely. Having a new baby is a joyous occasion, but Becky Fischer, postpartum doula, says it can also be a difficult and stressful time, especially for the birthing parent.

What does a postpartum doula do?

Childbirth and the postpartum period comes with preconceptions and expectations around how mothers should be and what they should be doing. According to Fischer one of the most common things she hears new parents say is how hard it is to ask their families and friends for help with taking care of the baby. She says new parents are also inundated with advice from family, friends and social media, which can be overwhelming. A doula is a neutral person with evidence based information who sole purpose is to help and support, removing the guilt and stigma in having to ask.

Growing awareness

The increase of postpartum doulas signify more acceptance and awareness around the support new parents need. MassHealth has started a new doula initiative covering doula services for members, and on Cape Cod the Perinatal Awareness Alliance has created a grant funded program for postpartum doula services. Watch the video to learn more about the program, and what a postpartum doula can do for a new family.