What is a Postpartum Doula?
A doula is someone who offers non-medical, emotional and physical support.
A Postpartum Doula offers full family support after birth.
Doulas and Midwives have been around since the beginning of birth. They slowly exited the scene as modern medicine grew, and began reemerging around the 1960s. In many different cultures, family members or close friends take on the role as a Doula during birth, and after.
It is no secret that the United States is behind on postpartum care. In other parts of the world, postpartum care and recovery is much more of a priority and a regular practice.
"When we look abroad, postpartum rituals abound.
Mexico has cuarentena, a 30-day rest period with family.
China has a similar practice of 'doing the month.'
Japanese mothers move back home for satogaeri bunben.
Korean families practice a 3-week course of seclusion (and seaweed soup) called saam chil ill.
Eastern European women are secluded for the first month after birth. In addition to secluded rest, postpartum body massage and abdominal binding are common throughout Latin America."
The critical themes that other countries practice and which the United States lacks is slowing down, resting and nourishment, and support.
In the United States, mothers often lack support from medical providers after birth. Expecting mothers typically attend several appointments before their baby arrives; however, after giving birth, there is typically only one follow-up appointment that isn't even scheduled until about six weeks later. Knowing everything the body goes through during and after delivering a baby, one quick in and out check-up shouldn't be enough.
Mothers and Fathers also lack support from their work places.
"The United States is ranked last in family-friendly policies according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Only 14 percent of American workers have access to paid leave, says ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) . An additional surprise to many is that the Family and Medical Leave Act is not universal — 40 percent of Americans do not qualify. Perhaps more significantly, due to economic hardship and employer constraints, 1 in 4 women return to work just 10 days after giving birth." https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/what-post-childbirth-care-looks-like-around-the-world-and-why-the-u-s-is-missing-the-mark#Rights.
Postpartum depression continues to rise, and we wonder why. We need to learn from other cultures and begin to change the way we think about the kind of care new mothers (and fathers) need.
There is some hope for the future, as the United States is slowly making changes but, we still have a very long way to go.