| SeattleBirthNet: Just for Dads! Childbirth Education and Labor Support for Expectant Families |
| Dads And Doulas A Working Relationship |
I am proud to let you know that some of the greatest compliments I receive about my work come from dads who I work with.
My goals with regards to dads are simple. I will do everything I can to help you maintain your role as the primary support
person for your wife. This means different things for different dads, and wherever you fall in the spectrum of involvement
rest assured that your voice will be honored. I will share all of my tips and tricks with you as labor moves along via quiet
cues so that you will always have the opportunity to be the one making your partner feel great. Loving her and sharing
your pride in her hard word during birthing are the greatest gifts you can give her. We will talk ahead of time but I find that
just playing it by ear and making sure that you are where you want to be throughout the process are great tools and allow
for the kind of flexibility most dads want.
The observation I hear the most from dads is that having a doula there allowed them to be fully present with their
wife during labor. They never worried about being responsible for knowing everything all of the time, they never worried if
they needed a minute to get something to eat or make a phone call or use the bathroom--a trusted and known person was
always there to back them up, to provide information and resources, and the comfort that despite all the noise and work,
mom was doing just perfectly.
I do work with couples who have cultural backgrounds and lifestyles or employment issues which prevent the father or
partner from participating fully or at all in the birth. If this is your situation, I will ramp up my involvement at the birth of your
baby to meet your wife's or partner's needs. I have a lot of experience working with a variety of people and you will never
feel judged or questioned for the role that you play if it is different than what one might think of as typically seen in a hospital
or birthing environment.
My goals with regards to dads are simple. I will do everything I can to help you maintain your role as the primary support
person for your wife. This means different things for different dads, and wherever you fall in the spectrum of involvement
rest assured that your voice will be honored. I will share all of my tips and tricks with you as labor moves along via quiet
cues so that you will always have the opportunity to be the one making your partner feel great. Loving her and sharing
your pride in her hard word during birthing are the greatest gifts you can give her. We will talk ahead of time but I find that
just playing it by ear and making sure that you are where you want to be throughout the process are great tools and allow
for the kind of flexibility most dads want.
The observation I hear the most from dads is that having a doula there allowed them to be fully present with their
wife during labor. They never worried about being responsible for knowing everything all of the time, they never worried if
they needed a minute to get something to eat or make a phone call or use the bathroom--a trusted and known person was
always there to back them up, to provide information and resources, and the comfort that despite all the noise and work,
mom was doing just perfectly.
I do work with couples who have cultural backgrounds and lifestyles or employment issues which prevent the father or
partner from participating fully or at all in the birth. If this is your situation, I will ramp up my involvement at the birth of your
baby to meet your wife's or partner's needs. I have a lot of experience working with a variety of people and you will never
feel judged or questioned for the role that you play if it is different than what one might think of as typically seen in a hospital
or birthing environment.
| It is true that the doctor or midwife will care for your wife's physical well being. It is true that the nurses will make sure she and your baby are safe at all times. It is true that your doula will provide physical and emotional comfort measures. But the greatest truth of all is that in that room--in that entire hospital, You are the only one who loves her and knows her like you do. Knowing this, we will always operate on the assumption that she and you are the true experts in the room. |
| Dads Make the Difference!! |
More articles about Dads and Doulas:
Dads and Doulas by DONA
Childbirthorg article by Polly Perez
Common Myths about Dads and Doulas
Dads and Doulas by DONA
Childbirthorg article by Polly Perez
Common Myths about Dads and Doulas
Do you have a question you want to ask?
Click Here!
Click Here to learn more about laboring at
home before you head to the hospital or birth
center.
Click Here!
Click Here to learn more about laboring at
home before you head to the hospital or birth
center.
