Bringing back tradition - set a date with a doula
Germaine Reidy is bringing the ancient Greek tradition of post-partum doulas back to modern-day Kilkenny. A pregnancy and baby massuese, Germaine talks to Laura Keys about just what a doula is, does and actually means.
DESPITE all the obvious challenges, giving birth can be a complicated process. Doctors vs. midwives; drugs vs. drug-free; caesarean vs. natural birth, breastfeed vs. bottle feed - the decisions can be overwhelming. So it's not surprising the whole experience can sometimes get a bit much for new mothers, especially the first time around.
This is where New Ross-native Germaine Reidy, a professional massage therapist and qualified 'doula' steps in.
Germaine, whose practice is based in Kilkenny, believes many of the stresses and catalysts for post-partum (post-natal) depression can be avoided for arranging specialised care for a new mother in the days and weeks after a birth.
"Bringing a new baby home is amazing. The little bundle of joy melts your heart with big eyes, soft skin and brand-new baby smell," she said. "A new life is a truly miraculous event, so why the blues? In today's culture, birth revolves around the baby and baby gifts. The new mother sometimes gets forgotten about. It's normal for a mother to feel tearful, anxious and confused within the first week post-delivery (post-partum). In some cases she's recovering from a surgery and juggling the demands of a newborn and the whole family.
"Being a post-partum doula is about taking care of the mother firstly as she recovers from the delivery. Then I offer extra in-home support so mum can stay in bed holding and feeding the new baby. For a few hours every day, I might do the dishes, make lunch, mind the older children, give mum a massage or just offer advice.
"A mother who is well cared for will have an easier time with the emotional and hormonal shifts that are happening. More serious mood disorders like postpartum depression can often be avoided by hiring a postpartum doula."
The word doula comes from the Greek word meaning 'woman caregiver or servant'. Traditionally, continuous support was provided by midwives during labour and until the mother was strong enough to care for her newborn. Women could call on additional female helpers from the community when birthing at home, but today, the professional doula is available to mothers looking for one-to-one companionship and emotional support.
Germaine's background is as a massage therapist, and on moving to San Francisco is 2000, she started specialising in pregnancy massage and attending births as a birthing doula and offering post-birth and baby massage.
She quickly realised there was a niche market from mothers who require more post-birth help or who wanted more than a once-off massage after giving birth and this is when she became a post-partum doula. She returned to South East Ireland two years ago and set up her business, From The Waters, in Kilkenny.
"There is definitely room in the market for this service," she explained. "It is still more popular in the states and overseas, but it is beginning to take off in Ireland."
Germaine believes a post-partum doula can help new mothers stave off feelings of insecurity, isolation, depression or being overwhelmed - all contributing factors to post-partum depression.
She said it's natural for new mothers to get 'the blues' in the first few weeks after giving birth, but anything lasting longer than this could indicate a problem.
She helps lessen the load for new mothers by spending a few hours a day, or as long as the mother would like, in the house, helping mother and child bond, giving advice on breastfeeding and basically tending to the mothers' needs.
"There might be a husband or partner around who isn't sure what to do after the birth, or a mother-in-law who only wants to hold the baby because that's the fun thing to do," Germaine said. "But that isn't helpful for the new mother who needs to be holding the baby to bond with it, but who might not feel like Hoovering, or making the kids' lunches or picking them up from school or running errands.
"The women I work with can feel comfortable asking me to do anything they need," she continued. "That's what I'm there for. Sometimes the simplest things in life can have the biggest impact."
"It helps them having someone in the house who knows what they're going through and who can predict what they need," she continued. "Newborn babies go through all sorts of different stages in the first few weeks and I can explain all this to the mothers. I can take her through what's normal and what she can expect.
"We talk a lot about infant cues as well," she added. "You can really communicate with a baby if you know what to look for. Babies have a lot of reflexes to get themselves fed, they're not as helpless as we might think."
Feeling isolated from the outside world, having no useful support or experiencing relationship or marriage difficulties can also increase the risk of post-partum depression to new mothers, so having an experienced professional on hand, or even just a friendly ear to talk to, can help counteract these feelings.
"Coming home from the hospital, we expect our lives are going to come together perfectly, that if there's relationship problems they will all go away and everything will be roses," Germaine said. "In reality, it can be the exact opposite, because new mothers have so much to cope with, on top of trying to bond with the new baby.
"Bonding is a process, it's not something that happens immediately," she explained. "Many mothers won't instantly fall in love with a baby the moment they lay eyes on it and they feel guilty for that, but they shouldn't. It's perfectly normal.
"Breastfeeding is also a big part of bonding as mothers get a huge release of oxytocin - the bonding or love hormone - which might help prevent post-partum depression.
"Having an experienced doula in the house to help out gives mums and babies the best chance to bond. If they get a bumpy start, it can be difficult to come back from."
As well as post-partum doula services, Germaine also offers birth doula, pregnancy massage and baby massage. There are standard packages, or packages can be designed to suit anyone's needs. For more information, log on to www.fromthewaters.com or contact Germaine on 087-4194222. She helps lessen the load for new mothers by spending a few hours a day, or as long as the mother would like, in the house, helping mother and child bond, giving advice on breastfeeding and basically tending to the mothers’ needs.
“There might be a husband or partner around who isn’t sure what to do after the birth, or a mother-in-law who only wants to hold the baby because that’s the fun thing to do,” Germaine said. “But that isn’t helpful for the new mother who needs to be holding the baby to bond with it, but who might not feel like Hoovering, or making the kids’ lunches or picking them up from school or running errands.
“The women I work with can feel comfortable asking me to do anything they need,” she continued. “That’s what I’m there for. Sometimes the simplest things in life can have the biggest impact.”
“It helps them having someone in the house who knows what they’re going through and who can predict what they need,” she continued. “Newborn babies go through all sorts of different stages in the first few weeks and I can explain all this to the mothers. I can take her through what’s normal and what she can expect.
“We talk a lot about infant cues as well,” she added. “You can really communicate with a baby if you know what to look for. Babies have a lot of reflexes to get themselves fed, they’re not as helpless as we might think.”
Feeling isolated from the outside world, having no useful support or experiencing relationship or marriage difficulties can also increase the risk of post-partum depression to new mothers, so having an experienced professional on hand, or even just a friendly ear to talk to, can help counteract these feelings.
“Coming home from the hospital, we expect our lives are going to come together perfectly, that if there’s relationship problems they will all go away and everything will be roses,” Germaine said. “In reality, it can be the exact opposite, because new mothers have so much to cope with, on top of trying to bond with the new baby.
“Bonding is a process, it’s not something that happens immediately,” she explained. “Many mothers won’t instantly fall in love with a baby the moment they lay eyes on it and they feel guilty for that, but they shouldn’t. It’s perfectly normal.
“Breastfeeding is also a big part of bonding as mothers get a huge release of oxytocin - the bonding or love hormone - which might help prevent post-partum depression.
“Having an experienced doula in the house to help out gives mums and babies the best chance to bond. If they get a bumpy start, it can be difficult to come back from.”
As well as post-partum doula services, Germaine also offers birth doula, pregnancy massage and baby massage. There are standard packages, or packages can be designed to suit anyone’s needs. For more information, log on to www.fromthewaters.com or contact Germaine on 087-4194222.
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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