Month: May 2024

Categories
balance vulnerabiliity

The Self-Care Side of Doula Life: Avoiding Burnout with a Smile

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The Self-Care Side of Doula Life: Avoiding Burnout with a Smile

Being a doula is as rewarding as it is challenging. After all, who else can claim their workplace involves bringing new life into the world on a daily basis? But let’s be real, between the 3 AM calls and emotional support marathons, even the most seasoned doulas can feel the wear and tear. That’s why mastering the art of self-care isn’t just nice—it’s essential for survival in the doula biz! Here’s how you can keep your own batteries charged, dodge compassion fatigue, and manage stress with a grin.

1. Start with the Basics: Naptime Isn’t Just for Babies

Remember how parents are always advised to sleep when the baby sleeps? Well, doulas should nap when… anytime possible! Sleep might seem like a luxury when your phone is buzzing with birthing emergencies, but grabbing those Z’s is crucial. Lack of sleep can make anyone grumpy—even those with saint-like patience. So, curtain off some snooze time; your body (and your clients) will thank you.

2. Laugh It Off: The Secret Doula Superpower

Laughter might not be documented in your training manual, but it should be. It’s a stress-buster, a bond builder, and a great way to lighten the mood in tense situations. Try cracking a joke after a long birthing session (timing and audience awareness are key, of course!). A good giggle can refresh the soul just as much as an hour of meditation—plus, it’s more fun.

3. Hydrate Like You’re Prepping for a Marathon (Because You Kind of Are)

Hydration is the unsung hero of doula work. Staying hydrated helps maintain your energy levels, keeps your mind clear, and prevents those pesky headaches that can sneak up after hours in a warm birthing room. Think of your water bottle as an essential tool of the trade—right up there with your comforting presence and soothing words.

4. Find Your Tribe: A Vent Session Does Wonders

Connecting with fellow doulas can be incredibly therapeutic. After all, who better understands the highs and lows of doula life than another doula? Whether it’s a formal support group or an informal coffee meet-up, sharing stories, tips, and maybe some frustrations can help you feel understood and rejuvenated. Plus, it’s a chance to exchange those epic birth stories that only

doulas can truly appreciate it.

5. Set Boundaries Like a Pro

Boundaries are not just for playpens! As doulas, we invest emotionally in our clients’ experiences, which is why it’s vital to know when to step back and recharge. It’s okay to turn off your phone during personal time or to say no when your schedule is packed. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup, and setting boundaries helps ensure your cup stays at least half-full (or however you prefer your coffee).

6. Engage in Non-Doula Delights

Sometimes, the best way to handle the stresses of doula work is to do something utterly unrelated. Take up a hobby that makes you lose track of time—be it painting, hiking, or even salsa dancing. Engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation can provide a much-needed break from your professional life and help keep burnout at bay.

7. Practice Saying ‘I Need Help’

It might come as a surprise, but doulas need support too. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, seek help, whether it’s professional counseling or simply talking to a friend. Admitting you need assistance isn’t a weakness; it’s a profound strength and an integral part of self-care.

8. Celebrate Your Wins, Big and Small

Every birth you assist with, every new mom you comfort, and every dad you reassure is a victory. Celebrate these moments. Keep a joy journal or a smile box where you save notes, photos, or little keepsakes from your clients. During tougher days, these mementos can serve as powerful reminders of why you do what you do.

Wrapping It Up With a Smile

So, dear doulas, while you’re out there changing diapers and lives, remember to take a moment for yourselves. Self-care isn’t just about spa days and bubble baths—it’s about keeping your internal well-being in check so you can continue doing the incredible work you do. And if all else fails, remember, there’s nothing that a good doula dance party can’t fix!

Here’s to you, the unsung heroes in the delivery rooms. Keep thriving, keep smiling, and remember, you’re not just helping to bring new lives into the world—you’re also creating a space of love and care that starts with you.

 

Desiree Wills – Certified Postpartum Doula, DTC Alumni

As a Postpartum Doula, Desiree aims to empower families to approach parenting with self-compassion, a willingness to learn from mistakes, and the understanding that perfection isn’t the goal. She provides essential support, helping families feel more at ease and better prepared for life with a baby, filling the gap that may be left by family and community.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”520909″ img_size=”200×100″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Categories
Maternal Mental Health Mental Health Uncategorised

Embracing the Postpartum Mind

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text title=”Embracing the Postpartum Mind” css=”.vc_custom_1715196675524{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]One of my biggest frustrations as a doula is the inattention paid to women and birther’s postpartum health and recovery. It’s a stark, ongoing manifestation of medical misogyny. Historically, women were seen as vessels for babies. Our health during pregnancy was paramount because a healthy baby was the priority. Once the baby is born, the focus shifts to the baby’s health. Moms and birthers get put in the corner. This is reflected in the growing body of research on the benefits of doula care, most of which focuses on birth support, with little attention paid to the benefits of having a postpartum doula.

Among other concerns, this sweeping aside of birther’s postpartum health contributes to postpartum mental illness, both its development and escalation as it goes unrecognized and untreated.

In every postpartum interaction, I ask the birthing client how they are doing. This often elicits a response about the baby. I hold space for this, answer any questions, and then bring the focus back to how they are doing. There’s often a sense that focusing on themselves after having a baby is somehow “bad parenting”. I use the routine guidance we’re given on planes as a metaphor: You have to get your own oxygen mask on before you can help anyone else. When new mothers and their health concerns get left behind, it’s like we are asking them to sustain someone else’s life with no oxygen mask of their own.

Prenatally, I review what routine postpartum care should include so clients know if anything is falling through the cracks. I also review things that aren’t routine but should be. This includes how to tell if you should be assessed by a pelvic floor physiotherapist, as well as how to tell if you are experiencing postpartum mental illness that should not be dismissed as “baby blues”. In our birth intention setting practice, I ask clients to reflect on the mental health interventions they are open to if the need arises. I ensure that I have referrals at the ready to culturally appropriate therapy, support groups, and self-help resources, along with information on pharmacological and naturopathic options.

Whether they remember any specific information or not doesn’t matter to me. The goal is to ensure that they know that I am a trusted person they can disclose if they are not feeling mentally well after they have their baby. They know ahead of time that I view mental illness as normal, non-shameful, and usually impermanent if the right steps are taken.

A 2022 US-based study that explored birth and postpartum support found that having a postpartum doula lowered the odds of having postpartum depression and anxiety by 57.5%. This data was drawn retrospectively from Medicaid claims in three states that fund doula care. It’s a great example of why our services need to be accessible.

The non-birthing parent can also experience postpartum mental illness which is often overlooked. As part of supporting the whole family, we should be vigilant about this risk and empower non-birthing clients to recognize early warning signs and see help early. Early intervention is critical for ensuring positive outcomes for any mental illness.

Spreading the news about the mental health benefits of having a postpartum doula is a great way to observe Maternal Mental Month and World Maternal Mental Health Day on May 4. It’s especially important to raise awareness among our elected provincial representatives, and health policymakers. These are the people who can ensure needs-based access to doula care.

 

#MATERNALMHMATTERS, #WMMHD #WMMHD2024

 

Keira Grant (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead – Racialized Communities

Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator role. She is a Queer, Black woman with a twenty-year track record in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) education, projects, and community building initiatives.

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Categories
Maternal Mental Health Mental Health Uncategorised

Shining a Light on the Prevalence of Mental Illness

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text title=”Shining a Light on the Prevalence of Mental Illness” css=”.vc_custom_1715195210027{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]At a recent public gathering, I noticed that a speaker referred to a community member exhibiting symptoms of a mental illness as “a person with mental health”. I found the turn of phrase jarring, but couldn’t quite put my finger on why. May is Maternal Mental Health Month and it’s a good opportunity to do the important work of finger placing, that is learning from what that feeling of discomfort is trying to teach.

Referring to mental illness as “mental health” is a confusing effort to euphemize states of mental ill-being. We use euphemisms for one reason: when the subject of conversation makes us profoundly uncomfortable. Clearly, being mentally ill is still taboo.

By age 40, 50% of Canadians will have or will have had a mental illness. It’s important to acknowledge that it is an unwell state that can significantly alter a person’s life. We can be strengths-focused while being honest. People with a range of mental illnesses can be resilient, resourceful, and creative. Some of the disability experienced by people living with mental illness is socially constructed, such as rigid social, cultural, and economic expectations regarding the hours and structure of paid work.

Truthfully, the acute phase of any mental illness does not feel good, and functioning to the best of what you know your ability to be, and meeting your priorities, becomes impossible. Most people would do just about anything to return to a mentally well state. Sometimes, desperation to return to a healthy state can be fatal, if people can’t see any path other than death to return to wellbeing.

Being unable to say you feel awful without shame is part of the problem. Being able to say “I feel like crap right now and I can’t function at my best, or at all” is the first step on the path to wellness.

As doulas, childbirth educators, and birth workers, we have a vital role to play in opening time and space for clients to say they feel ill. We can normalize not always feeling happy right after you have a baby. We can normalize feeling anxious rather than excited during pregnancy. We can normalize still being down months after you lost a pregnancy when everyone is saying “You can just try again.”

Recognizing that your state of ill-being is normal makes it easier to face without fear. With fear removed, it becomes easier to see that this state is temporary and become motivated to explore avenues to becoming mentally healthy.

This month we will spend time unmasking the mental illness behind Maternal Mental Health Month. It has a face, and it has a name. When we name mental illness, it’s like shining a light on the monster under the bed. We see that there’s not as much to fear as we thought and that we have more tools for safety at our disposal than we realized.

 

For more information about Maternal Mental Health visit the World Maternal Health Day website  wmmhday.postpartum.net

#MATERNALMHMATTERS

Keira Grant (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead – Racialized Communities

Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator role. She is a Queer, Black woman with a twenty-year track record in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) education, projects, and community building initiatives.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_header][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”540566″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row]