Dads and Doulas

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A Doula is there to help the father, as much as they help the mother. It's not fair to expect the father to remain focused and calm, when his wife is struggling with pain or having a complicated birth. A Doula can help support the father, so he can more importantly concentrate on his wife.

A Doula can also help the father who wants to really be active and provide all the physical and emotional support. With hints, reminders, and advice during the birth, a Doula helps so he can just focus on his wife. Is the mother having back labor? The father may not recognize this, or even know what to do. But the doula is trained to figure out what's bothering the mother the most, and all the possible ways to help her feel more comfortable. The doula can tell the dad what she thinks would help his wife best, while he does the actual work and support.

The doula can also bring drinks and snacks to the father, so he can keep up his energy during the long labor. She can take the time to speak with nurses or seek out extra pillows, allowing the father to stay with his wife without interruption.

Most labors last several hours, sometimes lasting 12 hours and longer. A doula's presence allows the father to take guilt free breaks. He can go get a bite to eat, or take a nap, without feeling that he left his wife alone. Whether he needs to take just a few breaks during labor, or he prefers to switch every hour with the doula to keep his energy up, it will allow the mother to feel supported and cared for continuously.

Society places a lot of pressure on fathers to provide the sole support for their partner's during labor. But many fathers would prefer to just experience the moment with their wives, without the pressure to perform.

A doula can provide full support for the mother, allowing the father to take a back-seat from active support, and give him the chance to experience the birth alongside her. Before the birth, it's important that the doula, mother, and father all sit together and talk about how they envision the childbirth. It's also important that the father participate in choosing and hiring the doula, since they should both feel comfortable with whomever they choose to attend this special moment in their lives.

Day 1 aims to teach New Dads the same tools and techniques that Doulas are taught. Being a 'Daddy Doula' will certainly help even more if you decide to hire a Labor/ Postpartum Doula during the childbirth process. You will better understand their role and better direct them to your needs and your partner's needs during the birth.