subject: How A Doula Can Help With Postpartum Depression [print this page] A doula is a woman that assists another woman during pregnancy and birth. Doulas provide assistance and support during pregnancy, but not medical or midwifery services. The extent of a doulas help varies from day to day through pregnancy (before and after delivery) according to the needs of the new mother. Doulas are there to make life as easy as possible for new mothers, for their brand new babies, and for the rest of the family as well.
What A Doula Does
Much of what a Seattle doula does involves educating new mothers. By sharing information and being a shoulder to lean on during pregnancy, a doula helps a pregnant woman get educated, comfortable, and ready for the birth process. Most women consult a doula from the moment they discover they are pregnant to ensure a happy and emotionally healthy pregnancy.
A doula is there to assist a woman through the postpartum period, nurturing the new mother and the entire family during this very special time. While a doulas job is to assist, its also important for a doula to help create an environment of independence for the family at the same time.
Helping With Postpartum Depression
Pregnancy and birth is a very emotional time for women, so its no wonder hormones can run wild, causing a new mother to suffer with postpartum depression. Moderate to severe depression affects many women after birth, postpartum depression typically occurs soon after delivery to within the first four weeks.
However, sometimes it can appear months up to a year after birth. In additional to the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, lifestyle changes also contribute to postpartum depression as new mothers are suddenly thrust into an entirely new lifestyle with the birth of a child.
A Seattle Doulas Postpartum Role
Common symptoms of postpartum depression include anxiety, fatigue, lack of appetite, and extreme sadness. New mothers suffering from postpartum depression also experience despair and frightening thoughts about the health of their new baby, and many either want to sleep all the time or cant sleep at all.
A doula helps new mothers through postpartum depression by providing support. By being there to provide support, a new mother can avoid feeling isolated and alone, especially due to the lifestyle changes a new baby brings.
A doula gives a new mother a safe person to express her sadness and even anger to who is there to listen, not judge. By getting these feelings out, new mothers can work through them easier and start to feel better faster without resorting to prescription drugs.
A doula can also help by taking care of the new baby so the mother has some time to herself. This is especially helpful for new mothers that feel extremely overwhelmed by having a new baby.
If youre pregnant or youre planning to get pregnant, consider the advantages of consulting a Seattle doula. Not only can a doula help you through your pregnancy and delivery, but also through the critical first moments of bringing baby home, adjusting to a new life with baby, or recovering from postpartum depression.
