Digital Doulas - Birth in the Virtual World
The past year has been difficult for a number of reasons. The COVID-19 global pandemic forced many of us to keep a distance from our family, friends, and loved ones in order to keep each other safe. It allowed little forgiveness in the ways of routine, making what once seemed “normal” feel foreign and strange.
One of those previously normal routines included visiting the doctor’s office. Pre-pandemic, you used to be able to bring family, friends, and partners to the hospital for anything from a hangnail to a major surgery. Perhaps one of the areas in which this disruption of normalcy has been felt the most is in the arena of labor and birth.
Babies born in the pandemic were not heralded in with waiting rooms full of family anxiously waiting for their arrival. Birthing parents were not given the option of in-person support, such as a family member or friend, in the room with them during labor. There were few allowances for a doula, midwife, or other medical support staff on the soon-to-be parents’ birthing team other than the in-house nurses and doctors providing immediate care.
However, thanks to modern technology, even being cautious with social distancing during this time, soon-to-be parents could still opt for what is called a Digital Doula in the room with them during their labor, birth, and postpartum stay in the hospital.
What is a Digital Doula?
A Digital Doula is exactly as it sounds - a doula who provides guidance, education, and support through a digital platform. Most often, this digital platform consists of virtual classes, video conferences, phone calls, video chats, text messaging, email, and instructional videos that new parents can engage with as they prepare to become parents. A doula - be it a digital doula or a traditional doula- is there to help you through and beyond all stages of pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Some key services a doula provides are:
Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
Stays with the woman throughout the labor
Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as, helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions
Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of the birth experience
Allows the woman’s partner to participate at their own personal comfort level
It may be hard to picture someone providing most of these services from across a video chat or telephone screen, but here at Beautiful Births and Beyond, we embrace being able to offer our clients support whenever and wherever, regardless of distance, location, or circumstance.
How does a Digital Doula work?
As with traditional doula services, Digital Doula sessions are tailored to what you and your partner want and need in order to get what you want out of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. This can include weekly one-on-one education sessions via Zoom or another video platform. It can look like online group classes for birthing, breast feeding, postpartum support, or just general support throughout the process. It can involve easing a racing, anxious mind through a reassuring text, email, or quick phone call. Digital Doulas offer all of the same support, care, love, and knowledge that traditional doulas do, just via a different platform. Here’s what one client had to say about her Digital Doula experience with Beautiful Births & Beyond:
“I had an amazing birth experience and even though due to COVID [Colleen] wasn’t able to physically be present during labor and delivery, she had equipped me and my husband with knowledge and confidence to get through the toughest times with no stress or anxiety. Colleen goes far beyond just being your doula – she is like your guiding angel who is always there when you need her – and I am so grateful for that!” - Tanya, September 2020
How do I choose a Digital Doula?
The most important thing to remember when choosing a Digital Doula is that you are in control of your plan. Although a Digital Doula most likely will not be in-person for most, if any, of your pregnancy and birthing experience, that does not mean they cannot support you in the ways you need. Some key questions to ask when choosing your own Digital Doula may include:
If you are not physically in the room, what kind of support, education, or techniques can you provide to make sure I am comfortable during labor?
Are you comfortable talking to my doctor over video or telephone call if I don’t understand what’s going on?
Are you able to advocate for me and my wants and needs over a video screen if I can’t do it myself in the moment?
How accessible will you be via text/call/video if I have a question or need reassurance?
Obviously, there are a plethora of other questions to ask, all tailored to how you envision your birth going. At Beautiful Births & Beyond, our number one goal is giving you all the resources, education, opportunities, and empowerment to make your birthing experience exactly what you want it to be.
“My labor started with my water breaking around 2am, and it was Colleen that I texted in the middle of the night, more than 12 hours before I made the call to my OB’s office. Colleen coached me and my husband through early contractions over the phone … just as I had hoped, I was able to labor mostly at home, arriving at the hospital just in time to push. Had I wanted to go to the hospital sooner, or wanted an epidural, or needed a C-section, I know Colleen would have been supportive as she truly respects your intuition as to what is right.” - Alexis W., February 2020
While the past year has held so much uncertainty with the pandemic and what the future will look like as we move out of our quarantine lives, it is comforting to know that one of the oldest and most sacred events of all time still take place, and that there is still support out there for you in this socially-distanced digital world. Birth is something the body already knows how to do, but with Beautiful Births & Beyond, we can help it be an experience you will create and cherish for yourself for years to come.
Book a 20 minute Digital Doula consultation online with us today to see for yourself what Digital Doula services we can offer you and your family at Beautiful Births & Beyond.
