Pregnancy is a wonderful yet very challenging experience. It puts us in this very powerful yet vulnerable position: a new life is being created in our wombs, and oh do we have questions about all the magic happening in our bodies?
No matter how we experience it, we can all agree on one thing, it’s a big journey. And i find important to have someone knowledgeable and reassuring to refer to, all along and even after the big day. Well, that person could be a Doula. So to tell you more about it in the most accurate way possible, I decided to interview a Doula. Her name is Tamara, she is an authentic woman who’s energy I love.
Now let’s get to know more about her and her passion for motherhood.
It’s important for mothers (whether new mothers or mothers who already have children) to always have a support system and help.
Please present yourself
My name is Tamara, and I am a holistic energy healer, a doula, and a spiritual counselor. The 3 main aspects of my personality I would say are introvert, nurturer, and highly spiritual. I am a mother of a beautiful daughter. I had a natural and drug-free (meaning no epidural) birth at home with my midwife and two doulas. Yes, I delivered right on my bed! And I really love motherhood. It’s an effortless thing for me to be a mother because I’m naturally very nurturing.
Can you briefly explain what is a doula?
A doula is a birth assistant, a trained and certified professional who provides information, as well as emotional and physical support to women during pregnancy and childbirth. She can also assist them after the birth (postpartum phase).
How did you become a doula?
I first thought about becoming a midwife and a doula, way before I got pregnant. I had been spiritually aligned with this vision for years. At the time, it was just an idea in my mind, but I had researched on it thoroughly. Then when I got pregnant, I always knew I wanted a natural home birth so I contacted the midwife I had found through my research, and when I met her, she told me she was teaching doula certification classes. And so it manifested. I took all the levels (Doula I, Doula !!, and Postpartum Doula).
I make myself available to them emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
I understand a mother’s need for support, reassurance, information, as well as an ear to listen to them, and sometimes a shoulder to cry on.
At what stage of the pregnancy do you usually start working with your patients?
I usually start working with my clients at the second semester.
How would you describe your relationship with your patients?
It’s hard to find a word to define it because my relationships are different. It’s never the exact same experience. But in most cases, we are usually very close, and because I’m a spiritual counselor, oftentimes I end up being more than a doula to the mother, or the couple. I have done spiritual therapy with couples before for example. I have done spiritual therapy with a depressed pregnant woman. Otherwise, it’s always a fun, close, and spiritual relationship. They are very open with me about their feelings, their fears, their emotions, their lives. And I make myself available to them emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually, because I understand how it can be scary sometimes, especially for young mothers, new mothers, foreign mothers, and single mothers. And I understand a mother’s need for support, reassurance, information, as well as an ear to listen to them, and sometimes a shoulder to cry on. I am passionate by my work so I am effortlessly there when needed.
I am also a certified Yoni Steam practitioner, meaning I do vaginal steams after the birth to repair the uterus from the stress and sometimes damage caused by labor.
What type of help do you provide during your patient’s pregnancy?
I provide emotional and physical support (for example being present at their appointments with the gynaecologist), as well as information on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum stage (for example how to do a perineum massage to avoid vaginal tears, what happens in the different semesters, what exams are really necessary or not, how to massage the back during contractions to diminish the pain, what happens during labor, how to care for the baby, etc). I also offer my own personal services. I am a certified Reiki Master in energy healing. Reiki has many benefits holistically (meaning emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally). It reduces stress and pain, balances the spirit and emotions, clears the mind, and way more. And it is great for babies! It calms them and makes them less fussy. I usually offer it to my clients to reduce contraction pains, to relax them from stress (because pregnancy can be a stressful experience in some cases). But I sometimes also offer it to babies if they have colic. I am also a certified Yoni Steam practitioner, meaning I do vaginal steams after the birth to repair the uterus from the stress and sometimes damage caused by labor. I also do herbal baths as well in the postpartum stage to cleanse the mother after the birth. I do visualization and affirmation work as well to manifest the birthing experience that the mother (and father) want to have.
How do you help your patients elaborate their birth plan?
I sit down with them and listen to their needs and desires. From them I can help them determine their birth plan according to what would work best for them.
I have my own customized package to make sure they really have everything they need.
What type of assistance do you provide during labor?
I provide emotional and physical support. I make sure they drink a lot and eat. I massage them through the contractions. I do breathing exercises. I have my own customized package to make sure they really have everything they need.
Now how does it work? Are you available 24/7?
I always make myself available to my clients when they need me. They can call me, and I can see them as well, if they need my company when they go see the gynaecologist for example. Around the time of the birth, I would make myself more available because we never know if the baby can come earlier than the due date.
What do you love the most about being a doula?
Seeing a mother in all her powers on the day of the delivery. Every experience is always different so I love to see the variety of experiences. I love to witness the mother’s strength, the father’s support and involvement. It’s such a spiritual and emotional moment to witness and this really touches me the most.
Postpartum depression is a risk faced by all women after giving birth. What is your advice on this issue?
Women need support. Because I’m also a spiritual counselor, I’ve dealt with a few mothers who were affected by post partum depression. And in most cases, these mothers are alone and get no help or support. So it’s important for mothers (whether new mothers or mothers who already have children) to always have a support system and help.
I love to witness the mother’s strength.
Do your services apply to women with high risk pregnancies. If yes, how? Knowing that usually those women give birth by C-Section.
Yes, my services also cater to women with high risk pregnancies. Most of the time these women can be on bed rest so I will visit them personally when it’s time for our meetings, since I know they can’t move around much. I always make myself more available because we never know what can happen. There can be many reasons why a woman has a high risk pregnancy. Sometimes the woman’s uterus is too low, or they dilate too early in the pregnancy, or they can have gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, etc.
If anybody wants to know more about your services, how can they reach you?
They can message me at tamaraduliepre@gmail.com. My instagram account is @mamaoracle. I literally check my messages everyday and I answer quickly.
Thank you Tamara !
