Lorena Battistel sums up her work as a doula this way: "It's heart work.
You don't really do it for the money. I'd only encourage a person to become
a doula if they truly love the work."
Battistel has been a doula for many years -- she became involved while
working as a childbirth educator. "I have a love of women and birth. Giving
birth was a powerful and life-changing event for me.... I wanted to make the
birth experience better for women and couples. When the birth experience is
better, it affects them and makes them better parents."
Jo Osberg, a doula, feels it's an honor to support a woman through her
pregnancy and birthing experience. "It takes a special kind of person... it's
more like a calling. In my view, there's no profession more satisfying."
Osberg became fascinated by pregnancy and labor when she gave birth. She
then began supporting her sisters and friends in labor -- well before she'd
even heard of doulas.
When not doing full-time postpartum (after birth) work, Osberg does administrative
work, makes business or networking calls, handles any required research, attends
meetings, visits clients and plans prenatal instruction.
"You need to love working with pregnant, laboring and postpartum women.
You won't get rich being a doula. But as the saying goes, 'There's no life
like it.'"
Ann Tumblin, Doulas of North America (DONA) representative for North Carolina,
has been certified for several years and has 20 years of childbirth education.
Becoming a doula was a natural extension of her career.
Tumblin says some doulas work in hospitals and some are private contractors.
"But not many are full-time doulas. At this point, I wouldn't recommend this
as a full-time profession because it's not a guaranteed means of support,"
she says.
"Doulas offer support and work with women and their partners by acting
as advocates and helping the parents ask the right questions. We try to reduce
the chance of Cesarean [birth through surgery] and try to reduce the use of
intervention."
Susan Martensen is also a member of DONA, and had a doula during the births
of her second and third children. She finds the job fulfilling, but also challenging.
"I'm most fulfilled when I work with a couple and facilitate the birth, but
the couple themselves did it."
Martensen offers two prenatal visits, which usually means spending about
four hours with the mother and partner. "There's a lot of telephone contact
when you get closer to the birth. Then, when it's time, I'll meet them for
the birth."
After the birth, Martensen stays two hours postpartum. Then
she writes a birth story for the parents, which can be cherished for years
to come by the mother, partner and child.
Carolyn Ogren, a doula based in Massachusetts, has been working in this
field on and off for about 30 years. It gives her "the opportunity to support
and empower women and the family, to recognize their strengths, to help with
role model communication and to have responsible decision making in their
life."
Ogren continues to learn from each woman she helps. Being a doula offers
her a mixture of excitement and surprise. "It's exciting to witness a miracle
time after time. The feeling of awe and amazement never diminishes. My values
are frequently challenged as they differ from those of the women I support
and the caregivers with whom I work."
Lisa Sawin, a doula in Connecticut, is on call two days a month with Danbury
Hospital. She's been a doula for three years and became involved because she
loves babies and enjoys being part of an incredible moment.
"You have to be there 100 percent. Nothing can interfere with the birth.
You must be passionate and committed to women. You have to command and lead,
but you can't be in charge. You're directive and under control, but ultimately
it's what the mother wants when she's in labor."