Local Woman Provides Expectant Mothers With Emotional, Physical Support
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake resident Brooke Friedberg makes pregnancy a little easier for families by providing emotional and physical comfort during the course of a client's pregnancy.
Friedberg serves as a birth doula for her business, Compassionate Doula Care, and has assisted physically and emotionally four clients get through births in the past year.
A doula is an experienced non-medical assistant who provides physical, emotional and informed choice support for women during prenatal care, childbirth and during the postpartum period.
Doula is a Greek word meaning a woman who serves. There are two types of doulas serving different purposes.
A birth doula provides continuous care to a woman before and during a woman's pregnancy.
A postpartum doula provides services in the home, including housekeeping and running errands the next day after a woman gives birth to six weeks after postpartum.
Friedberg, 25, knew she wanted to become a birth doula after she gave birth to her first child, Grace, in 2005.
She said she had 24 hours of labor that ended in a C-section.
"I asked God why I went through such a painful C-section, but that led me to become a doula to help woman so they could experience the same care, satisfaction and joy with the birth experience that I felt when I gave birth to my second child," Friedberg said.
She was pregnant in 2006 with her second child, Avery, and she wanted to have a vaginal birth after a caesarean, but thought that might be difficult after having a caesarean section with her first child.
A friend suggested she have a birth doula to help her with her second pregnancy.
"I could notice the difference between my birth process when I had a doula helping me," Friedberg said.
She said having a doula helped her with breathing techniques and informed her of what was going on while she was giving birth.
"A pregnant woman sometimes feels vulnerable and a doula serves as her advocate," Friedberg said.
The first time she served as a doula was for a woman who was from China and lived in Chicago.
To become a doula, Friedberg went to an intensive seminar to learn emotional comfort measures, breathing techniques and positioning for pregnant women.
She had to assist with three labors before she became a certified birth doula in 2006 from Dona International, an organization that trains and certifies doulas.
She said a doula does not take the place of a doctor, nurse or husband, but serves as a support role.
"I don't make decisions or influence a woman's decision for her birth, but inform her of the advantages and disadvantages of procedures so she is comfortable with her childbirth," Friedberg said.
Friedberg is a stay-at-home mom, but is on call once she has a client to support them throughout the nine months.
She said her main goal as a doula is to make sure the mother and father are reassured and relaxed before, during and after a pregnancy.
"The doula's goal is to help the woman have a safe and satisfying childbirth as the woman defines it," Friedberg said.
"When a doula is present, some woman feel less need for pain medications because they have additional encouragement."
Services Friedberg offers as a doula include staying with the woman throughout labor and delivery, suggesting comfortable labor positions and informing the woman of medical procedures.
She said a doula does not take the place of the father, but allows the father to take breaks while the doula stays at the pregnant woman's side.
"A supported birth is the healthy and empowering gateway to a healthier and more empowering parenting experience," Friedberg said.
She said she grows close to the woman and family while serving as a doula.
"I remember every child like it is my own that I serve as a doula for, and visit the family a week after the birth to make sure they are fine," Friedberg said.
She currently is serving as a doula to two women in Warsaw and Fort Wayne.
Warsaw resident Shelly Gilliand assists Friedberg with being a doula.
Gilliand is a grandmother of two and has been a doula for four years. She has been a doula for 12 births in Warsaw, Goshen and Fort Wayne.
"Being a doula is the most rewarding thing I have done," Gilliand said.
Friedberg said there is a fee for her services. To learn more about Friedberg, visit her Web site at compasionatedoulacare.com or to learn what it takes to become a doula visit dona.org
