Doula Support in Pregnancy and Postpartum
After attending birth for several years, I now support families in Berlin both in pregnancy and postpartum, in English and Italian.
I am a certified doula with DONA International, which described a doula as “a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible”.
My experience as a doula has been amplified and deepened since 2020 as a facilitator at weekly groups that supports new and future mothers and parents at Familienzentren in Berlin.
Postpartum
The postpartum time brings new and diverse challenges, from the identity shift that becoming a mother involves, to very practical questions. My role as a doula is to help parents find balance in their personal and social reality. Postnatal meetings can include:
Information and emotional support - Debriefing the experience of birth and answering any remaining questions, finding the network of support available to support the new family.
Physical support - Caring for the mother’s physical recovery with movement and breathing, gentle touch to release tension from the body, and massage starting from 15 days after birth.
Practical support - Light housekeeping, meal preparation, baby care, and whatever is needed for the family.
In pregnancy
Welcoming a new life is a miracle. I am devoted to protect this deeper meaning and to make sure that a person going through this process remains connected to their sense of agency and empowerment. Prenatal meetings can include:
Information and emotional support– Exploring the family’s needs and wishes around birth, and discussing evidence-based information to prepare birth preferences (or write a birth plan), working through fears.
Physical support – Practicing positions, movements, breathing and relaxation techniques for pregnancy and labour, and encouraging baby’s optimal positioning with fascia touch and the principles of Spinning Babies ®.
Partner support – Preparing the birth partner to support with their presence, touch and techniques to help with intensity in labour.
Postpartum preparation - Planning for the arrival of the baby, what to expect from daily life, possible challenges and what could help.
More about my doula background
Midwife Ibu Robin Lim (“Placenta – The Forgotten Chakra”), doula Debra Pascali Bonaro (“Orgasmic Birth”) and midwife Mala Landt trained me as a doula with DONA International.
In Berlin I continued by training at the Center for Doula Pathways, where I also learned fascia touch.
In Mexico I was trained by local midwives in Maya massage for fertility, pregnancy and postpartum.
Spinning Babies® techniques help restore balance and make room for the baby in the mother’s body.
This is a beautiful video course for future parents featuring Michel Odent and Liliana Lammers.
