Hello from your Taranaki doula!

I'm Carol and I'm your Taranaki doula! I thought I would share a little a bit about me, and what I have been up to!

For the last two years I have had a paid volunteer role as the antenatal convenor for the Parents Centre in New Plymouth. During this time I taught the comfort measures component and facilitated a role play explaining how hormones affect labour.

I am also peer support volunteer for Tui Ora and attend a drop in clinic once a fortnight and enjoy meeting and giving Mums breast feeding support.

I love learning more and have attended seminars – some online but I love the excuse to travel  . Topics have included Postnatal Depression, Māori birth practices, Breastfeeding Issues, Pelvic floor …there are many opportunities out there and are a great way to network, spread the doula word and be encouraged.

I have joined Active Birth Taranaki who are running a four week series called Choices in Childbirth starting April 24th. I am taking the comfort measures class which includes a role play of hormones in birth. Each couple receives a goodie bag and brochure with comfort measure ideas and what I offer as a doula.

Recently I partnered with SupportingHer to help promote their antenatal classes for partners. Here is a preview for you…

• Being a great support to a mother in labor can be challenging. The goal of this class is to help prepare you for this role by equipping you with ideas, tools and strategies.

• The class is designed specifically for partners, but can certainly be viewed as a couple!

• In just under 2 hours, the following topics are covered:

• defining your role in labor

• the timeline of labor, birth and the postpartum period

• how to effectively give encouragement

• taking care of yourself

• how to communicate with care providers and hospital staff

• dealing with the unexpected

Offering my doula services through Timebank Taranaki is another venture I am trying out. I think the idea of bartering for a service is great as I would like to help everyone I can, even if they might not be able to afford a doula. Looking forward to seeing where it leads.

Keeping busy and feeling productive (as well as a glass of red wine and a movie!) are some of my passions and I am loving and flowing in something much bigger and rewarding than I could ever imagine.

I love feedback – let me know your thoughts!

Bye for now…