I am a trained Postpartum Doula. In California I was never asked what I offer when I work as a Postpartum Doula, now I get asked that question pretty much daily. And I understand why! Sweden has a very different social system built around pregnancy and childbirth compared to some other countries. BUT that doesn't mean Swedish women don't have the same basic needs as women in the US for example. After all, we are all women!
In Sweden, we expect maternity care to work and we think that it is enough to go to the MVC (checkups given by midwifes focusing on the pregnancy) during pregnancy, go to the maternity ward and BB (the delivery suit at the hospital) when it is time to give birth and then go home and visit the BVC (checkups given by midwifes focusing on the baby's development) at regular intervals. Ideally, the father is home for 10 days around the time of the birth. It is extremely rare that I hear that this arrangement works well. Somewhere in the system there is a flaw. And usually it is on the return home. The mother (and father) may feel lost and not know how to handle the new little life that has come home with them, the siblings may not enjoy having another person fighting for the parents' attention, the mother may not have had the birthing experience she so dearly wanted and needs to talk through what didn't go so well, etc etc. This is an incredibly exciting time in life, but it is also a period in life where many things are put to the test.
As a Postpartum Doula, I come to the family's home so that they feel supported and safe in their new life situation. What I do next can really vary, it's the family's needs that guide me. It can be anything from breastfeeding advice to bathing baby. A big part of my job is to take the pressure off the mother so that she can recover better from pregnancy and childbirth. A safe and balanced mom usually makes for a safe and balanced baby!
When I tell Swedish moms what I do, almost everyone who has already had a baby says, "Wow, what if I had that help when I had a baby! And then comes a comment like - I had problems with breastfeeding. - I had problems sleeping. - I couldn't cook. - Nothing worked! - The people who came to visit expected to cuddle the baby while I made coffee. But I couldn't!
In California, planning not only for the time around pregnancy, but also for the time after childbirth was a matter of course for many. Women asked themselves the question - What do I need/want when I come home with a baby? People planned to have a postpartum doula already during pregnancy and hired one well before giving birth. In Sweden, I know that many people come home after giving birth and are struck by how hard it is to become a mother and be that “good girl” who can do everything on her own.
But now I'm here, at least for families in the Stockholm area. Becoming a mother should be a positive challenge! It should not be a period of survival in your life, but a period where a new life actually starts and where the mother can be a mother in her own way! Every family situation is unique, which makes my job so incredibly exciting! Get in touch if you want to know more!
johanna@lifebyjohanna.com
Thought of the day:
Would you choose another cute baby garment or some helping hands after childbirth? Imagine if we'd had a postpartum doula when our second child was born. What a difference it would have made!!!
This article is part of The 50 day challenge, where I challenge myself to write an article a day for 50 days! The articles can be about anything, short or long, but I can't miss a single day!