How a Doula Can Help You

Physical and mental support during the most important moments of one’s life. That’s how a doula would describe her work. What else can she help you with?

A doula acts on your behalf when you’re too strained to speak for yourself. Becomes a helpful interpreter between you and the hospital staff. And much more than that — as Jana Mrkvičková, a Czech-based doula, has explained to us. Apart from being both a birth and postnatal doula, Jana also works as a lactation consultant and a long-term cloth diaper consultant for Bamboolik. She has been running her own cloth diaper webshop for years. Quite complex birth&baby-related services!

Hi, Jana! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. For how long have you been a doula?

It’s been almost four years since I joined the year-long training for postpartum doulas at the Czech Doula Association. My kids were still quite small at that time and I was also pregnant with my third, so accompanying women at birth was out of the question for me. I needed to wait until my youngest grew older before I could complete the birth doula training.

What is your original profession?

I studied media communication. Because I had the chance to live in Australia between my bachelor and master degree, I managed to find a job in tourism — first at a travel agency and then for an airline — Cathay Pacific. It was a great time of travelling but the job also required me being in the office 8–5, Monday to Friday. I knew that once I had children, I wanted to arrange my life differently. During my own pregnancies, three childbirths and postpartum periods, I gained a lot of valuable experience and I wanted to share it to help other mums. When my oldest son was just one year old, I became a cloth diaper consultant for Bamboolik and have been advising parents how to use cloth diapers ever since. Then I added lactation consulting as well; and finally, I have become a doula.

What was your main reason for becoming a doula?

I always wanted my job to have a higher purpose, I wanted to help people. And what can be more important than a good (and positive) memory of childbirth? Not traumatic in the least — both for the mum and the baby. Then comes the postpartum period after birth, a very demanding time when new mums have to adapt to their new role, their moods keep changing every hour due to hormones and they might struggle with breastfeeding. Which is a very sensitive topic by the way — I know that as I went through a breastfeeding struggle myself. To sum up, I wanted to support women in the early stage of motherhood, so that they come out of it stronger and confident. Not exhausted and unhappy.

Very nicely put! A lot of women are knackered at the end of their maternity leave. It’s great to turn things around.

Exactly! It’s a great honour for me when a client puts such trust in me and I can support her during the most important moments of her life. I never stop feeling privileged for being present at childbirth, to witness a new life and the start of a new family. It’s the best satisfaction I can get.

No doubt about that! Is that what you enjoy the most about being a doula?

It sure is! And then the fact that it’s quite adventurous. You never know how your day is going to turn out, what you’re going to do this very afternoon. The absolute time flexibility is quite demanding and my entire family had to adapt to that. We will definitely never fall into a rut!

Your work must be full of emotions. Is there an experience that really stands out, emotion-wise?

There’s one that really stuck with me. A very demanding job but with an absolutely thrilling happy end. It was a VBAC which means natural (vaginal) birth after a previous C-section. When I say demanding, it’s because it was super long and full of suspension. We got to the hospital at 2 AM and by 6 PM, there was still not much happening, the progress was so slow. Naturally, the doctor in charge was eager to induce it medically. We had been in the delivery booth for more than 20 hours, everybody was extremely tired and the induction was about to start. At that moment, my client finally let herself be fully absorbed by the delivery process, she literally let everything go. And just like that, in less than an hour, her baby was born, naturally, without any induction necessary. Such a memorable experience. Not to mention I had to ask a friend to bring me dinner and a toothbrush, so I could stay on.

Suppose I’m considering your services. What can I expect you to do for me?

When preparing for childbirth, it’s important that the client and I get to know each other first, we need to get in tune, so to speak. This is crucial so that we can communicate effectively. It applies also to other people who will be present in the delivery room. I usually meet the client at least three times before the due date, to discuss things thoroughly and get 100% ready. Clients tell me their wishes, ask for my recommendations, and we choose the hospital together. I talk clients through the process, tell them what to expect, we also discuss the challenges of pregnancy and how to get ready for breastfeeding and the postpartum period. Two weeks before the due date, I switch into my 24/7 availability mode. Once in the delivery room, I stay with my client all the time, make sure the atmosphere is as she prefers it, I help physically — by positioning, applying natural pain remedy, and also function as a mental support. I tune to the client and do exactly what she needs at a particular moment — which varies for each client. I like to use aromatherapy and herbs, I play soothing music, I massage the client using oil or the Rebozo wrap. After the baby is born, I stay as long as my client wishes me to. Then I visit again, either while the client is still in the hospital or already at her house.

How would you convince me to get a doula?

Getting a doula means you get a helpful guide who helps you climb the high mountain of early motherhood. She’s there for you all the time, helps you overcome doubts, she’s your partner in crime. She supports you at times when you feel down and she stays by your side no matter how your delivery turns out. By the way, studies and data confirm that deliveries with a doula present have better results, statistically speaking.

How do the hospital staff treat you? I feel that they might feel you’re getting in the way of getting their job done.

I mostly go to doula-friendly hospitals where the staff react positively to my presence. Or at least are neutral about it. The nurses like that I do some parts of their job for them — they usually tend to more patients at once and know that when I’m there, my client as their patient is well cared for. I always have an agreement with the nurses that I ring them in case we need them — which gives me and my client a lot of privacy. During the final pushing stage, I cooperate with the medical staff to help the client give birth as smoothly and the most naturally as possible. Of course, it’s not so ideal everywhere, but choosing the hospital carefully can really help. I like to say that it pays off to drive a bit further to get the most respectful approach to childbirth.

Is there anything about Czech healthcare that bothers you? Something you wish was different?

I’ll start on a positive note. Speaking of hospitals in the Czech Republic, the situation is getting better and better, staff are finally starting to treat pregnant women as clients, not patients. That’s not just my impression, we agree on that with other doulas. Maybe as there are less babies being born, hospitals actually try to win clients over. I really wish this respectful approach will become a standard in Czech hospitals! I wish some procedures, now viewed as above-the-standard, would become part of the regular routine everywhere. Such as delayed umbilical cord clamping, zero mother-baby separation, and practising baby bonding right after delivery.

You mentioned bonding. What benefits does it bring?

Baby bonding is the most natural thing in the world. Your newborn baby is laid on your stomach, skin to skin, right after delivery. It helps create an immediate bond between the mother and her baby, it calms them both down. For the mother, bonding decreases stress levels and prevents postpartum depression; for the baby, bonding makes them feel secure, loved and protected. Mother and baby fall in love with each other while still in the delivery room. In addition, the skin-to-skin contact boosts up lactation and helps the baby latch correctly. It also regulates the baby’s temperature and other vital functions (even breathing and heartbeat). Babies on their mothers’ chests cry less and usually attempt to latch right away.

I suppose your services don’t end with childbirth, do they?

You’re right, I do offer additional services. Most popular are lactation consultations — because when you manage to breastfeed successfully, everything else becomes easier. I tend to clients that hired me as their birth doula but also to other women who call for me. The postpartum care is there to reflect on your delivery — I listen, give advice, and share my experience. I advise clients on the correct and healthy manipulation with their baby, share sleeping hacks, or recommend a reliable tummy ache remedy. I teach them how to use a baby wrap or an ergonomic carrier, I explain the Elimination Communication method and how to use cloth diapers, if they’re interested.

So your services help new mums take care of their newborn babies. Can I generalise like that?

True, I’ve just listed baby-related services. It makes sense when you think about it — your hormones (and moods) are all over the place during the postpartum period. If your baby cries all the time because of persistent tummy aches, or because you struggle with breastfeeding, the best approach is to solve the crying baby problem — it will make you feel better instantly. But I do offer just mum-related services and I really recommend treating yourself to one of them, you deserve it! Such as belly massaging, which is done with soothing herbs and warm oil, or tending to the C-section scar. I strongly believe that when the new mum enjoys a little care just for her, it pays off a million times.

Thanks so much for the interview, Jana! Where can clients find you?

I come from the Czech Republic, so I offer my services in the West and South Bohemia region. Around Pilsen, Rakovník, Hořovice, Příbram, Klatovy, and also in Prague.

Got you interested in bonding? Here’s our Bonding Blanket for the most precious first moments with your baby: