It's His Experience Too!
From Dude to Dad
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As a wife and mother to three grown sons the transition from"dude to dad" is especially close to my heart. For many generations dads were written off as smoking, pacing disconnected members of this amazing event! The strange thing is I don't believe they ever wanted it this way. It is what our culture did to them and expected of them! These days dads are active partners in birth. Doulas are for dads too and play on the same team! Doulas share ideas with dads and teach them techniques so they can offer adequate comfort measures to their partner during labor and birth.
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John & Baby Bella
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I have a very special place in my heart for the new dad. I have learned over the years that birth is his experience too. Dads have many concerns of their own surrounding birth. Often times they are consumed with the financial responsibility a new life will bring. They may also have reservations about their effectiveness and may feel overwhelmed by the role expected of them. There is very little opportunity for a dad to voice his concerns. This is a new and life changing event for him as well, yet very little focus is placed on his abilities to cope. Birth is every much a dad's experience too. A dad who feels confident and connected to the birth of his baby will have a smooth transition of bonding with his new little one. The bonding time for a new dad and his baby is every bit as important as a mother's bond. Doulas can provide the tools and reassurance necessary for a positive experience for dads as they enter into fatherhood.
Thoughts from Dads
Scott (Dad to Elliot)
Sweet Baby Axel
"When Stephanie and I were first discussing seeking out a doula, I have to admit I was slightly apprehensive…and by apprehensive I mean cynical. In all honesty I was very naive to what the actual process was and I wasn’t sure I wanted someone I knew very little to be a vital part in the most important moment of our lives. The more we discussed I realized that this was something that was very important to Steph, and understanding she would be doing 99.9% of the work, I agreed. We didn’t have to look hard, Steph’s mother recommended Teresa to us and we were extremely lucky she did. The first time I met her I felt like I had known her for some time. She was kind, warm, endlessly knowledgeable and most importantly to us, a good listener. We told her our birth plan (after she explained to us what one actually was) and she was very receptive.
Finally, we were ten days past Steph’s due date, and the big day finally arrived. Teresa met us at the hospital and immediately joined our team. She was reassuring, positive and very helpful; she lent a gentle, soothing voice between contractions and a strong supportive hand during them. She was proactive in making sure our birth plan was adhered to as much as possible and served as our interpreter when the medical staff used terms over our heads. She was, in a word, amazing. Steph gave birth to our healthy, happy and handsome son Elliott that afternoon, all nine pounds of him. It was the best day of our lives and Teresa played an integral part in it. Could we have given birth to Elliott without her? Sure. Would we have wanted to? Never, of course not. She was in control yet never made me feel like I was out of the loop."
Finally, we were ten days past Steph’s due date, and the big day finally arrived. Teresa met us at the hospital and immediately joined our team. She was reassuring, positive and very helpful; she lent a gentle, soothing voice between contractions and a strong supportive hand during them. She was proactive in making sure our birth plan was adhered to as much as possible and served as our interpreter when the medical staff used terms over our heads. She was, in a word, amazing. Steph gave birth to our healthy, happy and handsome son Elliott that afternoon, all nine pounds of him. It was the best day of our lives and Teresa played an integral part in it. Could we have given birth to Elliott without her? Sure. Would we have wanted to? Never, of course not. She was in control yet never made me feel like I was out of the loop."
Steve (Dad to Patrick & Michael)
Emile & Baby Maya
"Looking back it seems like a lifetime ago when we first interviewed Teresa as a prospective doula. I was very skeptical about the whole idea of having a doula. After all what was this third person going to do? We didn't have a doula with our first child and I didn't see the need for the second. I felt like she was going to take my place and I wasn't thrilled about the idea. We interviewed several doulas and Teresa was the last one we met with. When she left our home I completely understood the reason to hire a doula. I felt comfortable with her right away. She didn't make me feel threatened or that she would be taking over my role like I had originally thought. She seemed to know just what we needed before we even knew ourselves. I knew she was the one I wanted to hire to help us through the birth. What I didn't expect was how much we really needed her and how close we would become in the process. Having Teresa as our doula was the best decision we could have ever made."
Bob (Dad to Cole & Dean, & Emmett)
"Thank you so much for all of your contact and for all of your support. Not only did we develop a relationship with you as our doula, but you have become a valued friend. Thank you so much for standing with us as we navigated this journey from beginning to end. Thank you for your listening ear, your supportive voice, and your warm hugs. We have been blessed to know you."
Brian (Dad to Maia)
"How can we begin to thank you for all the wonderful assistance you've provided for us, both during and after the birth. Thanks to your help we were confident during labor and feel more competent in raising our daughter! We feel lucky to have met you, your caring nature and vast experience kept us buoyed through all the challenges."
Ed (Dad to Ella)
"There is so much we want to thank you for and a lot is hard to put into words. Thank you for the time and energy you sacrificed for our lengthy labor. Two sleepless nights were above and beyond. Thank you for your guidance and companionship; your presence and experience provided comfort and reassurance to both of us. Thank you for your kind heart, soft words, compassion and understanding, gentle guidance, open ears and so much more! Thank you for being part of our daughter's birth and helping to make it a positive experience."