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Doula is an ancient Greek term that has come to mean
"mothering the mother"; a Doula is a trained labor assistant. The
mission of the Community Doula Program is to educate and nurture
expectant youth in disadvantaged neighborhoods, by cultivating a network
of peer Doulas from the community itself.
The purpose of the Community
Doula Program is twofold. The primary objective is to provide
integrated education, hands-on assistance and support during pregnancy,
labor and birth, breastfeeding and early motherhood through Doulas. The
second objective is to cultivate a network of trained, peer Doulas from
the communities served.
The Community Doula Program recruits
and trains young mothers to serve as mentors to at-risk pregnant teens
and young mothers from their own community. These mentors, called
Doulas, help young expectant mothers develop and maintain healthy
lifestyles during pregnancy, breastfeeding and early motherhood through
in-depth integrated educational sessions and emotional support.
The program's three distinguishing characteristics are: 1) in-depth
integrated basic education spanning the range of issues a young mother
needs to be informed about from nutrition, to pregnancy and labor,
breastfeeding and early child care; 2) integration of education and
emotional support, particularly labor support at the hospital; and 3)
training and mentoring of women from the community itself, providing
culturally-sensitive services and creating a lasting multiplier effect
as Doulas remain in the communities helping others for a long time.
We provide six key integrated services: 1) Classes on pregnancy &
nutrition, labor & birth, breastfeeding and early child care and
development; 2) One-on-one support throughout pregnancy; 3) Labor
support at the hospital; 4) Hands-on breastfeeding counseling and
support; 5) Post-partum and post-partum depression assistance (in
collaboration with other agencies); 6) Recruitment and training of peer
Doulas.
It is not only important to provide teenage women with
prenatal education throughout their pregnancy, it is also important to
provide support during pregnancy and labor so the birthing and parenting
process can be a positive one for them, with stronger mother-child bonds
and positive role models the young women can relate to. Because of the
integrated in-depth information and personal attention, women feel
strengthened and empowered to start asking questions and assuming the
responsibility of their child's development and family health.
By training Doulas who remain in the community, not only do we help keep
the women healthy and teach them to take care of their families in the
long-term, but we also improve the effectiveness of interactions with
the healthcare system, where language barriers and cultural differences
can often lead to inadequate care. Doulas receive extensive classroom
and hands-on training focused on preventive health and entrepreneurial
skills. They remain in the communities served referring and helping
neighbors and friends, thereby creating a lasting multiplier effect.
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