By Derek Cornet

Doula services gaining popularity as classes begin in La Ronge

Sep 20, 2018 | 5:10 PM

Special training in La Ronge beginning Sept. 22 and 23 will give eight women a head start to eventually become a certified doula.

That’s according to Brooke Graham who is instructing the session, along with Director of Doula Canada Shaunacy King. While most of the course work will be completed online, Graham said the training will provide the skills needed to be non-medical professionals who assist women before, during and after birth. Women can either specialize to become labour or post-partum doulas.

“It’s not a new thing, it’s a very old thing,” she said. “It’s been around for as long as women have been having babies, just now it’s more of a profession.”

Graham added people shouldn’t confuse the work of doulas and the services of midwifes. She said while midwives are able to do medical procedures, including delivering babies, doulas support the medical care providers, and give emotional and hands on comfort measures during labour. The number of women looking for services of doulas is increasing, Graham noted, as it improves the outcomes of mothers and babies.

When doulas are hired by pregnant women, she said clients tend to be more active in their labour and are less afraid. Graham noted there’s also a decreased risk in the chances of a caesarean section being needed, although there is no guarantee in all cases.

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

17h ago

snowfall

Extreme weather leads to cancelled flights at La Ronge Airport

18h ago

Tragic events

Sask. Gov't confirms investigation after former Pine Grove inmate passes away in hospital

Apr 16, 2024

“Given the nature of hospitals and health centres, they’re generally really busy and can’t often provide all the emotional support care that’s sometimes needed by certain people and that’s when doulas step in,” she said.

While the women starting the training this weekend won’t be doulas for some time, more information can be found at the Doula Canada or the Boreal Birth Services websites. To be completely certified, the women enrolled will need to finish the course work, pass a final exam and be evaluated during some births.

One client who hired Graham to be her doula was Ivana Cross of La Ronge, who was looking to give birth to her daughter this summer naturally. Cross gave birth in 2015 which didn’t go as planned, which is why she requested the services of a doula. Cross said the experience was like going back in time when women supported other women during birth.

“It was the best decision I ever made and now everyone I know who is having a baby I tell them they need a doula,” she said.

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno