Jacksonville Doula Services and Childbirth Education

Childbirth. Such a simple concept right? Baby in… baby out. Like most other important life events, there are many decisions to be made along the way. Not only are you planning the biggest DIY project you will ever do, but you are also navigating the unfamiliar territory of the ever-changing medical world and are sometimes slowed by physical symptoms of pregnancy. Just when you need to be your sharpest, nature plays a little trick on you and slows you down.

What is the best way to battle these limitations? A birth doula, of course! A doula is a birth buddy — teacher, advocate, sidekick, birth coach, and friend — who speaks birth, and is skilled in the following:

• Childbirth education and birthing classes
• Emotional and physical support
• Guidance when selecting providers and other prenatal resources
• Assistance during labor and delivery
• Transition to the postpartum period

This unique role is an awesome resource that complements your birth plan. A doula’s talents vary widely from providing information, to emotional support, to comfort measures, to being dad’s backup, to keeping mother-in-law at bay and so much more! Each family receives a completely customized approach depending on the vision they have for their special day.

For those with kids, think back to your own childbirth experience. If it lacked a doula, it likely included an initial feeling of being overwhelmed by a mountain of information, provider visits that never seemed long enough to answer all of your questions, an uninviting and sterile hospital birth setting, being surprised by just how much time you were left alone by hospital staff during the birth, and — very possibly — an avalanche of decisions and interventions that got out of control and led to an outcome you did not want. Healthy baby is key, but so is a wonderful childbirth experience for mom and dad.

Preparing yourself for childbirth is simple… really only consists of three steps.

1. Interview your doctor or midwife. Ask your health provider some questions to get a sense of how flexible they are in the birth setting. So long as your health status remains low-risk, will they allow you to go past your due date without suggesting induction? Are they open to receiving baby from positions besides lying on back? Is intermittent fetal monitoring an option? You may not feel strongly about these issues, but your provider’s response will quickly show you how much influence (if any!) you will have on your child’s arrival. It’s good to know so you can either come to terms with your provider’s routine practices or connect with someone that better suits your needs.

2. Connect with a doula. This is a biggie! She will eliminate much of the guesswork of filtering through information (much of which is just old wives tales and nonsense anyway!) and point you towards solid, evidence-based resources. Should you wish to change practitioners or find out more about the best prenatal yoga or massage in Jacksonville, your doula can easily point you in the right direction. And her help doesn’t have to stop at birth. There is a whole category of women called postpartum doulas that perform many of the same support functions as birth doulas but instead focus on the first few months after baby arrives. She is available for newborn care, lactation support, and even pediatrician referrals!

3. Take a GOOD childbirth class. Plug your ears if you don’t want to hear this, but a prenatal birth class is not optional. Learning the ins and outs of your body’s changes and what to expect from your birth setting are critical to having a satisfying birth day. If birth were like baking — you put in ingredients and out popped a predictable cake — we would say “Hey! Give it a shot. It will be fine.” Unfortunately, even the best-prepared couples get curveballs and there are no do-overs so it is essential to learn about the whole deal. Jacksonville hospitals offer several options, but the most popular natural childbirth class options are HypnoBirthing and Bradley Method which are taught all around Jacksonville by Doulananda. (See below for list of locations.) Lamaze lost popularity a while back but is starting to make a come-back.

Childbirth class locations: Bay & Bee Indoor Playspace (Jacksonville Beach), Full Circle Women’s Care OBGYN and Babies R Us (Southside), Bliss Yoga and Wellness Center (Orange Park), Belly Luv Maternity Studio and Island Prep Early Learning Center (St. Augustine)

Easy, right? Doula + good prenatal childbirth class + supportive provider = happy day! The pace of birth can get hectic so not having a good understanding when the plan veers off course can be frustrating. The background of a good birthing class and a doula’s constant attention helps steady the pace and remove stress as labor progresses.

And just to be clear, doulas are not just for natural or home birth. They can be found in any birth environment and support all types of childbirth: medicated births, hospital births, vaginal birth after cesareans (VBACs), scheduled cesareans, high-risk/low-risk… whatever! Doulas are always there.

Have more questions or want to find out more about birth and postpartum doulas or local childbirth education classes? Check out Doulananda Birth Services at www.jacksonvilledoulas.com.

Upcoming classes:

About the Author

Zirah McGrath was born in Puerto Rico but grew up and lives in Jacksonville. She is a small business owner, wife to accountant, Michael, and mother to sweet, little Luca. The last two years brought about a complete change of life that, prior to that, consisted of a job as a business analyst for a local engineering firm. While pregnant with her first baby however, a medical condition and a provider with huge philosophy difference made childbirth a rocky road.

Attempting to figure out the medical establishment while not always having her concerns heard was frustrating, so she hired a doula to help make sense of it all. Who knew what an impact that one little act would make! With the help of an amazing birth team,  Zirah succeeded in having a beautiful, natural, hospital birth. She was forever changed by the experience, so when the opportunity arose to join the birth community she jumped at the chance!

She is now owner of Doulananda Birth Services, a childbirth education and doula group whose mission it is to help women have a confident and satisfying birth day.

Zirah joins Doulananda from the corporate world and has a dual degree in Business Administration and Transportation and Logistics. When not hanging with Mr. Luca or running the doula biz, Zirah spends her time trying to tame her curly mane and eating lots of rice and beans.