You know gynecologists and midwives. Go and meet a new profession to complete your birth plan: the doula!

What is a Doula?

At the moment we hear a lot about the term Doula. What does it mean? What is its role and what does it bring to parents? Far from being a trendy or esoteric term, the Doula is, according to the Petit Robert, a non-medical accompaniment of pregnancy and childbirth. In order to find out more, we went to meet Anais, a doula in the making… but also a birth photographer. The young mother of three children tells us about her journey, how to choose your companion but also her path towards this evolution.

Doula: the new birth companions

Birth and pregnancy are surrounded by well-known and medicalized professions such as gynecologist or midwife. But what about non-medicalized professions, these new people who support parents differently in their birth plan? We went to meet Anais, maternity photographer and Doula in the making. The young mother of three children tells us about her journey and how to choose your birth companion.

How did you go from photographer to Doula?

For me it was a bit obvious to combine Doula with my photographic memory card.

I followed a global and classic online training to validate my skills, life as a mother and confinement oblige. The list of training courses is available on the website of the Belgian Doulas and also French Doulas . I also participated in the Quantik Mama seminar and it was magical.

 I have other trainings planned when the situation improves with the pandemic. I am very picky about certain points and prefer to wait until I have a quality face-to-face training. For example, an online training for a Rebozo ritual is of no interest to me.

What is your role as a Doula ?

The Doula accompanies you with all her kindness in the moments and rites of passage of your life. Whether it is preconception, pregnancy, the beginning of menstruation, childbirth, postpartum, mourning, an abortion or a miscarriage. There are also end-of-life Doulas. She transmits the knowledge and resources necessary for your journey. She supports you emotionally but also for more practical aspects.

How to find the right Doula for you, the one who suits us?

 I think you really have to want a Doula and not say to yourself, well I'll see if... Destiny does things a bit. When you're pregnant, you always have this clairvoyance. For me, a Doula will open up paths for you without imposing them on you, will listen to you and will know how to find the words if they need to be said. She will help you find the solutions that suit you. She will do her best to give you back your power as a woman, as a parent.

This support is clearly essential to consider as soon as you want to get pregnant. As much for all the questions you ask yourself during pregnancy as for finding your way.

Is this support for the mother or both parents?

For me, the couple is very important. The second parent plays a vital role during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. I emphasize this point. My role is to help the person giving birth to have all the strength to give birth and welcome this baby, while involving the second parent to support them during the painful or doubtful stages, according to their birth and life plan. I am also there to help second parents in this moment of transition.

Thank you Anais!

 Find Anais on Instagram here or there . Photo: Tom Daly