What is an Antepartum Doula?
If you want support during childbirth, you can get a birth doula. Want help after the baby’s here? Then a postpartum doula is for you. But what if you need help before the baby’s arrived, during pregnancy? What if you’re on bed rest, or you’re experiencing a difficult pregnancy and need extra support? Then, you want an antepartum doula.
Antepartum doulas are a newer kind of doula, specializing in supporting women going through a high-risk or difficult pregnancy. They support their clients in a number of ways. If a woman is on bed rest, an antepartum doula can help much like a postpartum doula helps a new mother – cooking meals, light housework, helping the mother organize things for the new baby, and, most importantly, providing emotional and informational support.
Who Needs an Antepartum Doula?
“An antepartum doula can help to gather information about support groups for a high risk pregnancy and/or bedresting women, giving her the comfort that she is not alone,” explains Laura Dana, certified labor and antepartum doula, and director of CAPPA’s antepartum doula program. “An antepartum doula can act as a ‘sounding board’ for concerns and fears about the pregnancy. . . . Many times, an antepartum doula is someone who has faced a difficult pregnancy herself, and that in and of itself can be very comforting to the woman who is facing similar circumstances and is uncertain about what to expect.”
Antepartum doulas aren’t just for women on bed rest, however. Teenage mother’s may want an antepartum doula to help support them through the difficult emotional challenges. Women who have many children and need extra support may hire an antepartum doula, as may a mother who experiences severe morning sickness.
If an expecting mother wants more support during the pregnancy, whether it’s help at home or having someone to come with her to doctor appointments, an antepartum doula can help fill that need.
Where Do You Find an Antepartum Doula?
Because it’s a rather new concept, finding a certified antepartum doula may take some looking. CAPPA, or the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association, is the first doula organization to offer training and certification to antepartum doulas. You should contact them for a referral to a local doula. You can visit their website: http://www.cappa.net/
If you can’t find any antepartum doulas in your area, you can ask local postpartum doulas if they offer support during pregnancy. Many postpartum doulas offer antepartum support, but may not be listed in doula directories as such. Also, childbirth educators or nurses on the antepartum wing at your local hospital may be able to refer you to someone.
Like postpartum doulas, antepartum doulas charge by the hour, typically something between $15-35 an hour, depending on where you live and what training and experience your doula has. If you’re on bed rest, your insurance company may be willing to foot the bill, so make sure to check with them.