It is important to get the support you deserve.
Meet your Doula!
Hello, my name is Pam Sutton and I am a certified birth and postpartum doula. I have been supporting mamas and babies for over 25 years and am passionate about it! I began my birth doula training in California in 1998 after my second daughter’s birth because the support I had around me was so incredible compared to my first birth experience, and I wanted to help other women have that same support. I also worked as a chiropractic assistant for over 20 years and learned a great deal about health and wellness. I later recertified as a birth and postpartum doula in Texas with Tiny Love Doula in 2013 and provided support to mostly birth clients, then began to focus on postpartum clients and followed up with another postpartum certification with Tiny Love Doula in 2020 as I saw the incredible need for supporting women during that 4th trimester. I also know how serious this time of a woman’s life can be as my own mother had severe postpartum depression after her 4th child, and suffered for many years. I know it is hard and it is real, and that reality has fueled my passion to provide support for other moms. In 2022 I became certified as a Lactation Specialist as I realized the significant challenges new mamas face with the lack of breastfeeding education and support. Being able to help new parents in those first few days is so critical to a successful feeding experience and I am so excited to be able to help more mamas with this!
I have four awesome adult children ages 21, 24, 29 and 32, and a great son-in-law, and two beautiful grandchildren, 1 and 5 years old, who are the light of my life. My husband and I recently relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee after traveling the country for almost a year in our RV, bought some land and are learning homesteading, and we absolutely love it here!
Transforming Postpartum Wellness
Regardless of how or where a mother gives birth, there needs to be time to heal and transition to the new life. And of course, if a cesarean is involved, more time and recovery will be necessary. There is a 4th trimester saying “in the bed for 5 days, on the bed for 5 days, and around the bed for 5 days”, meaning she should be doing nothing other than resting and feeding her newborn for at least a couple of weeks. Others in the household or friends should be bringing her nourishing meals and drinks and attending to the dishes, cleaning, laundry, and other children if there are any. This can include the father or partner, and optimally includes extended family members and/or doulas, to also give dad a break to rest and bond with the new family.
So many other cultures in the world worship this postpartum time by surrounding the new mama with support for months, which allows the best chance for emotional and physical wellness for all. Typically in the U.S., moms are sent home from the hospital and not seen until 6 weeks after. There is so much to learn and adjust to, even with second or third babies and there is so much room for care and support. This new generation seems to look up to the mama that can “bounce back”, to running the household or going back to work, or being back in shape when this time should be honored and preserved so that true healing takes place; body, mind, and spirit. Education and awareness for this type of care are critical to making a difference for new mamas and all should have access to postpartum care during the 4th trimester!
What a Typical Shift Looks Like
While there are many new family needs that are common in all households, support for the new mama may look different from family to family. There are many possible circumstances and dynamics, so it’s essential that clients get personalized care and support. Most common challenges include soothing, feedings, sleeping, basic rest for mom, and overall questioning what is normal and what is not. Also, common inquiries include when to get professional help, whether it is lactation support, pediatrics, physical therapy, tongue or lip ties, midwife or OB/Gyn questions, and most importantly, postpartum blues and/or depression signs and referral to the appropriate care. Adding in sleep deprivation and lack of adequate nutrition, oftentimes moms don’t even know what they need. Another reality is that it is hard for a lot of women to even ask for help, as many feel the societal pressure to be able to do it all. Just because we can do it all doesn’t mean we should be doing it all.
As a postpartum doula, at our first visit, I will first sit and listen so that she can process the birth and express herself and assess her own physical and emotional state. There may have been birth trauma and unresolved stress or anxiety that wasn’t anticipated, and holding space for this is essential. Even if there weren’t any complications or negative events, birth is so incredible, the memories and experiences are almost always wanting and needing to be shared. Next, I will be making sure she is hydrated and fed, and asking how I can best help her at that moment. I may throw a load of laundry in, take baby so mama can rest, do some dishes, help other siblings, tidy up, or do some light meal prep, and almost always, mom might just want to take a shower! Many times dads or partners have to go back to work right away, so extra hands around are invaluable.
Thanks to technology, services can now be accessed virtually, and it is amazing that doulas can support more women now across the country and world, wherever they are! This support will look different than in-person care but will be specialized and focussed on challenges at hand, troubleshooting, and getting a concentrated dose of help in a shorter period of time. There are always questions that come up daily with newborns, and now access to private zoom sessions can address those needs along with providing resources of information and referrals to professionals.
Mothering is not easy, know that you are not alone!