Postpartum doulas: motivations and perceptions of practice.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the perceptions of a US cohort of experienced birth doulas who were among the first in the country to be trained to provide postpartum support.


METHODS
A qualitative, longitudinal study using ethnographic methods; participant observation and semi-structured interviews.


METHODS
Midwestern, urban, US; postpartum home care over three months.


METHODS
Four postpartum doulas; 13 families.


METHODS
Participant observation during six postpartum home visits per family; 13 semi-structured interviews with doulas at the completion of each family's care; four summative interviews with doulas at the end of the study.


RESULTS
When describing their postpartum practice, four themes emerged: supporting women, taking the mother's perspective, empowering women and empowering families. When speaking of the motivations, three themes emerged: being 'called' to practice, interest in preventing negative experiences, and career development.


CONCLUSIONS
In the US, new mothers see midwives and doctors sporadically after discharge from the hospital. Postpartum doulas fill this gap in continuity of care by providing support for families as they transition to life with their new infant. Understanding the beliefs, values and practices of these important paraprofessionals will help midwives effectively integrate postpartum doula care into the care of women and infants.
Department of Family, Medicine and Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, 3939 Woodward, Ave, #220, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. kvoytal@med.wayne.edu
Kimberly
K
Campbell-Voytal
Judith
J
Fry McComish
Joan M
JM
Visger
Carolynn A
CA
Rowland
Jacqueline
J
Kelleher
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D059037:Doulas; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult