What Makes a Christian Doula Different?
In a consultation recently an expecting mom asked me the question “So, what support do you offer for moms in labor?”
What I didn’t do was answer her question like a normal person would…
I didn’t give her a short overview of the tools in my birth bag, or labor support techniques I use…
For some reason I went on a whole rant - probably blabbering on for two minutes straight like I sometimes do - and I talked all about how the Holy Spirit is leading me in this work. And as a mom hires me as her doula she doesn’t just get Torie Mann Birth Doula and all my knowledge, she’s getting someone who is genuinely seeking to honor the Lord and listen to His voice as I support moms. I kept talking, and I spoke about how I pray for my clients throughout their pregnancy and their labor, every time a mom texts me, or scheduled an appointment, really any time I see a client’s name I pray for her, her husband, upcoming labor, her baby, her baby's salvation and I pray over their parenting that they would parent faithfully and lead this baby to one day love Jesus. I pray through any specifically mentioned needs, ailments, fears or concerns and for peace comfort and healing for all those things.
I kept talking (surprise surprise!) and told her how I can't and won't just give worldly fluff of encouragement but I might actually just tell you you're weak and that you aren't strong enough on your own but then I'll point you to Jesus as your place of refuge and your source of strength. Because as believers we aren't just relying on our own strength or grit to see our way through labor pains but we can surrender and release it to the Lord and trust in His good plan to bring this baby into your arms. Because I can’t remove gospel language from my practice and replace it with worldly nothingness of “woman power” or whatever the world tries to sell you when they remove the Creator of everything from the birth space. If you hire me as your doula you’ll get gospel encouragement, another believer in the room, someone with the same Holy Spirit who lives in you who also happens to have a brain full of birth knowledge and a heart for serving God’s daughters in the season of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. I’m just a vessel the Lord has chosen to use to help women birth according to His good design.
What was the original question? Oh yeah, labor support measures…
I also offer double hip squeezes, counter pressure, position suggestions and I have a TENS unit, massage balls, labor combs, some oils, and a robozzo…
But the important part is the Holy Spirit and Biblical truths that I’m carrying into your birth space.
