Mary's Hands Doula Program assists mothers

Trainees in the Mary’s Hands Network Volunteer Community Doula Program learned the “nitty gritty” of what it means to walk with moms in need during a session that was packed with information and hands-on activities at a training session on May 20 at the Catholic Life Center.

The Doula Program has been developed in tandem with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, local crisis pregnancy centers and maternal wellness centers.

Doula training counts toward the ICEA Certification Requirement to become a certified birth doula.

Volunteers are required to complete a 24-hour ICEA birth doula training program and commit to serving two mothers a year while serving in the program.

The doulas work in teams of three to serve one mother directly throughout her pregnancy, birth and postpartum period.

The May 20 training covered the doula’s role throughout the labor and birth process.

Attendees learned about comfort measures and the three R’s during birth: relaxation, rhythm and ritual. They also learned about expectations of medical personnel during an emergency in an operative birth and throughout recovery.

Healthcare professionals also gave presentations, which included a registered nurse on the important support role doulas play and a pediatrician discussing medications, tests and assessments for babies.

Issues that come after birth were discussed, such as bonding, breast feeding and postpartum depression.

Kaprishia Adikema, who moved from Opelousas to Baton Rouge and has worked in the healthcare industry for the past 10 years, learned about Mary’s Hands through a friend and thought it was a great opportunity to learn a different side of healthcare as she serves moms in need and the community.

“I’ve learned so many things that will be beneficial to helping our clients as well as things I feel that are helpful to me as a woman,” said Adikema.

Cheramie Achee of Walker became a certified doula online earlier in the year. She attended the training for more hands-on experience.

“I’ve always had a passion for birth work,” said Achee. “I remember even as a little girl going through my mom’s maternity magazines when she was pregnant with my brothers. And I would cut out all the pictures of pregnant ladies and make a collage.”

She looks forward to serving moms in the Walker area.

Nelda Hunt of Baton Rouge said her career as a social worker and compassion for helping others naturally prompted her to join Mary’s Hands Network.

“I chose to join this volunteer doula service because their compassion for maternal health is in line with mine,” she said. “As an adoption social worker, I’ve worked with expectant mothers. Seeing that portion of the process I wanted to continue to educate and support mothers through the prenatal process. I chose to grow my knowledge knowing some of the beauty maternal health brings.”

One of the hands-on activities Hunt enjoyed focused on helping moms get in comfortable positions during the labor process.

“It’s fun, but it’s also interesting because it’s the little things that we overlook throughout the labor process,” she said. “Such as how to calm moms and how to use pressure points and other techniques that come so naturally to any mom; reminding her of her power in just choosing those techniques that will take the tension and fear away and give her the confidence to birth her baby.”

Through Mary’s Hands Network the church provides ministry in action to moms, according to Deacon Randall Waguespack, director of the Office of Life, Peace and Justice for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

“Our church speaks about our responsibility as Christians to build a culture of life that joyfully proclaims the dignity of all human beings and aims to have a world where everyone can know God’s love, purpose and plan for their lives,” said Deacon Waguespack. “This is easier to talk about then to find tangible ways to put into practice.  That is why I am so excited about the volunteer community network.

“The classes have been a joy to witness.  When the joy, love and support between the people involved in the classes begins to spread to women who are facing challenging pregnancies, I have no doubt that a real culture of life will begin to spread.”

For more information about Mary’s Hands Network, visit maryshands
network.com or  diobr.org/doula-program or email [email protected].