Sonia R. Vaid shares her doula journey and how she helps women post-childbirth as well and is making a difference in their lives
We’re going to jump to Sonia, and I know that you are a prenatal yoga instructor and also that you support lactations. So just tell us a little bit about yourself and how you practice and how you got into it basically. And then I would also ask you to talk about that post-birth do you see your role as a doula supporting them up?
It started from my own pregnancy and when like I was, I started very early with my pregnancy and I really didn’t know anything about it. So I read a few books and then I attended, classes for childbirth. And after that, I realized how much that information, that practical knowledge that gave me so much information, and then empowered me with the knowledge that I’ve felt that I was okay.
Now I was so prepared for the birth and for the baby and the baby care. So that’s how it started. And I was so confident with my baby and how to take care of him and everything. So when my kids were old enough to, you know, manage themselves, I decided. So I was for a while after having my kids, so I was supporting many other females in my family and my friends, in their childbirth, educating them, giving them the same information I had and, you know, supporting them during birth and post-birth.
Then I came to know about this thing that I can be a childbirth educator also. Then after doing that, I felt that this is not something complete. I wanted to learn something about this so that I can support them more because they were moms whom I met after the first pregnancy and who, who had few issues with their first pregnancies and childbirth experiences and whatever.
So, that’s how I came to know that. So that’s when you decided, to maybe extending that support of information, maybe being there with them. Yeah. Okay. That’s wonderful. So not only you are saying that you educated them, but you also then started to look to support them and that’s how you became a doula.
Yeah. And I also know that you are a lactation counselor. So do you see the role of your doula support extending into post-birth? Ya definitely. You know, there’s a saying that says, ‘well begun is half done’. So if the mother experiences positive childbirth, and so she’s experiencing, you know, the breastfeeding, the baby’s ability to breastfeed.
And the mother is, you know, able enough to, have that connection, that connection with her baby because of that positive birth experience that she’s also ready to hold her baby and be available to her baby right from the start. And when that journey is beginning off with the baby is like, it’s so beautiful and it’s so positive, positive, right.
That definitely affects breastfeeding and good at breastfeeding experiences for both of them. Do you also find that because you’ve known them in pregnancy and you’ve supported them in birth, that relationship with the family also helps you to take them over the little bumps that early motherhood might bring up?
Do you find that your relationship with them, they come back to you, they call you, they listen to you, they believe in your advice. Do you find that as helpful as well? ‘Jab baby ho gaya, sab theek chal raha hai. Par we know ki jab baby hota hai kuch ups and downs toh hote hai. Whether they are hormonal toh jab hum sochte hai ki hum kis se baat kar sakte hai. Exactly. So your role as their doula is now helping them in post-birth.
Exactly. After the birth, as you said up when there’s a hormonal fluctuation, the body is still under the influence of hormones. There are postpartum blues, and there are a few issues which, you know, mothers, babies, and mothers, they need some time to get settled down after birth. So, do you see your role in that? Ya! So then also, yeah, uh, I felt it like, it’s my, I love my role of being a doula. It’s my pleasure to help and support the mom even, after birth because I think that that’s again a very important and crucial time. Yes. Stay having a friend. Yes. Yeah. Somebody they can just talk to. Yeah… Who understands you emotionally and believes in you, who believes in you. There are three things, anatomy, emotional support, and who believes in you.
Right! Thank you so much!
