A CONVOY woman who loves caring for other people is now hoping to make the lives of expecting mothers a little bit easier.
Rosalynn Patton is a mother of three and has previously worked as a staff nurse. Last summer, Rosalynn trained as one of Donegal’s only Doulas.
Doulas are professional birth companions who offer continuous support to families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. A Doula provides information, advocacy, practical and emotional support to the whole family.
Rosalynn said she has always worked in healthcare and loves taking care of people so following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, she decided to try something different.
Rosalynn Patton has recently trained as a Doula and is hoping to help expecting mothers in Donegal.
“While I have known about Doulas and their wonderful work for a number of years, I do wish this had been something I had known more about when I was having my own children. Bringing your baby home is a joyful experience but can also be a daunting one.
“I believe there is a need for this kind of support when having a baby. I want to provide that support for women and their families with a continuity of care tailored specifically to work best for them so I can inspire positive birthing experiences and an optimal start to their new family life. As a doula I will support expecting mothers and build their confidence, and give them the information they need to make the best choices for themselves, for their babies and their families. I will meet with expectant mothers in the comfort of their own homes at a time that is convenient to them and cover all aspects of labour, birth and postnatal,” said Rosalynn.
All support provided is tailored to the mother and families’ individual needs, which includes some of the more mundane household tasks.
“As a postnatal Doula, I am here to help mum and families navigate the needs of a newborn all the while encouraging them, building confidence and helping them enjoy their new family. This could involve anything from cooking and preparing a meal, doing laundry, walking the dog, taking other children in the family to school or collecting them, it just depends on the needs of the family,” said Rosalynn.
Rosalynn believes the research speaks for itself which states that a positive birth experience is more likely when a Doula is used.
“Research has shown when a doula is present at birth, it decreases the need for pain medication or anaesthesia including epidurals while also reducing the chance of assisted delivery by either forceps or ventouse. Women are also less likely to develop postnatal depression, while it is reported that women are more likely to have a shorter labour and are less likely to give birth by Caesarean Section,” said Rosalynn.
Rosalynn has recently began advertising her new service and said she has been pleasantly surprised by the positive response.
“The response has been very positive with lots of interest from people looking to find out about Doula care and what it involves. Everyone has different needs from the service and it is great that I am able to alter the service to suit the needs of each individual couple I work with,” said Rosalynn.
To get in contact with Rosalynn or to find out more about Doula, visit Rosalynn Doula Donegal on Facebook or rosalynn_doula on Instagram.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)