'There's a time, between your baby being born and everything settling down, that I like to call "the lost hours." These are the hours you never hear about in the "preparing for labor" and "bringing home baby" blogs and books. These are the hours many of us don't really remember much about. They are often skimmed over in birth stories with "we cleaned up the baby and they stitched me up." or "I took a shower and ate some dinner." But, what is happening to our bodies during these lost hours? How have we just given birth to a human being and gone back to our daily realities so quickly? One minute the hospital plays a happy birthday song over the loud speakers and the next you're alone with a new baby that you have to care for.
Oxytocin is pouring through your body at this point. The desire and need to snuggle, cuddle, nurse or feed your baby is strong and shouldn't be ignored. One amazing thing about having a doula is that we are there with you every step of the way and that includes these lost hours. If you're not able to have this time with your new baby, we will stay with you while your partner sees to the baby. We will comfort you, cry with you, rejoice with you or just be there for you, holding your space. There's no rule that says we have to leave right away. We want you to feel cared for, loved and comforted. Sometimes birth experiences don't go exactly the way you plan them and we are here to listen to the roller coaster of emotions you may be feeling.
After you deliver your baby, much of the attention goes immediately to them. The Doula Girls are here to care for YOU. We are here to be at your beck and call. We don't want our clients to fall through the cracks. We want you to feel cared for and continue to have your voice heard. We want you to get off on the right foot and that means continuing this birth high and one on one care as long as you need.
Don't let these lost hours be "lost" during your birth experience. Hire The Doula Girls today, to make sure that the first hours of your child's life are the best that they can be!
