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Expats having their baby abroad can hire doulas to help assist them during their pregnancy, labor, and delivery. With a doula, expats can feel emotionally supported and prepared for the arrival of their child as they are in a new country.
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Are you interested in hiring a doula while you live abroad? Perhaps you’d like to know more about what doulas have to offer. This article from Pacific Prime will answer all your questions and more.
We will explain what services doulas offer and the benefits of having a doula assist during your pregnancy and birth. We will also share useful tips for finding and hiring doulas as an expat. Doulas can be an irreplaceable support during your pregnancy but are not covered by maternity insurance.
Keep reading to learn all about doula services for expats!
Doula Services for Expats Living Abroad
Doula services are available in most countries and are a great way for new mothers to feel supported. Giving birth in a foreign country can feel overwhelming, especially if you are newer to the area and aren’t sure what the cultural birthing practices are custom in the country.
With doula services, expats can feel supported and advocated for. Understanding the benefits and role of doulas can help you decide if they are the right fit for your pregnancy and birth journey.
What is a Doula?
Doulas are trained professionals who are hired to guide and support mothers through their pregnancy, labor, delivery, and sometimes postpartum. They offer information and advice to their clients as well and aim to help them achieve a healthy and satisfying birth experience.
Doulas differ from midwives and doctors as they are not medical professionals, and they do not train under OBGYNs. They do not personally deliver the babies themselves, and they are not equipped to administer medical care.
Doula Training and Certification
Doulas are trained to perform their various services through training programs. Before they are certified, they must pass an exam. This certification varies, but some of the most widely accepted certification sources include DONA International and Childbirth International (CBI).
What Do Doulas Do?
Doulas most commonly provide continuous care during your labor, but they can also be hired for prenatal and postnatal support. Postpartum doulas can help within the first few weeks after birth, and act as a support for the mother, baby, and family.
Some other services doulas offer include:
- Share relaxation and birthing skills for labor
- Share information about the labor and delivery process
- Help you create a birth plan
- Stay with you during labor for support and comfort
- Offer massages for relaxation during labor
- Assists you in getting into comfortable birthing positions
- Assist in communicating your birth preferences to the medical team
Why Expats Choose to Hire Doulas
Expats choose to hire doulas because of how they advocate and support you during your labor and delivery, as well as other important benefits. They can help you understand cultural birthing differences in your host country and may even help you integrate them into your own birth plan.
We will discuss the reasons why expats hire doulas in further detail below.
Helps Understand Cultural Differences
Doulas can help expats understand the culture of birthing practices in their host country, and share advice in helping them get their preferences met. Some countries may have specific customs around birth, and doulas can help you understand these customs.
Doulas can also also help expats understand how the local healthcare system works. Complex foreign healthcare systems can be difficult to navigate for expats, especially if there are language differences involved. Doulas can help to bridge the gap of understanding with expats.
Emotional Support During Birth
Doulas offer valuable emotional support during childbirth, which can be an intense and vulnerable experience. Doulas are trained in the best ways to comfort and reassure mothers during this time, and they can act as a strong shoulder to lean on during your labor and delivery.
Not only do doulas offer emotional support to mothers during birth, but to fathers, too. They can help fathers understand what is happening during labor and delivery, keeping them reassured. By acting as the communicator for the mother, the mother is allowed to relax and focus on the birth.
Prepares You for Labor and Delivery
Doulas can help you prepare for labor and delivery by teaching proper breathing and relaxation techniques, comfortable birthing positions, and quality nutrition. They aim to help mothers feel as prepared as possible for their birth and often work with them before the birth so they are ready.
Advocates for Your Needs
Doulas can be your advocate during the labor and delivery process by ensuring your doctor understands what you prefer and what you need. Mothers sometimes find it hard to advocate for themselves while they are under intense physical and emotional stress, which is where doulas come in.
Doulas can share your birth plan with the doctors, making sure your wishes are being followed as long as it is medically possible. They will act as your advocator and will make sure that you are kept comfortable and supported during this vulnerable time.
Finding and Hiring Expat Doula Services
Expats can find doulas near them by searching accredited doula training websites and asking other pregnant expats. Once you’ve found a possible doula, conduct a consultation first to make sure that they are the right fit for you and your expectations.
Finding Doula Services
Expats can find doulas near them by looking online at accredited doula training websites. Many organizations offer this training, with both local and international organizations available. Expats may be interested in finding internationally accredited doulas.
Some of the most popular international doula organizations are:
- DONA International
- Childbirth International (CBI)
- International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA)
- Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA)
You can also ask any other expats you know who have had doula-assisted births and ask if they have any recommendations. You can also ask your doctor for doula recommendations.
Hiring Doula Services
Once you have found an accredited doula in your area that you are interested in, call them and schedule a consultation first. During this consultation, you can ask them a list of questions that can help you decide if they are the right fit for you and your family.
Some things to look for when hiring a doula include:
- Proper training and certification
- Compatibility
- Fees that work with your budget
- Availability that works with your schedule
- Adequate experience
- Services for what you need
Once you’ve had your consultation and you feel ready to move forward with your chosen doula, you can agree on a contract and sign it. Make sure that your contract is well-detailed so you and your doula understand each other completely.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are doulas available in foreign countries?
Doulas are available in foreign countries across all continents, though they may not be available in every country. To see if you have doulas available in your country, look up international doula organizations like DONA to see if there are accredited doulas near you.
Is hiring a doula worth it?
Hiring a doula is worth the investment if you value having someone there during your pregnancy and birth to lend you emotional support and protect your best interests. Doulas can advocate for you during your labor and delivery and help you with cultural birth differences.
What is the best kind of doula training out there?
Some of the best international doula training programs and certifications include DONA International, Childbirth International (CBI), the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA), and the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA).
Are expat doula services covered by maternity insurance?
Doula services are not covered by maternity insurance, which means you will need to pay their fees out-of-pocket. These costs can vary from country to country and region to region. You can ask a doula what they charge for their services during the consultation.
Can doulas offer medical care?
Doulas are not medical professionals, so they can not assist in providing medical care like midwives or OBGYNs can. They instead act as emotional support during the birth process and advocate and communicate your needs to the medical team.
Conclusion
Doulas offer important services to expats, such as helping them understand cultural practices and differences around birth in their host countries. Without these important helpers, new mothers could feel overwhelmed by giving birth in a foreign country.
Doula services are not covered by maternity insurance, so you will need to pay for their services out of pocket. Want to know more about what is and what is not covered by maternity insurance? Ask an insurance expert from Pacific Prime!
We are insurance brokers with more than 20 years of experience in servicing expats, making us experts in the field. You can reach out to us with any insurance-related questions and we will be happy to offer you our unbiased and free advice.
Interested in an insurance quote? Use our free quote tool to begin comparing quotes yourself!
If you enjoyed this article, check out our other blog articles on similar topics like Expat Baby Essentials and Expat Maternity Leave Benefits!
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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