Interview With Doula Alison Mama Bear, Ally Bear




Photo Provided By Alison

Alison, tell my readers a little about yourself. Did you always know that you wanted to be a doula?

33-year-old single mother of 1 daughter who is currently enrolled in school to become a midwife. I have a true passion for babies and childbirth. I didn't know initially what my purpose was, but after giving birth to my own child, the message became very clear. I am absolutely thrilled to become a black midwife.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering having a doula for their child's birth?

I encourage everyone to consider hiring a doula for both birth and postpartum. To be honest, having a doula in our country should not be viewed as a commodity. The maternal mortality rate is extremely high, especially for African-American women, to not have someone there to advocate for you. In addition to that, an extra set of hands never hurts anyone—especially those who will follow exactly how you want you and your baby to be cared for.

What advice would you offer to someone who wants to work as a doula?

As a doula, I believe having empathy for people is necessary. It motivates you to be more communal, and it helps to build more genuine relationships. I believe patience is also necessary. Going through birth and recovering during postpartum can be two very hard phases to navigate. It is imperative that a doula can show both empathy and patience during these vulnerable times with their clients.
 
When offering your service, what do you want to offer your patients?
 
In my birth packages, I offer to attend 2 prenatal appointments of the client's choosing, one week of being on standby if the mother goes into labor early, present during the entire birth and documenting according to the client's needs (pictures/recordings), and stay up to 1 hour after birth. 
 
What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
 
I love helping mothers and birthing parents feel safe and secure during this life-changing experience. Unfortunately, a lot of new parents don't feel this way because they are anxious about the daily chores and needs of the family. My goal when assisting clients is to make sure that I listen intently and that I pay close attention to both mom/birthing parent and baby.
 
 
What advice would you give new moms that plan on having a natural birth?
 
There are a couple that come to mind: 1.) Write out a birth plan or preference sheet listing out everything you would like to be considered or respected. 2.) Research all comfort measures that can help or alleviate labor pains. 3.) Ask all questions—especially if you are considered high-risk! 
 
 
Was being a doula something you have always been interested in doing?

I believe that it has always been my purpose. I knew that I loved babies since I was a young girl, so I thought I was supposed to be in the childcare education field. As I got older, I realized that I truly enjoyed watching births and caring for babies. It was when my nurses, who assisted me during labor, laid my daughter on my chest that it all made sense for me. 
 
 
 
Please share your social media platforms for the readers to follow.
 
FB:Brown Bosom Babies; 
IG: Brown_bosom_babies, 
TT: Mama Bear, Ally Bear, 
YT: Mama Bear, Ally Bear, 
X: Mama Bear Ally Bear 

 

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