Being a postnatal doula: in conversation with Lindsay Johnstone
The role of a postnatal doula in a village-less culture
Hi friends,
Happy Sunday to you. Today I bring you a rich and joyful conversation I had with
about my work as a postnatal doula. (You can either watch or listen to the audio version - if you’re on a smartphone you can download the Substack app, making audio/video easier to consume while still be able to use your phone!)
Lindsay was one of the first writers I discovered on Substack, and as well as being a fantastic, fearless writer, she’s an amazing community builder and connector of people. I’ve learnt so much from her warm manner and continuous championing of other writers.
I loved being able to talk about work I feel so passionate about. Our conversation covers:
how I start working with clients
the vulnerability and challenge of new motherhood
how doulas can (non-judgementally) support parents to find their own way as they get to know their baby, and their baby gets to know them
the way that doulas have emerged due to the lack of a “village”
what postnatal doula support looks like in practice, and how doula support fits in with support from partners and extended family
cross-cultural and historical differences in postpartum care
the connections between caring and the creative process and authenticity through caring and writing
the threshold moments of motherhood and midlife
the importance of carers/empaths holding space as opposed to not stepping into “saviour” mode
Having this conversation made me want to explore the topic of postpartum care in more depth. I’m looking for people with interesting, passionate takes on this topic (bonus if they’re on Substack!), so if you know anyone who might like to be interviewed by me, please let me know.
I hope you enjoy our chat - I’d love to hear your thoughts about it, or some musings on your own postpartum experience, in the comments.
Hope you’re having a good weekend,
Chloe x
Chloe, thank you so much for this conversation. You're exactly the kind of welcome presence that's needed in the lives of (new) mothers. There is something so "clean" about the relationship that I love, and I'll be sharing this conversation with the pregnant people in my life. Would far rather chip into a doula fund for them than buy crap to celebrate their babies!
Hi Chloe,
I enjoyed listening to this conversation with you and @LindsayJohnston, a lot of wisdom and keen observation to be gleaned and I especially resonated with the way you both connect your literary creativity to the creativity and authenticity strived for in the rest of your life.
My partner and I were blessed to have some wonderful independent midwives during pregnancy and birth, yet things didn't go according to plan and I was worn out physically and emotionally afterwards (11 years ago) as well as suffering from a flare up of past ongoing ill health. so we hired a doula to help us out in the first few months. She was amazing, making us occasional delicious meals, playing with and taking our daughter out for walks whilst I rested and recovered and my partner attended his job.
It was essential work and we will always be so grateful to her and the wonderful child minder who we managed to find for when our daughter was a bit older.
Even if I did not have the additional illness on top, I cannot imagine how stressful it would have been without these elements of the village in our lives at such a vulnerable and strange time for all of us. I think the work you and other doulas do is essential and should definitely be more widespread and easily available, possibly part of the social care structure for anyone regardless of income xx