Did you know it was World Doula Week?

According to the official website, the purpose of World Doula Week ("WDW") is to "empower doulas all over the world to improve the physiological, social, emotional, and psychological health of women, newborns and families in birth and in the postpartum period".

One of the many benefits of having a doula present can be that can help breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Feeding is particularly topical for me this week, having heard it reported that babies who are fed on demand have a higher IQ than those who are put into a "Gina Ford" style routine. I admit that I read Gina Ford and personally felt that her techniques were very regimented and I didnt want to shut my baby into a dark room on her own. However I did use the Contented Little Baby Book as a reference guide for a  basic routine to our day.

Now thats what pregnant and new mums tend to do, they read, they research and listen to advice given, so when it is reported that if you didnt demand feed your baby, it is likely to have a lower IQ, I can just imagine mums across the country worrying that they have made the right or wrong choices for their child.

Joanne Dewberry commented on our facebook page by saying "its a great way to make tired, emotional, hard working mums feel poo!! all those mums out there not feeding on demand will now be worrying about whether they have caused their child low IQ .. a few weeks ago it was babies who feed themselves against those being spoonfeed. My suggestion bog off let us mums do what we think is best"

Whereas Laura Rigney stated "I was all about routines where possible, by the time I got to number three most of the routines were out the window "

Rebekah Harriman agreed with Joanne by commenting "Everything is contradictory and designed to make us feel rubbish about whatever choices we may have made. Mothers are judged enough as it is without being made to worry about choices they have already made and can't undo"

So having a Doula can help to increase parents confidence during birth and with their new baby and whether you employ a trained Doula or have a trusted birthing partner, I think you also need to prepare for the guilt that experts, reports and the national press give to mums.

I am sure that ALL mums try and do their best for their children, so if my daughter suffers a few IQ points from having a routine in her life, I hope she will forgive me ..... although with a consistent routine at least she knows what time dinner will be!!