What is a doula?

EDUCATION SPECIAL SECTION What is a doula?

Mimi Wilhelm, certified birth and postpartum doula, explains

By Cindy Saltzman

Mimi Wilhelm

Mimi Wilhelm is one of those women you can’t help but look at with awe. She is a rebbetzin (her husband is Rabbi Motti Wilhelm of Chabad of Oregon), mother of seven children, director of The Gan-Portland Jewish

Preschool; she teaches Hebrew classes, runs a Mommy and Me group, runs marathons and just recently became a certified birth doula and also a certified postpartum doula. I am sure I left something out, but you get the idea. Mimi Wilhelm is a force.

According to DONA International (the leader in evidence-based doula training, certification and continuing education), a doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.

I have been fascinated with the doula experience ever since my daughter mentioned that she was looking for a doula when she was pregnant with her son a couple of years ago. Although partnering with a doula for childbirth has become very popular in recent years, I was surprised to learn that ancient societies had their version of a doula centuries ago.

Experiencing childbirth with a doula seems to be a very positive experience for new mothers and their families. But there are also many misconceptions about what a doula does and doesn’t do. Thankfully, Mimi was willing to sit down with me to discuss the “doula experience.”

Cindy Saltzman: What inspired you to become a certified birth and postpartum doula?

Mimi Wilhelm: I have worked with young families for the last 15 years. As the director at The Gan Preschool, I have had the opportunity to support many families as they begin to raise their young children. I have also run a mommy and me group for over 10 years, so I have helped support moms shortly after giving birth, providing community and information. Having seven children of my own has given me a lot of hands-on experience of what birth is like and what the first few weeks after are like emotionally and physically for the moms and families. Through all these experiences, I have seen a need for women and their families to have more support. It’s a new experience for many families without a lot of training. It’s a transformational time for families. Most often, it’s an incredibly positive experience and a time when many things change drastically for a person and family. Having support during that time is critical for many people, and always makes the transition easier. As a person who is involved in creating community and supporting young families, I felt that I could make an impact in our community by educating families on what a doula can provide, and being the person to be there for women during childbirth and following.

I have always been drawn to caring for young children and new moms, and I feel that with the gifts Hashem has given me in this area, this is one of my missions in my part of tikkun olam.

Who can most benefit from having a doula as part of their birth journey and why?