COVID19 and doula support

At DoulaCare Ireland we are proud to lead the way with professional industry standards for doula work in Ireland. The COVID19 pandemic is no different. When you hire our doulas to support your family, you can be guaranteed they will be practicing with the highest standards of health and safety. 

We are acutely aware of the pressure parents and parents to be are under. With courses cancelled, clinical check ups spread out and peer groups harder to access, our doulas are here to ease that burden and help you to navigate your way through these uncertain times. 

So what are DoulaCare Ireland doulas doing to protect our clients and help to prevent the spread of the COVID19 virus? 

• We stay up to date with (and follow)  the latest guidelines from the HSE and WHO

• All of our team have attended a COVID19 health and safety training before returning to in person support. 

• All of our team have been trained on correct hand washing procedures 

• All of our team have been trained on correct use of cloth (reusable) and medical face masks

• All of our team have been trained on correct use of PPE (personal protective equipment)

• We fill in a health check form before each client visit (and our clients do the same)

• We wash our hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub

• We practice good respiratory hygiene 

• We will maintain social distancing as much as possible, or wear appropriate PPE if social distancing is not possible

• We avoid touching our eyes, nose and mouth 

DoulaCare Ireland has a lengthy COVID19 health and safety policy, which all our team sign up to before returning to in person support. This offers our clients reassurance they they will be supported with the experience, empathy and knowledge of our amazing doulas - in a safe and professional environment. 

All of our doulas with do the following before each in person visit with you:

• Fill in the Health Check Form DoulaCare Ireland has drawn up and ensure they are not ticking yes to any of the “risk” boxes (such as being in contact with a known COVID19 case or having any symptoms themselves)

• If a doula has any risk factors or symptoms they need to inform DoulaCare Ireland immediately and cancel their shift with client. (If supporting a birth client - their back up doula will be informed and will offer support to client instead - another bonus of our agency model). 

• Each doula needs to also check in with client that they have filled in a Health Check form and are not ticking yes to any of “risk” the boxes (if a client ticks yes to any of the boxes the shift cannot be provided).  

• They will also Shower /Wash hair /Brush teeth 

• Change into fresh work clothes and shoes 

• Pack fresh clothes and a pillow case for end of shift 

• Pack fresh PPE (personal protective equipment, such as face mask, visors, hand sanitiser etc)

• Fill in contact tracing form for anyone they have been in contact with up to that point
  

An example of our PPE for shifts: Dedicated work clothes (fresh for each shift), hand sanitiser, face visor, fresh face masks (with a ziplock bag to place used masks into) , gloves, antibacterial wipes, socks or slippers to wear in your home, fresh clothes to change into after shift, COVID19 health check forms and health and safety guidelines

When arriving at clients house and before going into house:

• Where possible, start the shift/visit with a virtual meet with client to see what support they may want 

• Use hand sanitiser 

• Put on PPE 

• Remove outdoor shoes at the door 

• Remove coat at the door 

• Wash hands immediately before touching anything (using HSE hand washing guidelines)
  

As with all our work, our doulas will speak to you about what you feel comfortable with in your home. You are always the guiding light in our care. If you would like to maintain social distancing or if you would like the doula to offer support with feeding or caring for your baby (wearing appropriate PPE). 

Enjoy a well deserved rest, safe in the knowledge our professional doulas will take care of everything for you

We tailor our services to each individual families needs. Offering bespoke care and support. You can have open discussions with our agency owners before booking in your doula support. This allows you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have to ensure you are 100% comfortable with your package. 

We also have a wide range of virtual supports available

Our courses and sessions are all LIVE (nothing is prerecorded). We tailor our sessions to your individual needs. Choice of group sessions or private 1:1 sessions. All at a time that suits you, in the comfort of your own home

We have trained and certified antenatal educators for many courses including:

*Full Antenatal Ireland Course

*GentleBirth Course

*HypnoBirthing Course

*Breastfeeding Preporation Course

*Parenting Courses

*VBAC Courses

*Baby Care Consultation 

*Birth Preferences Consultation

*Comfort Measures for labour and Birth Consultation

*Expressing/Pumping Support Consultation

*Birth Trauma Support Consultation 

*Virtual Early Labour Support

*Virtual Early Parenting Support

and much more….

With our virtual support you choose the times that works best for your family. With bespoke packages and courses available

So if you would like to know more about our in person or virtual supports, from fertility to the first year of parenting, get in touch and we would be delighted to get you on the road to a positive and empowered experience with DoulaCare Ireland.

Email info@doulacare.ie

This is Not Homeschooling! Tips and Resources for getting through COVID-19 with children

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

So the government here in Ireland recently announced that schools will not be returning until the end of the summer. And parents, already overwhelmed, are now faced with the prospect of having to figure out how to provide school at home to their children for the next few weeks. Many feel like they are failing at homeschooling and wondering what they are doing wrong.

Well I just want to say for those parents - this is NOT homeschooling. We homeschool so I feel I can say that! I am seeing lots of posts about people struggling at homeschooling and have loads of friends message me to say how do I do it!!!! Well this is not homeschooling!

Homeschooling involves trips to the park, to the library, swimming pool, playgrounds. It involves kids hanging out with their friends and doing activities. It involves the kids going on play dates so I get some quiet and headspace - or their friends coming here so they are kept occupied so I can get work done!

It involves making a well thought out and researched decision to either not send your kids to school or pull them out of school. It's a choice!!!!! Whereas for most people right now this has been something they have to do because the schools are closed - that is a totally different scenario. There are no places to go to run them ragged and keep the kids occupied, or friends to have over so you can have some chill time.

I don't envy anyone forced into this situation - especially if they also trying to combine it with working from home! Like for example, we have tonnes of resources here because we have always homeschooled - so I have spent years building up resources that I know my kids like. We also use the library a huge amount (and there is a special card available to people homeschooling which lets us take out way more books than the usual amount, and hold onto them for a few months - so I always have a full stock of resources here from the library. They are dwindling down now and the library is not back until June. But we will manage I think!). Whereas I can imagine in some houses that isn't the case - because this isn't the norm! And this wasn’t expected. In a classroom situation a teacher might have 30 children, but they are all of the same age and following the same content. Whereas right now families are juggling 2 or 3 wildly different sets of curricula. Or having to try to entertain their only child who is struggling without friends around them.

My heart goes out to everyone in this situation - I know how hard I find it at times and I have chosen it!

Some tips for people trying to manage at home with children right now.

Firstly I wouldn't try to force anything. They are missing their friends and being out in the world (well mine are anyway and I can imagine for school going kids that is multiplied by 10). Even my introverted, homebird 14 year old is missing being out and about, they are missing their cousins and seeing family and friends.

Secondly - kids are ALWAYS learning so it’s OK to take your foot off the accelerator and slow down the pace in your house for now. Think about how they learned how to walk or talk - did you have to give them lessons in this? Usually that would be a no. If they are interested they will learn. Look at what their passions are and ask on social media groups for ideas for links to videos/resources online that they might be able to use (you will usually get great suggestions).

Thirdly for everyone out there struggling right now, my advice would be - take the least stressful path for you. If you have time sit down and watch TV with them - or do some gaming with them (even if you are crap lol!!). There is lots of educational TV that can keep them interested - Horrible Histories, The Wild Kratts, Octonauts, Carmen SanDiego and The Who Was Show all offer interesting information as well as keeping them occupied (and these can be nice to watch with them) - and are all on Netflix UK at the moment. Avatar: The Last Airbender (the cartoon version NOT the film!) is one to sit and watch with them - it is so beautiful and the story line is just amazing.

Play a board game with them (or set them up to play a game together). There are some fab games out there where they can have fun and learn as well - Sleeping Queens and Rat-A-Tat Cat from GameWright Games which involve Maths or Alphabet Lotto from Orchard Toys (who have a fantastic range of educational games that are fun as well). Apples to Apples is a much loved one in our house and encourages creative thinking and debate - and helps children to frame and develop arguments.

History Bombs and Extra History on YouTube have great fun videos that both mine love, as do The Kids Should See This and Ted Ed. There are also great podcasts out there for kids that they might enjoy such as Brains On! and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

If you have a garden, get them to plant seeds - they usually enjoy it. Have them cook food for you or do some baking (these are all ways to learn - if you want them to do some Math while doing this - double the quantity needed!).

Finally - if you are worried about your child falling behind, research from children who missed school after the Earthquakes in New Zealand in 2011 found they did not fall behind. Results actually went up in final exams! Similar outcomes were found after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 - where children missed up to 7 weeks of school.

I hope that helps somewhat. If you are trying to juggle work, it's OK if they are watching more screen than usual, I would hope people have understanding employers, but the reality is not everyone will! And bills need to be paid. So do what you have to do to get through this. There is enough going on without adding to the stress - big hugs to you all xxx