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Are you pregnant or
raising a newborn? Being a parent to a newborn has its joys but it also has its challenges, especially for first time parents.
On top of caring for your infant there are everyday household responsibilities to keep up with. But you and your spouse don’t
have to do it all. Mother Nurture Doula Service can help with tasks such as cooking, shopping, and even doing dishes and laundry
so parents can focus their attention on their baby. Their doulas can even take siblings to a park or soccer practice. Doulas
provide more than just child care and house keeping; they also give support and advice about the childbirth experience, about
breastfeeding and how to care for your infant such as trimming their nails, bathing and taking their temperature.
Located in Glen Oaks,
Mother Nurture was started by midwife Alice Gilgoff in 1987. One of the oldest doula companies in the country, Mother Nurture
services the five boroughs and both counties of Long Island. In an article in New York Newsday, Gilgoff said when she started
her business people would call but did not know how to pronounce the word “doula.” She says since then there is
a great need for postpartum care given the rise of mothers being discharged earlier from hospitals after giving birth. I asked
Gilgoff if she has noticed any changes or trends in the twenty plus years since she started her business. She replied, “One
main difference is at the beginning callers would ask me, “‘What's a DOW-la?’ Now the value of good postpartum
care is acknowledged and accepted. Another difference is, happily, the rate of breastfeeding has increased. I'm on the board
of the New York State Association of Licensed Midwives. Most of our postpartum clients use doctors, although midwives do deliver
15% of all vaginal births in New York state.”
So how does Mother Nurture’s services work? If you are pregnant,
before your due date, fill out their “Mother’s Need Outline.” On this outline you will describe the kind
of support you need. After submitting your outline, one of Mother Nurture’s directors will contact you to discuss how
they can assist. You will then be matched with a doula that you will meet prior to your baby’s birth. The meeting will
allow the doula some time to become familiar with your home and for you all to become acquainted. Doulas are available on
a weekly basis, working a minimum of three hours per day. When your doula's employment period is completed, she will give
you information on support services for mothers in your community. The doula and one of the directors are also available for
phone consultation after the employment period is over.
If your baby is already born, no need to complete a Mother’s Need
Outline, just contact Mother Nurture at 718-631-BABY or email doulacomp@aol.com. Referrals to childbirth classes and labor assistants are also available through Mother Nurture. For more information visit
their web site at www.mothernurture.com. This
was published in the Summer 2009 issue of Queens Karma.
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