San Diego’s first doula

To a new mother, the sight of Stacey Scarborough coming through the door can be more comforting than any friend or family member.

Scarborough, 57, is a doula and childbirth educator. She prepares new parents for the birth of their baby and offers them support once the child is born.

Scarborough, a San Diego native who graduated from Point Loma High, was one of the city’s first formally-trained doulas. Since 1998, she’s also trained thousands of women on how to become doulas themselves.

Through Scarborough’s site BeautifulBeginnings.org she and other doulas offer resources, tips and referrals about everything from how to soothe a crying baby to postpartum depression.

The mother of three who lives in Talmadge explains her role in the birthing process.

Q: What exactly is a doula?

A: There are two types of doulas: a birth doula provides emotional, physical and educational support for the laboring mom or couple. They are on call for when mom goes into labor, then stays by her side through the entire birth and for the first hour or so after the birth to help with breast-feeding. We suggest positions to help with the progress of labor, provide information gathering if a change of plan has to happen so that the parents feel empowered by their choices, and provide that important emotional support at this life changing event in their lives.

As a postpartum doula, we provide education to the parents on such things as the first few baths, breast-feeding help, and emotional support. We also do light housekeeping, cooking, etc. and allow the new parents to feel confident in taking care of their own child or children (we work with a lot of twins families and growing families).

Stacey Scarborough with one of the tools she used during the birthing process. — Misael Virgen

(Misael Virgen)

Q: Why did you become a childbirth educator and doula?

A: The births of my children were important to me, and mostly because I was prepared for the process. My husband and I took childbirth classes by an amazing instructor and it was after the birth of my third child that I had the calling to help educate other new parents. I became trained as a childbirth educator in 1994 and, along with three other educators, traveled out of town to become the first formally trained doulas in San Diego. It was shortly after this that we began our business, Beautiful Beginnings.

Q: How have attitudes toward doulas changed since you first started?

A: As with all things in the medical field, there are constant changes that move with the times. When I became a doula, we had to tread lightly and show the nursing and medical staff how we fit into the birthing team. There were misconceptions about what a doula did: we do not offer advice, we don’t speak on behalf of the client, we don’t do anything medical or clinical, we don’t interfere with the nurses role. There were those who acted as a doula, but often (made mistakes). But now we are professionally trained, and we have proved to the health care team how well we work along their side for a better birth experience. Now nurses and obstetricians are excited to see the doula in the room.

Q: What are the biggest fears and concerns for new parents?

A: The unknown. How much will labor hurt? How long will it take for the baby to be born? How will our life change after the baby comes? When will I get sleep again?

Q: Do people who have more than one child use your services?

A: Absolutely. With the first baby, it is the learning process of navigating life with a new baby. For the repeat parents, it can be helpful to have an extra set of hands with more than one child at home.

Q: Have you ever had to deliver a baby yourself?

A: Thankfully, no. Doulas are not trained to catch a baby, we would call 911 first.

Q: What are three tips to soothe a crying baby?

A: Make sure that the parent is confident and not scared, nervous or stressed with baby in arms – they can sense that emotion. Also, know how to use a Moby Wrap, a long piece of fabric that wraps around the parent and allows the parent to be hands free and walk, cuddle, or even rest with baby safely on them. And finally, consider using tips from “The Happiest Baby on the Block” by Dr. Harvey Karp: swaddle, sway, side position, shushing and sucking. It really can work.

Q: What is the best advice you ever received?

A: Do what you love, and it will never feel like work. Also, everything in moderation, including moderation – from my daddy.

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?

A: I was a coxswain for the ZLAC Rowing Club, which is why I am a good coach now.

Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend.

A: Having all my kids in town and going beer tasting, cooking together, playing some fun family games and then a lazy Sunday walking Torrey Pines, followed by brunch and Bloody Marys, and relaxing the rest of the day.