BOZEMAN — Emily Rose was feeling some anxiety near the due date of her pregnancy. It was the middle of spring in Bozeman, a few months into the COVID-19 pandemic.
And like most hospitals across the country, Rose was told it would just be her and her husband allowed in the delivery room at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital.
“That is the moment where I would say I wish I had my doula the most because I had no idea what to do,” said Rose.
Doulas wear lots of hats. But on delivery day, they’re in the delivery room providing labor support every step of the way.
Rose understood the importance of the restrictions for safety, but that didn’t make labor any easier for the soon-to-be young mother.
“Doulas are essential. We’re not visitors. We’re not there to just kind of enjoy. We really are an essential person for the laboring family,” said Kami Wagner, a doula with Tree of Life Doula Care.
Doulas with Tree of Life have been in conversations with Bozeman Health about lifting the restrictions for hired labor support.
This week, the hospital told the Tree of Life about their policy change that would allow them into the delivery room.
“We have a population of patients here in Bozeman who are often accustomed to bringing their doulas with,” said Melissa Wolf, Medical Director, Family Birth Center Bozeman Health.
“So it’s been a consideration from the beginning, since March, and we have revisited it frequently, month by month, week by week, as incident command has reviewed visitor policies.”
Meanwhile, Rose continues to take care of her healthy three-month-old son, while training to one day become a doula herself.
“It has developed this passion in me to walk alongside families in such a vulnerable time and in such a time of transition,” said Rose.