This is Valentine’s Day week — yes, some of us do manage to stretch it into a week! — and we think it’s a perfect time to give. This year, we’re not giving candy and flowers…we’ve teamed up with CAPPA (Child and Postpartum Professional Association) for Operation Special Delivery, which raises funds and awareness to ensure that expectant military mothers don’t have to give birth alone.
Operation Special Delivery provides labor doulas at no cost to pregnant military moms. What is a doula? A doula is a person who attends the birthing family before, during, and just after the birth of the baby. The certified doula is trained to deliver emotional support from home to hospital, ease the transition into the hospital environment, and be there through changing hospital shifts and alternating provider schedules. The doula serves as an advocate, labor coach, and information source to give the mother and her partner the added comfort of additional support throughout the entire labor. She may help you develop a birth plan, teach relaxation, visualization, and breathing skills useful for labor. Most importantly, the doula will provide comfort, support, and information about birth options.
You can make a tax-deductible donation to Operation Special Delivery via the website — www.operationspecialdelivery.com — or at any Stork Vision location. If you’re an expectant military mom and want more information, please visit the website to fill out an application form and get matched with a doula in your area.
Do something truly meaningful this year by giving a military family “a hand to hold until they all come home.”
