Meet our January Mama of the Month: Sydnee Manuma!
She is a birth and postpartum Doula on the island of O’ahu, and mama to two under two! Sydnee took the time to answer some of our questions about what a Doula does, her favorite part of this occupation, and some of the ways having a Doula during your birthing experience can be so valuable!
Tell us a bit about yourself! Where you're from, your keiki, anything you'd like to share with us!
My name is Sydnee Manuma, I am from Haleiwa Oahu. My family and I love the ocean, good food, family time and Jesus! I have a background in education and currently working in the ABA field, but mostly spend my time being a mom of 2 under 2. I love all things birth and motherhood, this has been my “mission field.”
What made you want to become a Doula? How long have you been practicing for?
I was inspired to become a doula from the doula support I had with my first and second pregnancies. I knew I wanted to have an uneducated and positive birth experience, and hiring a doula made that possible during my hospital and home birth. I was given a scholarship opportunity from a Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Oahu Coalition this year to complete a doula training and certification through them; they are a non-profit community based program that provides doula, maternal and family care services!
We see that you're both a post-partum and birth doula! Can you please explain the difference between the two and the importance of them?
The difference between a postpartum and birth doula is that birth doulas support expectant mothers from pregnancy until they give birth. They are available 24/7 to provide informational and emotional support for pregnant mothers and then physical support during labor. Birth doulas are expected to help mothers labor at home or hospital and stay with families until up to 1 hour post birth. Whereas postpartum doulas support families after birth in their homes or wherever the mama needs the doula to be! Postpartum care can look like cooking/preparing hearty meals for the family, cleaning, being there for mom, or watching the newborn baby while parents get their rest (night or day). Postpartum care is so special and is such a blessing to every family.
What is one thing you wished more people knew about Doulas?
I wish that people understood the importance of doula care because most expectant families think they can do it all by themselves; they can have the birth they want or they can have the positive postpartum experience without help. But the truth is that every mama and their growing families need villages around them to support their wishes, their needs, and their overall health.
What is your biggest piece of advice for moms who are about to give birth, and for post-partum moms?
My biggest advice for expectant mothers is to anchor yourself in spiritual, educational, and physical practices that can help you understand birth and childbearing; this will help you mentally prepare yourself for labor and also the huge transition that your newborn babe brings! My postpartum advice is that if you don’t have help, try to prepare frozen meals and make things as easy as possible so that you can make it a priority to rest and soak in your newborn. Mama, you don’t have to be a busy-body, you are already so worthy of rest and care that you effortlessly pour out into your family!
What is your favorite part of being a doula?
My favorite part of being a doula is serving my clients in any way they need. I want to empower them and also to serve them in a way where they know how special they are as mothers. Although I love to share educational birth advice, I love to serve mothers in their home by taking initiative to clean, cook, or watch baby so that mama can prioritize her rest and care.
And lastly, what are some of your favorite Coco Moon products?
My favorite Coco Moon products are any girl dresses and pajamas! Shopping for my babies is an addiction, and I’m obsessed with Coco Moon material and local inspired prints!
We are so grateful to Sydnee for sharing this valuable information with us! Be sure to check her out on Instagram @motherhood_ministries and visit our online store to check out some of her favorite Coco Moon products!
