A Doula is a woman experienced with childbirth who provides emotional, physical and informational support to the expectant family before, during and immediately after birth.
Doula's recognize birth as a key life experience the woman will remember for the rest of her life. The Doula works to nurture and protect that experience by encouraging the woman to give birth in her own unique way.
How Will a Doula Benefit Me?
A Doula is not someone who only holds a laboring woman's hand. Doula's are trained and experienced professionals who are invaluable to the woman and her birthing companion in many ways.
You might benefit from Doula services if any of the following statements apply:
- You view childbirth as a natural occurance rather than a medical problem. - Your birth companion wants to help support you in labor but is not sure how or is nervous about it. (See Dad's and Doula's). -You are without a support person. - You are afraid of labor. - You are concerned about the discomfort in labor. - You would like to avoid certain medical interventions, including a cesarean section. - You feel reassured that a knowledgeable professional is there for you continously throughout your birthing process.
Just some of the things a Doula provides:
- Advice during pregnancy - Help with birth preference preparation - Prenatal and postpartum visits - Emotional support - Continous labor support - Pros and cons of medical procedures and interventions - Non-pharmicological pain relief suggestions such as massage, water, etc. - Positioning suggestions during the birthing process - Help support the birthing companion in any way
Studies about the effects of labor Doulas
Eleven scientific studies published in such places as the Journal of the American Medical Association, the New England Journal of Medicine, and the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology have documents on the positive effects of doula support.
Statistics show that Doulas have considerable positive effects on labor such as a reduction in: - The overall length of labor by 25% - The use of pain medication by 30% - Oxytocin use by 40% - Requests for epidurals by 60% - The overall cesarean rate by 50% - Forceps deliveries by 40%
and increases in: - rates of breastfeeding - positive maternal assessments of maternal confidence - positive maternal assessments of maternal and newborn health
For more information on these studies, see The Doula Book, by Klaus, Kennell and Klaus.
"Wherever and however you intend to give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body, and your spirit for the rest of your life." ~ Ina May Gaskin
"I feel that any woman and her husband could absolutely benefit from Bradley® classes to be able to have the knowledge about pregnancy, labor and childbirth and to truly understand the available options during labor and delivery which are invaluable. I greatly appreciated Barb's knowledge, teaching abilities, and her viewpoint of childbirth as a natural process and her extremely claming nature. Her knowledge coupled with her calming nature made me feel very reassured that I have selected her to have as my doula during labor and delivery!" . -- Amy and Brady S. Proud parents of Jordan, 2007
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