Do You Wanna Doula?

Of course you do!
art credit http://www.mayanhealers.com/doula_care

And now I shall share with you all the beauties of a Doula and why you might want to consider having one at your next birth.

First, What is a doula?
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
When doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.

Numerous Clinical studies, such as this one have found that a doula’s presence at birth

-Reduces the need for cesarean by 50%
-Reduces the length of labor by 25%
-Reduces the use of oxytocin by 40%
-Reduces pain medication use by 30%
-Reduces the need for forceps by 40%
-Reduces epidural requests by 60%

Six weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:

-Less anxious and depressed

-Had more confidence with baby

-More satisfied w/ partner (71% vs 30%)

-More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)

This study can be found in “A Doula Makes the Difference”

by Nugent in Mothering Magazine, March-April 1998.

Doulas are not just for the wealthy. Many Doulas charge a fee based on a sliding scale, meaning that a percentage of your income decides the fee. Some are willing to barter services or goods. EVERY woman deserves a doula.

A story From Valerie, a brave mama whose son was delivered via Cesarean section:

(Courtesy of Desert Moon Doulas)

"I was optimistically expecting a short, easy, uneventful, painless delivery, probably like most new mothers. That is not what happened. I had three epidurals and some additional pain medications which did not work as expected. I had not planned for the pain of delivery, and would not have been prepared for it without a doula. Even with a childbirth class behind me, my doula was much better prepared than anyone else to get me through the contractions which I could feel even with the epidurals. Moreover, because my labor had exceeded 24 hours, my family support was almost as exhausted as I was. However, my doula remained prepared and professional, and was just as able to help me through the contractions at the 30th hour as she was at the first."
Informative article HERE with another woman's experience with a doula.

A Birth Doula
-Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
-Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
-Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
-Stays with the woman throughout the labor
-Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
-Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
-Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
-Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level
-A birth doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials CD(DONA).

A Postpartum Doula
-Offers education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester
-Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying
-Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and makes appropriate referrals when necessary
-A postpartum doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials PCD(DONA).