What is a Doula?
A doula is a non-medical birth professional. She provides non-medical emotional & physical support in labor and birth and works in cooperation with the family’s care provider. She also offers education prenatally, during labor, birth & postpartum, and provides access to evidence-based information and local resources so parents can make informed choices.
A doula is:
A birth professional who understands the normal process of birth, helps the parents to understand this process & works with them during labor & birth to create the most positive experience possible.
What are the benefits of using a doula?
Statistics show that using a trained doula can have the following results:
•
Shorter labors
Shorter labors •Reduced need for pain medication
Reduced need for pain medication •60% less request of epidurals
60% less request of epidurals •Reduction pitocin use
Reduction pitocin use•50% reduction in C-Section
50% reduction in C-Section•Better mother-infant interaction
Better mother-infant interaction•Greater satisfaction with the birth and improved neo-natal outcomes
Greater satisfaction with the birth and improved neo-natal outcomesWhat a doula does:
•She provides non-medical support and continuity of care for birthing women & their partners and eases the transition from home to hospital or birth center.
She provides non-medical support and continuity of care for birthing women & their partners and eases the transition from home to hospital or birth center. •She facilitates, offers words of encouragement, supports, guides, affirms and some cases, advocates before, during & after birth.
She facilitates, offers words of encouragement, supports, guides, affirms and some cases, advocates before, during & after birth.What a doula doesn’t do:
•She does NOT do physical exams or assess fetal or maternal well being.
She does NOT do physical exams or assess fetal or maternal well being.• She does NOT take the place of the partner.
She does NOT take the place of the partner.Does a doula take the place of the partner?
No. A good doula can actually bring a couple closer together during the birth process. By assuring both the laboring mother and the partner’s needs are met (food, drinks, physical & emotional support) a doula helps the couple. A doula helps partners to care for & support the laboring woman by giving suggestions, providing encouragement & giving needed breaks during a long labor as well as offering the right suggestion at the appropriate time, helping the partner use his/her support skills better. In essence, doulas free up the couple to labor together without the stress of partners needing to play multiple roles of advocate, liaison, coach, educator instead of their most important role of partner and parent.
Finally, since all care providers may not be able to be with you every moment (perhaps at home before going to the birth center or in the rare case of transport), the doula helps parents process the information they need to make informed decisions.
A doula accompanies couples through the entire birth experience using her experience and knowledge to help them have a satisfying birth experience.
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