What is a doula?
The word doula, pronounced doo-la, comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained, certified and experienced professional labor coach who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; and/or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period, and in my case, also in the case of bereavement situations.
Studies have shown that when doulas attend
birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are
healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
What are the advantages of having a birth doula?
A
doula helps you before labor and delivery by answering your questions
about what to expect, easing your fears, helping you develop a birth
plan, and generally getting you ready for the arrival of your baby.
During
labor and delivery, a doula provides constant, knowledgeable support.
She can make suggestions about positions during labor, help you with
breathing through contractions, and provide massage, among many other services. She can also answer
questions you and your partner have about what's happening and make certain that your birth plan is followed as you wish.
It's
impossible to predict or control how birth and labor will go. Will you
connect emotionally with your labor and delivery nurse? A nurses time is split between patients and is limited in that way, however, your doula is there JUST to serve you. How will you react to the pain? Will you have a swift
delivery or a long, drawn-out labor? How will your husband or partner
hold up under the pressure?
Faced with these uncertainties, many
women find enormous reassurance in having a doula by their side.
Research has found that women who have continuous one-on-one support
during labor tend to use pain medication less often, have slightly
shorter labors, and are less likely to have a c-section or a forceps or
vacuum-assisted delivery. In fact, if you're serious about trying to
give birth without pain medication, a doula may be your best ally.
Women
who have continuous support are also more likely to report being
satisfied with their birth experience. One theory is that mothers who
have continuous support produce lower levels of stress hormones during
labor than women left alone or attended by inexperienced coaches.
A doula (also known as a
birth attendant) believes in ‘mothering the mother’.
She enables a woman and her partner to have the most satisfying birth
experience possible, from pregnancy and into motherhood. This type of
support allows the whole family to relax and enjoy the experience too.
DONA (Doulas of North America) explains how doulas fit into the birth
team:
“Women have complex needs during childbirth. In addition to the safety
of modern obstetrical care, and the love and companionship provided by
their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort,
encouragement and respect. They need individualised care based on their
circumstances and preferences. The role of the birth doula encompasses
the non-clinical aspects of care during childbirth.”
Doulas have been actively supporting women in labour for a very long
time, well before it was the formalised role that it is today. As a
result of positive word of mouth (and the need for increased support),
doulas are fast growing in popularity.
Who Are Doulas?
Doulas are trained and experienced in childbirth and are usually mothers
themselves. While they have good knowledge and awareness of the birth
process, a doula does not support the mother in a medical role. That is
the job of the midwife or doctor. A doula helps to keep birth normal (if
that is the wishes of the birthing mother), and is a valuable addition
to the birth team.
Should a birth become complicated and require medical assistance, a
doula will still remain by your side and help in any way she can. She
will not make decisions for those she supports, but she will assist them
through the decision making process. A doula provides balanced
information so the couple can make their own choices.
Many women consider doulas to be an absolute must, especially for those
giving birth in a hospital. Due to the over-medicalisation of birth,
inductions of labour have skyrocketed, and are partly to blame for the
30% (that’s one out of every three!) Australian and American babies now
born via c-section.
Some hospitals sport c-section rates of 50% and higher. This is a
shocking statistic, well above the World Health Organisation
recommendations of 10-15% — after this amount, it doesn’t save any
further lives, which is what the c-section was intended for.
Given the long term emotional and physical effects that medical births
can have on the mother, her partner and baby, a doula is a valuable
asset to your birth team. By amping up your support team with
experienced, continuous care from a doula, you’re giving yourself an
increased chance at a better experience. Your support team are the
people you will rely on to get you through your toughest, most intense
moments. How well they hold the space and support you can impact on the
outcome of your birth.
With a doula, you know that someone is always on YOUR team, holding the
space for you and your family. She works for you (and your partner) and
has your best interests at heart.
What Does A Doula Do?
A doula may provide some or all of the following services, dependent on
her training and skills. Often doulas are also qualified in other
therapies too, so it always helps to ask!
Birth education and preparation
Birth planning (including creating a written birth plan/birth
preferences document)
De-briefing previous births
Massage and other comfort measures
Optimal fetal positioning
Suggest positions and changes to help ease pain and facilitate a
smoother, more effective labour
Provide reassurance and encouragement
Talking through emotional blockages which may come up during
pregnancy and in labour
Keep your ‘environment’ going – aromatherapy, music, candles etc
Assisting you with negotiation of your preferences
Photography and/or video of the birth itself, as well as those
precious first moments as a family
So much more!
One of the the biggest bonuses of hiring a doula is that fact that she
is a professional birth support person. Doulas are trained in the art of
birth support, and have a keen eye and intuition on what a labouring
mother needs. Things which a hospital midwife unfortunately does not
always have time for (as much as she may want to). Things which your
partner may not pick up on, or situations he may not know how to deal
with. A doula has a heart that is caring and nurturing, yet is able to
remain calm and focused if things go off the rails — something that can
be very difficult for family members and partners. Because family and
friends tend to have an emotional connection, in the event of a problem
or at the peak intensity moments, they can buckle, not knowing what to
do, say or think.
A doula can think clearly, see pros and cons of any situation and relay
them to the couple to make their own decision. When we’re stressed, we
don’t make the best decisions, and in hospital, that may make your
partner, mother or other, completely agreeable to what’s being put on
the table. They may feel out of their depth, uncertain or scared. A
doula can help explain what’s happening with compassion and without
judgment or medical jargon, so its easier for everyone to understand. -
See more at:
http://www.bellybelly.com.au/pregnancy/doulas-what-is-a-doula/
