What About Having a Doula For Your Birth?

Have you ever considered having a Doula for your birth?

Then again you may be wondering: "What is a doula?"

We are here to answer your questions and help you determine if a birthing doula would benefit you and your baby.

What is a Doula?

The word Doula comes from the Greek and it means: servant woman or slave.

Birthing doulas are advocates and listening ears for you - the birthing mother - as well as a helper to your baby's father.

A Doula, usually a woman, has gone through a thorough doula education program and she is knowledgeable about childbirth and the postpartum experience - the time after the birth.

What a Doula Does?

A birthing Doula accompanies you in labor and is there to "mother the laboring mother" - you - in order to take care of your emotional and your physical needs throughout your childbirth experience.

A postpartum Doula takes care of your needs after the birth of your baby. She usually comes to your home after the birth and helps you with domestic things as well as with helping you with breastfeeding, taking care of the umbilical cords and any other questions you may have.

Benefits Of Having A Doula at Your Birth

Having a doula for your birth is a wonderful asset for a Doula provides support and suggestions that can enhance your natural childbirth experience.

The skills that Doulas develop are medically proven to make a true difference in your experience of birth.

Indeed, in a study published in JAMA - the Journal of the American Medical Association - Doctors J. Kennell, M. Klaus, S. McGrath, S. Robertson and C. Hinkley found that:

A growing body of research shows that having a doula has clear benefits for you and your family during childbirth and postpartum, with no known risks.

The value of providing you with continuous emotional support, physical comfort, and encouragement has been recognized worldwide.

According to the World Health Organization, a doula provides:

Support consisting of praise

Reassurance

Measures to improve your comfort

Physical contact such as rubbing your back and holding your hands

Explanation of what is going on during your labor and delivery

A constant friendly presence

A report from The Medical Leadership Council in Washington D.C. shows that:

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada says:

There are numerous studies on the effects of support during labor.

Considering the outcomes reported in at least 4 studies - involving a minimum of 1,000 women - laboring mothers who received continuous support were less likely than women who did not to:

Have regional analgesia

Have any analgesia/anesthesia

Give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps

Give birth by cesarean

Report dissatisfaction or a negative rating of their experience

Laboring moms receiving continuous support were more likely than those who did not to give birth spontaneously - that is, with neither cesarean nor vacuum extraction nor forceps.

Midwives And Doulas

If you are having a birth with a midwife, it is true she will provide you with a lot of support...

...but they may need to perform technical and/or medical procedures that can distract their attention from you during labor and after the birth of your baby.

In Conclusion

Having a Doula present at your birth has many benefits and no adverse effects.

Continuous support during labor should be the norm, rather than the exception. Doulas - either birthing doulas or postpartum doulas - provide that support.

All laboring moms should be allowed and encouraged to have a supportive team with them continuously during labor and after the birth.

And that most certainly includes you!

How Do You Become a Doula?

Doula education is a combination "school work," training and practical experience. Hands on experience is - or should be - part of any good doula education.

There are various doula programs out there and a good place to start would be by visiting any of these sites:

www.dona.org

www.alace.org

www.icea.org

www.birthworks.org

www.cappacanada.ca

So if you are having a baby, you may want to consider having a doula at your birth. If you cannot afford the services of a birthing doula, you may want to try to find a mom who has given birth naturally, is knowledgeable about birth and passionate about natural childbirth as well. If she is willing to stand up for your rights and is knowledgeable enough to help you then you may want to consider inviting you at your birth.

A midwifery student could fill the role of a doula as well. Also know that usually all "birthing doulas in training" must attend births as part of their doula programs. They will do it for free to obtain the experience they need.

So if you really want a doula then there is a solution out there. If you need help visit our free directory or contact us.