Blessed Beginnings

Labor Support Service

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.   John 16:21  KJV

Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.  Isaiah 66:9   KJV

What Is A Doula?

dou·la (or doo-la) n. A woman who assists another woman during labor and provides support to her, the infant, and the family after childbirth.

The doula’s role is to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth. The doula offers help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning. She also assists families in gathering information about the course of their labor and their options. Perhaps the most crucial role of the doula is providing continuous emotional reassurance and comfort.

Why Use a Doula?
In order to have a positive birth experience, most women need continuous labor support. Although OB nurses are experienced in dealing with a laboring woman’s emotional and physical needs, they can seldom guarantee the support they provide will last throughout the labor - especially in hospital settings where shift changes, coffee breaks, heavy paperwork and busy nights regularly occur. Some OB nurses handle up to six laboring couples at a time. Midwives may be able to offer more labor support, but they too have clinical duties to which they must attend.

Studies have shown that the use of a doula decreases:*
· Rate of cesarean birth by 50%
· Length of labor by 25%
· Pitocin use by 40%
· Narcotics use by 30%
· Epidural use by 60%
· Forceps use by 30%

Use of a doula has shown:*
· An increase in successful breastfeeding.
· An increase of maternal satisfaction.
· Less postpartum depression.
· Fathers participate with confidence.
· An increased satisfaction with partner.

*Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth, by Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993)


Will the Doula Replace the Father?
Some fathers or partners are concerned they may be sidelined or replaced by the doula during labor. Although individual situations vary, generally the answer to this question is no - she will not replace him. Studies have shown that fathers usually participate more actively during labor in the presence of a doula than without one. A responsible doula supports and encourages the father and enhances his support style rather than replaces him.

Usually daddies find that they love having a doula with them. A doula can help the father to support the mother and the doula can give him a much needed break to eat, use the restroom, and update other family members on the mother’s progress, all while he has peace of mind that the mother is being cared for by the doula. The doula always respects the couple's right to privacy and can usually sense when the couple needs time alone to be close. The doula can also encourage the father and help him to feel confident in his ability to comfort the mother.


My Experience With Pregnancy and Birth
In January of 1996, I attended a labor support training course through Seattle Midwifery School. Through this training, I learned many helpful techniques that are proven to be beneficial to the labor process. I was trained how to apply these techniques, how to interact with you and your partner, how to encourage your partner to actively participate, and how to help you get the information you need to make informed decisions about your care during labor.

I have personally experienced labor during the births of my own 10 children. I have first-hand knowledge of helpful positions and comfort techniques that facilitate an easier labor and birth. I have had nine completely natural, drug-free labors. The first 2 were normal, natural hospital births, the next 7 were home births and the last was a planned homebirth which ended in a transport and emergency cesarean birth.

I have supported many women during their labors and births and have received much positive feed-back as to the great benefit I was to them during their births.

I have been an independent student of midwifery for over 14 years and have read numerous books on midwifery and pregnancy care. I am confident in my knowledge-base to be of great benefit to you during your labor and birth.

As your doula, ...
· I recognize birth as a key life experience that you will remember all your life.
· I understand the physiology of birth and your emotional needs during labor.
· I will assist you and your partner in preparing for and carrying out your plans for the birth.
· I will stay by your side throughout the entire labor.
· I will provide emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to you in getting the information you need to make good decisions.
· I will facilitate communication between you, your partner and your clinical careproviders.
· I perceive my role as one who nutures and protects your memory of your birth experience.


                                
                                                 © 2001 BirthJunkie.com