"Doula" is from the Greek referring to a female servant, or a woman who helps other women. A Doula is someone who helps women and their partners during labor and birth through massage, relaxation, positioning, breathing, and emotional encouragement. A Doula helps families by providing information to help them achieve their best possible birth experience. Doulas strive to create an environment of safety for the mother so that she can allow her body to relax and work without feeling tense and threatened. She is not there as a medical adviser. A Doula works for you! A Doula is a labor assistant
What are the Benefits of Using a Doula?
Some of the benefits of using a Doula include:
Professional Doulas receive their training from many different sources. There are certifying organizations such as Doulas of North America (DONA) and Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) that certify Doulas. There are also many wonderful Doulas who have chosen not to pursue certification. There are currently no government regulations governing professional Doulas.
Corey Strouse, the owner of Chrysalis Birth and Postpartum Doula Services, has been working as a professional birth and postpartum Doula for the past three years. She is a certified birth doula through Doulas of North America (DONA), and a certified postpartum doula through Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA). She is a member of Doulas of North America (DONA), Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA), Pennsylvania Mid-State Lactation Coalition (PA-MILC), and Central Pennsylvania Gentle Birth Advocates.
What services does a doula provide?
Services vary depending on the individual Doula.
My Doula services are typical and include the following:
An initial interview
Two prenatal visits
24 hour a day availability, 2 weeks before
and after your due date
Help with writing your birth plan
Unlimited telephone consultation
Use of my books on pregnancy and childbirth
Continuous assistance for you and your partner
throughout your entire labor
Pictures after the birth of you interacting with
your baby (film and developing paid by client)
1-2 hours support during your recovery
Assistance with initial breastfeeding
One postpartum visit
What about my Partner. Won't He Feel Left Out If We Have a Doula?
Dads and birth partners may worry that having a Doula present will diminish their role in the labor process. For the father-to-be, this is their baby and their birth experience, too. A Doula not only takes care of the mother, but she supports the father/birth partner as well. Dads who are able to eat, drink, and rest during labor have more energy to dedicate to supporting mom. A doula will remind dad to eat and drink, before they become light-headed, and will stay with their partner while they do so. Often, a woman in labor will be concerned for the well-being of her partner. When a Doula is a part of the birth team, mom can focus totally on herself and her birth, without having to worry about who's taking care of dad.
A Doula provides only as much support as mom and dad find comfortable. She will work with you before the birth of your baby to find out what level of support is right for you. Some dads want the Doula to provide physical support (backrubs, changing positions, breathing techniques, foot massage, etc.), so they can concentrate on emotionally supporting mom. Other dads prefer to handle the physical support, knowing they can call on the Doula for suggestions, while the Doula devotes her energy to the sometimes overwhelming task of emotionally supporting the woman in labor. Other dads switch between the two, offering emotional or physical support depending on mom's needs.
A Doula is not a doctor, midwife, or nurse. Each of these special people have their own role during labor, as does a Doula. A Doula completes the birth team. While most nurses try to be as supportive as possible, it is unusual for you to be their only patient. A nurse usually has at least one other couple to support as well (often more). The nurses are responsible for assessing the well being of both you and your baby. Much of the time the nurses spend in the room will be spent on checking the fetal monitor (if in use), checking the mother's vital signs and those of the baby. Nurses often have very little time to provide actual physical and emotional support to the woman in labor. Statistics show that nurses spend less than 10% of their time providing labor support, and the majority of that time is spent giving verbal or instructional support, not hands-on help. - Another benefit to doula support is the bond that you are able to form. Nursing shifts change. During a long labor you may have several different nurses. The Doula remains with you through every shift change. Her constant, supportive presence remains with you throughout labor.
Many doctors belong to group practices. Depending on which doctor is on call, the doctor you deliver with may not even be the same one who was there at the start of your labor. Doctors often have more than one woman in labor, and only check in occasionally. It is not unusual for the laboring women not to see her doctor at all until it is time for the actual delivery. The Doula and your partner are the only members of your birth team who remain with you from the start of labor to the actual birth and beyond. I'm Having a Midwife Attend My Birth. Why Should I Also Have a Doula?A Doula supports the midwifery model of care. She will remain with you from the time you first contact her until you deliver your baby. A midwife is a wonderful choice when selecting a care providers. Most midwives tend to use less interventions and trust the birth process. Your midwife will usually have a lower patient load than a doctor and will be able to spend more time with you than a doctor would. However, most midwives are not able to support you constantly throughout your labor. A midwife will have medical tasks to carry out, charting to complete and often other mothers in labor to attend. Their first priority is the health of you and your baby. If there are medical complication to attend to, they cannot fully support you while they are occupied with your physical health and the health of your baby. A Doula is free from concern of the medical side of birth. Her sole focus is on the birthing woman and her partner.
If I'm Planning on Having an Epidural Why Do I Need a Doula?Help in coping with pain is only one of a Doulas many roles. An epidural does not diminish the fact that you are about to give birth. It does not affect the emotional and spiritual aspects of birth. An epidural does not provide encouragement, massage, relaxation techniques, or other coping measures. An epidural will not explain hospital procedures, hold your hand, rub your shoulders, get you ice chips or remind you to urinate.
Occasionally, an epidural will fail to work or will leave a woman with "hot spots" of pain. Women who are planning to have an epidural during labor need to plan for their births as thoroughly as women who desire non medicated births. Often an epidural will not be administrated until 4-5 cm dilation. A Doula will help you with coping techniques until the epidural is in place. A Doula knows what positions work best with an epidural. Pushing my especially be affected by an epidural. A Doula knows different techniques to try should this be a problem. A Doula is there to support your choices for YOUR birth.
What if I Deliver by Cesarean Section?Studies have shown that having a doula present for your birth can decrease your chance of cesarean section by 21%-51%.* If you desire to avoid having a cesarean delivery, it is a wonderful idea to hire a doula. However, sometimes a cesarean section is the only option available in order to insure the health of the mother and baby. Should this be the case, a doula can help you to stay on track with your birth plan as much as possible. A Doula will help you to begin breastfeeding after the surgery and will stay with you while dad goes with the baby to the nursery. A doula will provide calm support and help to remove any fears that the two of you may have regarding the surgery.
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