What is a doula?
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
A Birth Doula
- Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
- Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
- Stays with the woman throughout the labor
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
- Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
- Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level
As a birth doula, I am passionate about helping expectant parents achieve the birth they desire. My hope for each of my clients is that they have a positive, empowering birth experience. I support and encourage gentle, evidenced-based birthing practices. I see birth as a natural, healthy function of a woman’s body--normal until otherwise demonstrated. I believe the expectant mother’s wishes should be respected and her dignity protected.
It is my desire through prenatal visits to establish a strong relationship with my clients and a solid understanding of their birth preferences so that I am able to do my best in seeing that my clients’ wishes are carried out wherever possible. These visits also provide us with the opportunity to review the clients’ knowledge of and/or experience with childbirth as well as their familiarity with relaxation techniques.
During labor and birth, I seek to support my clients physically and emotionally. I am able to provide the continuous, knowledgeable support throughout labor that the client’s nurse and care provider oftentimes cannot. I am there solely for my clients--not the hospital, doctor, etc. Fathers are supported in their role as birth companions, and I encourage them to participate to the extent which they are comfortable. As various issues may arise, I am there to answer my clients’ questions and to facilitate their communication with their care provider. It is very important to me that my clients are able to give true informed consent (or informed refusal, as the case may sometimes be).
I like to stay with my clients until they are well settled after the birth, and I follow up later to check on them during the postpartum period. The postpartum visit allows us to discuss the birth, address any problems with breastfeeding, and to go over other concerns as well. Basically, I am there to “mother the mother” throughout our time together. It is a joy and a privilege to serve expectant parents going through this amazing, life-changing time!
For more information on doulas, contact me or visit www.dona.org.
