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 Women helping women have babies is a practice as old as
childbirth...
Birth Doulas from The Mothering Way provide support, information, and encouragement for the expectant parents before, during, and immediately following birth. We want to help you create your ideal birth experience whether this is in a hospital, birth center, or your home. Your Birth Doula will provide emotional support and suggestions to enhance your comfort and the effectiveness of your labor. She will also support your life partner so they do not have to “do it all”. She provides the confidence and assurance that comes from knowing you and the experience of attending other births. Every woman can benefit from labor support. A systematic review called "Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth" details the benefits of professional labor support. It was published in Issue 3, 2003 of The Cochrane Library. “Continuous labor support is a remarkable element of maternity care that offers well-established benefits and has no known downsides.” Before the birth of your baby or babies, your Birth Doula will meet with you. She will get to know you and your partner while you discuss any questions, concerns, or fears that you have regarding your upcoming birth. She will find out what is important to you and your partner. Then, she will discuss birth options with you. She will help you write up a Birth Preference Sheet that you can then share with your doctor or midwife. During birth, the presence of a Birth Doula (Labor Assistant) changes everyone’s experience of the birth. Sarah, a first time mother said:
Even though I had multiple family members with me during labor, I still value my doula's assistance. Giving birth is one of the best kept secrets of womanhood. You hear all about it, but it doesn't really sink in until you're going through it. My husband, my mother, and my mother-in-law were there to support me, and it was truly a team effort; however; with my doula there, I didn't need to worry about being embarrassed or communicating my needs, as my doula took care of everything. I know that my "moms" have been through childbirth, but my doula knew exactly how to read my labor signs and also knew many different techniques to help me be more comfortable during and between contractions. She was there to focus on me and what I needed, which took stress off of me as well as my family. My husband was there to hold my hand, but my doula knew HOW to hold it. It was truly special that my family could share in this extraordinary day, and my doula made everything seem smooth and stress free for all of us involved. Research demonstrates that in controlled trials involving over 1000 women that the presence of a Doula results in:
The presence of a doula changes the mother’s experience of birth, and the additional long term benefits of labor support include :
Anna a first time twin mom said:
Some people, like us, did not really want or expect a medication-free birth, but even with all the interventions it was incredibly helpful to have our doula there. I thought a doula might be helpful. What I did not expect was the extent to which her presence was invaluable . . . my husband and I were both impressed with her ability to read my body language and respond caringly. She also navigated very sensitively the interface between the medical personnel, my husband, and me. The nurses come and go, the doctors are not there at all, the husband doesn’t really know what's happening and he may be just as exhausted as the mom, so that leaves the doula as the main support person. Altogether, we believe the birth would have been a much more stressful and taxing experience on everyone without our Doula’s help. * Your Doula is not a medical practitioner. 1. Research sited is compiled in Mothering the Mother by Marshall Klaus, M.D.; John Kennell M.D. and Phyllis H. Klaus, M.Ed., C.S.W.; Addison Wesley Publishing Company, 1993.  |
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