The first intervention in birth that a healthy woman takes is when she walks out the front door of her home in labor. From that first intervention all others will follow. - Michael Rosenthal OB/Gyn |
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What is a Doula?
The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition of their
important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers
and infants. - DONA International
"The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek and is now used to refer to a woman who helps other
women. It has been applied to childbirth to refer to “a woman experienced in childbirth who
provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during,
and just after childbirth.” (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus in Mothering the Mother)
Benefits of Having a Doula
Since 1980, research has been done to determine the benefits of doula assisted births. These studies
showed that there were significant decreases in birth interventions including:
(Taken from Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth, by Marshall
H. Klaus, John H. Kennell, Phyllis H. Klaus)
~ ~ ~
Pediatrician's Support of Doula Care
Many Pediatricians are also very supportive of doula care during birth. Read more about the
benefits of having a doula from Pediatrics, the official journal of the Academy of American
Pediatrics.
~ ~ ~
A Note to Fathers...
Dads and Doulas: Key Players on Mother's Labor Support Team
A DONA International Birth Doula Topic Sheet (taken from www.dona.org)
There was a time when expectant fathers were
portrayed as anxious, floor-pacing, cigar
smoking men who were tolerated in hospital
corridors until the long-awaited moment when
a nurse or doctor would announce they were
the proud father of a daughter or a son. Today's
expectant fathers are different.
When it comes to pregnancy, birth, and
parenting, today's father wants to share
everything with his partner. He wants to be
actively involved; ease his partner's labor pain,
welcome his baby at the moment of birth and
help care for his newborn at home. A labor
doula can help a father experience this special time with confidence.
The word "doula" which comes from ancient Greek, today refers to a woman trained and
experienced in childbirth. A doula provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational
support to the expectant mother and her partner during labor, delivery and in the immediate
postpartum period. The wisdom and emotional support of experienced women at birth is an ancient
tradition.
Studies show that when doulas are present at birth, women have shorter labors, fewer medical
interventions, fewer cesareans and healthier babies. Recent evidence also suggests that when a
doula provides labor support, women are more satisfied with their experience and the mother-
infant interaction is enhanced as long as two months after the birth. With doula support, fathers
tend to stay more involved with their partner rather than pull away in times of stress. Today, a
father's participation in birth preparation classes or his presence at prenatal visits and in the
delivery suite is a familiar occurrence. Yet, we sometimes forget that the expectations of his role as
a "labor coach" may be difficult to fulfill. Sometimes it is also culturally inappropriate for an
expectant father to be so intimately involved in the process of labor and birth.
The father-to-be is expected among other things to become familiar with the process and language
of birth, to understand medical procedures and hospital protocols and advocate for his partner in an
environment and culture he is usually unfamiliar with. A doula can provide the information to
help parents make appropriate decisions and facilitate communication between the laboring
woman, her partner and medical care providers.
At times a father may not understand a woman's instinctive behavior during childbirth and may
react anxiously to what a doula knows to be the normal process of birth. He may witness his
partner in pain and understandably become distressed. The doula can be reassuring and skillfully
help the mother to cope with labor pain in her unique way. The father-to-be may need to
accompany his partner during surgery should a cesarean becomes necessary. Not all fathers can
realistically be expected to "coach" at this intense level. Many fathers are eager to be involved
during labor and birth. Others, no less loving or committed to their partner's well being find it
difficult to navigate in uncharted waters. With a doula, a father can share in the birth at a level he
feels most comfortable with. The doula's skills and knowledge can help him to feel more relaxed. If
the father wants to provide physical comfort such as back massage, change of positions, and help
his partner to stay focused during contractions, the doula can provide that guidance and make
suggestions for what may work best.
Physicians, midwives and nurses are responsible for monitoring labor, assessing the medical
condition of the mother and baby, and treating complications when they arise. But childbirth is
also an emotional and spiritual experience with long-term impact on a woman's personal well
being. A doula is constantly aware that the mother and her partner will remember this experience
throughout their lives. By "mothering the mother" during childbirth the doula supports the
parents in having a positive and memorable birth experience. The benefits of doula care have been
recognized worldwide. The Medical Leadership Council of Washington, D.C, the Society of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the World Health Organization are among the
many health care organizations that value the benefits that doulas provide to women in labor.
The father's presence and loving support in childbirth is comforting and reassuring. The love he
shares with the mother and his child, his needs to nurture and protect his family are priceless gifts
that only he can provide. With her partner and a doula at birth a mother can have the best of both
worlds: her partner's loving care and attention and the doula's expertise and guidance in childbirth.
The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition of their
important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers
and infants. - DONA International
"The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek and is now used to refer to a woman who helps other
women. It has been applied to childbirth to refer to “a woman experienced in childbirth who
provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during,
and just after childbirth.” (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus in Mothering the Mother)
Benefits of Having a Doula
Since 1980, research has been done to determine the benefits of doula assisted births. These studies
showed that there were significant decreases in birth interventions including:
- 50 % decrease in cesarean births
- 60 % decrease in epidurals
- 40 % decrease in the use of pitocin
- 30% decrease in the use of narcotics
- 30% decrease in the use of forceps
- Overall, a 25% decrease in the length of labor
(Taken from Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth, by Marshall
H. Klaus, John H. Kennell, Phyllis H. Klaus)
~ ~ ~
Pediatrician's Support of Doula Care
Many Pediatricians are also very supportive of doula care during birth. Read more about the
benefits of having a doula from Pediatrics, the official journal of the Academy of American
Pediatrics.
~ ~ ~
A Note to Fathers...
Dads and Doulas: Key Players on Mother's Labor Support Team
A DONA International Birth Doula Topic Sheet (taken from www.dona.org)
There was a time when expectant fathers were
portrayed as anxious, floor-pacing, cigar
smoking men who were tolerated in hospital
corridors until the long-awaited moment when
a nurse or doctor would announce they were
the proud father of a daughter or a son. Today's
expectant fathers are different.
When it comes to pregnancy, birth, and
parenting, today's father wants to share
everything with his partner. He wants to be
actively involved; ease his partner's labor pain,
welcome his baby at the moment of birth and
help care for his newborn at home. A labor
doula can help a father experience this special time with confidence.
The word "doula" which comes from ancient Greek, today refers to a woman trained and
experienced in childbirth. A doula provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational
support to the expectant mother and her partner during labor, delivery and in the immediate
postpartum period. The wisdom and emotional support of experienced women at birth is an ancient
tradition.
Studies show that when doulas are present at birth, women have shorter labors, fewer medical
interventions, fewer cesareans and healthier babies. Recent evidence also suggests that when a
doula provides labor support, women are more satisfied with their experience and the mother-
infant interaction is enhanced as long as two months after the birth. With doula support, fathers
tend to stay more involved with their partner rather than pull away in times of stress. Today, a
father's participation in birth preparation classes or his presence at prenatal visits and in the
delivery suite is a familiar occurrence. Yet, we sometimes forget that the expectations of his role as
a "labor coach" may be difficult to fulfill. Sometimes it is also culturally inappropriate for an
expectant father to be so intimately involved in the process of labor and birth.
The father-to-be is expected among other things to become familiar with the process and language
of birth, to understand medical procedures and hospital protocols and advocate for his partner in an
environment and culture he is usually unfamiliar with. A doula can provide the information to
help parents make appropriate decisions and facilitate communication between the laboring
woman, her partner and medical care providers.
At times a father may not understand a woman's instinctive behavior during childbirth and may
react anxiously to what a doula knows to be the normal process of birth. He may witness his
partner in pain and understandably become distressed. The doula can be reassuring and skillfully
help the mother to cope with labor pain in her unique way. The father-to-be may need to
accompany his partner during surgery should a cesarean becomes necessary. Not all fathers can
realistically be expected to "coach" at this intense level. Many fathers are eager to be involved
during labor and birth. Others, no less loving or committed to their partner's well being find it
difficult to navigate in uncharted waters. With a doula, a father can share in the birth at a level he
feels most comfortable with. The doula's skills and knowledge can help him to feel more relaxed. If
the father wants to provide physical comfort such as back massage, change of positions, and help
his partner to stay focused during contractions, the doula can provide that guidance and make
suggestions for what may work best.
Physicians, midwives and nurses are responsible for monitoring labor, assessing the medical
condition of the mother and baby, and treating complications when they arise. But childbirth is
also an emotional and spiritual experience with long-term impact on a woman's personal well
being. A doula is constantly aware that the mother and her partner will remember this experience
throughout their lives. By "mothering the mother" during childbirth the doula supports the
parents in having a positive and memorable birth experience. The benefits of doula care have been
recognized worldwide. The Medical Leadership Council of Washington, D.C, the Society of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the World Health Organization are among the
many health care organizations that value the benefits that doulas provide to women in labor.
The father's presence and loving support in childbirth is comforting and reassuring. The love he
shares with the mother and his child, his needs to nurture and protect his family are priceless gifts
that only he can provide. With her partner and a doula at birth a mother can have the best of both
worlds: her partner's loving care and attention and the doula's expertise and guidance in childbirth.
| ~ Katherine Stanglin, HCHI, HD ~ Hypnobabies Childbirth Educator & HypnoDoula Certifying Birth Doula (DONA) Katherine@Ancient-Hearts.com (832) 360-6014 |
| Ancient Hearts Birth Services ~ Honoring the Beauty of Birth ~ |
All rights reserved. Copyright 2009.
