1. What is a doula?
A doula is a birth coach who helps women during labor and delivery by empowering and advocating for their experience. She can help with labor positions, offer massage, help with pain management, and help the birth partner be an active part of the birth experience. A doula is usually independent from the hospital or birthing center, and therefore can advocate for a laboring woman's experience without fear of retribution. A doula does not do medical exams of any kind. She is there to help a family bring their baby into the world in the way that is best for the family. Often a doula will meet with the family atleast once before the birth to become comfortable with each other and decide on a flexible birth plan. The doula will remain on call for the birth of the baby, and after the baby is born help facilitate breastfeeding. One postpartum visit is usually done to discuss how the birth went, how everyone feels, and fill in some memory gaps.
2. Why do I need a doula?
Making the decision to have a doula is a very personal decision. Sometimes birth partners may be uncomfortable with the idea of a doula for fear that they may be forgotten or will not be an active part of the birth experience. Doulas do not take the place of the birth partner. Doulas work with others in the room as part of a team. They will offer suggestions to the birth partner if the partner seems to be unsure of what to do to help. It can be very scary for a birth partner to see their partner in any kind of pain. A doula can help normalize the birth experience and ease the birth partner's worries.
Having the continuous presence of a birth professional reduces anxiety for mothers, which then inturn reduces pain levels. When a mother is calmer her body will do what it is supposed to do, and her cervix will open and she will birth the baby. If she is tense and scared her labor will slow down and become more painful. This is why frequently women having strong contactions at home stop having them once they reach the hospital.
Statistics show that a doula's presence during birth:
" Tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications.
Reduces negative feelings about one's childbirth experience.
Reduces the need for pitocin (a labor inducing drug), forceps, vacuum extractions, and C- sections.
Reduces the mother's request for pain medication and/or epidurals." (www.dona.org)