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What is a Doula? |
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The Doula’s role? The Doula provides support for the couple, or woman, throughout pregnancy and during labor, birth, and the postnatal period. During the prenatal period, the Doula provides the couple, or woman, with information that will enable them make informed choices about their pregnancy and birth. During labor, the Doula provides the laboring woman physical and emotional support, and actively involves the partner in the process; she can offer the mother encouragement or suggest various things to help labor along for example. Her objective is to create and maintain an atmosphere of trust and intimacy around the couple, or woman, that will positively impact the labor and birth, as well as the conditions in which the newborn is welcomed into the world. During the postnatal period, the Doula visits the new family several times to keep and eye on the mother’s well-being and development of the bond between parent and baby; she can provide breastfeeding support, support the parents in their new role, and is also available during these first weeks for any questions the new parents may have. Why hire a Doula? According to studies carried out on the subject, the presence of a Doula during labor and birth can reduce: The use of an epidural by 60% The number of c-sections by 50% Labor time by 25% The use of oxytocin (syntocinon-pitocin) by 40% The use of narcotics for pain relief by 30% The use of forceps by 30% (summary by Penny Simkin in Mothering the Mother (chapter 3), by Klaus, Kennell et Klaus, New York, 1993) Having a Doula present during Labor and birth can also be of benefit during the postnatal period; mother’s who have a Doula present during labor and birth tend to bond with their babies more easily and breastfeed longer, and are less likely to suffer from postpartum depression.
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