What is a Doula?
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves". Nowadays a doula is referred to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the laboring mother throughout labor, birth and immediately after birth. They are also there to provide postpartum support as well.
When continuous labor support was provided by a doula, women experienced a: (* symbol means the best results occurred when there was continuous support of a doula) ^
A doula also provides support during pregnancy offering advice, exercises and techniques to make pregnancy a little more comfortable. Doulas can also help you make a birth plan and help establish breastfeeding postpartum.
Other Benefits from Doulas:
Doulas have proven to shorten labors... in a study comparing length of labor, (two studies in guatemala and on in houston, texas) one of the studys in guatemala, the average length of labor without a doula was 19 hrs, and the average length of labor with a doula was 9 hours!!
Also, doulas help lower assisted delivery (forceps or vacuum used to assist delivery) rates, in one study done in Houston, Texas, without the support of a doula, the rate was 26% of women needed assisted delivery but with a doula, only 8% needed assisted delivery!!
We also help lower the hospital stay for women. Why? Babies who are born to mothers without doula support were more likely to develop a maternal fever during labor which usually happens if the women were to get an epidural. This results in tests being done to the infant after birth to see if there is any infection that have/has occurred leading to a longer stay for both mom and baby. In a texas study, the women who had no doula support, 24% of them had a greater than 2 day hospital stay and 10 % of them develop maternal fever in labor but the women who had doula support, only 10% had a 2 days or longer hospital stay and only 1% developed maternal fever!!
Also doula support for pregnant teenage moms goes a long way and the results are incredible as far as breastfeeding rates, delivery rates, newborn health rates, etc.
Also we have a beneficial effect on anxiety levels in new parents and reduce cost if their infants are healthier as in lower the chances of the mother having feeding issues and/or breastfeeding issues. If there are any breastfeeding issues, a doula can help the mother get in touch with someone who can help or can help her their selves, extra support postpartum wise.
In research, it has been shown that women who have had doula support that it has a striking impact on the mother's confidence, self-esteem, and her perception of her baby!! This means that doulas could and do impact women far more than just birth and immediate postpartum, it can impact women's lives in a positive manner carrying this impact for the rest of their lives!!
With postpartum doulas, they help lower postpartum depression rates, increase successful breastfeeding rates and there is more confident parenting as well as fathers feel more confident and involved in the process!!
What doulas do not do:
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves". Nowadays a doula is referred to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the laboring mother throughout labor, birth and immediately after birth. They are also there to provide postpartum support as well.
When continuous labor support was provided by a doula, women experienced a: (* symbol means the best results occurred when there was continuous support of a doula) ^
- 31% decrease in the use of Pitocin*
- 28% decrease in the risk of C-section*
- 12% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth*
- 9% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief
- 14% decrease in the risk of newborns being admitted to a special care nursery
- 34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience*
A doula also provides support during pregnancy offering advice, exercises and techniques to make pregnancy a little more comfortable. Doulas can also help you make a birth plan and help establish breastfeeding postpartum.
Other Benefits from Doulas:
Doulas have proven to shorten labors... in a study comparing length of labor, (two studies in guatemala and on in houston, texas) one of the studys in guatemala, the average length of labor without a doula was 19 hrs, and the average length of labor with a doula was 9 hours!!
Also, doulas help lower assisted delivery (forceps or vacuum used to assist delivery) rates, in one study done in Houston, Texas, without the support of a doula, the rate was 26% of women needed assisted delivery but with a doula, only 8% needed assisted delivery!!
We also help lower the hospital stay for women. Why? Babies who are born to mothers without doula support were more likely to develop a maternal fever during labor which usually happens if the women were to get an epidural. This results in tests being done to the infant after birth to see if there is any infection that have/has occurred leading to a longer stay for both mom and baby. In a texas study, the women who had no doula support, 24% of them had a greater than 2 day hospital stay and 10 % of them develop maternal fever in labor but the women who had doula support, only 10% had a 2 days or longer hospital stay and only 1% developed maternal fever!!
Also doula support for pregnant teenage moms goes a long way and the results are incredible as far as breastfeeding rates, delivery rates, newborn health rates, etc.
Also we have a beneficial effect on anxiety levels in new parents and reduce cost if their infants are healthier as in lower the chances of the mother having feeding issues and/or breastfeeding issues. If there are any breastfeeding issues, a doula can help the mother get in touch with someone who can help or can help her their selves, extra support postpartum wise.
In research, it has been shown that women who have had doula support that it has a striking impact on the mother's confidence, self-esteem, and her perception of her baby!! This means that doulas could and do impact women far more than just birth and immediate postpartum, it can impact women's lives in a positive manner carrying this impact for the rest of their lives!!
With postpartum doulas, they help lower postpartum depression rates, increase successful breastfeeding rates and there is more confident parenting as well as fathers feel more confident and involved in the process!!
What doulas do not do:
- Perform clinical tasks (heart rate, vaginal exams, blood pressure, fetal heart rate checks, or other medical tasks)
- Make decisions for you (I help you get to an informed decision for yourself)
- Provide information, dosages or advise concerning prescription or alternative medication, or medical advise pertaining to you or your baby
- Speak to the staff on your behalf. Doulas will discuss your concerns with you and suggest options, but you or your partner will speak on your behalf to the clinical staff.
Do Doulas Take The Place of Spouse/Birth Partner?
No! We will never take the place of your birth partner! We are there to support the you while your partner can love and encourage you every step of the way. Having a doula will help take the pressure off the birth partner and provide a more relaxing environment for every one. You cannot have too much support going through these beautiful stages of birth. This article also helps explain the different roles of a birth partner and doula. (Can my husband be a doula?) There is often too much pressure put on the birth partner to know so much information such as labor process, hospital protocols, labor positions, etc. and to advocate for the laboring woman in an unfamiliar environment and are often uncomfortable. This is where the doula comes in and makes it a more relaxing and comfortable. A doula can help parents make well informed decision by providing information and knowledge so that every one can communicate with each other. Also, fathers are able to be more intimate with the laboring mother while the doula guides them both through the stages of labor and birth. |
Professional Picture Taken By: Poppy La'Rue Photography & Design