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What is a Doula?
The word doula comes from the ancient Greek meaning servant or slave, and is now used to refer to someone who is experienced in childbirth who provides physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, continuously during and just after childbirth. Doulas have probably existed, in function if not in name, for as long as women have been giving birth. In nearly every culture on earth, women support each other before, during labor and delivery, and in the weeks following birth. In our society, however, this support has been removed from the birthplace at the same time that a myriad of choices have complicated the birthing process. Now more than ever, the nurturing presence of a Doula can help families meet the challenges of birth. During these times women need reassurance and information. They also need support, both physical and emotional. They need the type of insight and advice that only another woman can provide.
The role of a Doula is to mother the mother. A Doula's goal is to empower, educate and support a woman so that she can have a positive and satisfying birth experience. Doulas work alongside physicians, midwives, nurses, and birth partners, assisting women giving birth in hospitals, birth centers, and at home. A Birth Doula's purpose is to help mothers come as close as they can to having the kind of birth they desire, leaving them and their birth partner with the best possible feelings about themselves and their capabilities. They work to educate mothers and their partners about childbirth, to help mediate the stress and discomfort that can be associated with pregnancy and labor, and to provide physical and emotional support throughout the entire childbirth process. The Doula offers suggestions on comfort measures, pain relief, positions, movement, breathing, and relaxation. The Doula recognizes childbirth as a transformational life experience. While the outcome of labor and birth can be unpredictable, the care one receives during labor should never be.
The heart of Doula care is the understanding that continuous emotional support and reassurance during labor and birth improves and enhances maternal satisfaction. Doulas specialize in non-medical skills. In addition to support, Doulas are trained in non-pharmacological pain relief, meaning anything non-medical such as massage, aromatherapy, visualization, application of heat or cold, breathing patterns, body positioning, focal points, and relaxation techniques. Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions, or give medical advice. The Doulas goal is to help the woman have a safe and satisfying childbirth, as defined by each individual woman. Informational Support
A Doula offers:
Close contact throughout pregnancy to make sure all questions and concerns are addressed and answered
Information on the risks and benefits of tests and procedures offered during pregnancy and labor to ensure informed consent at all times
Birth Plan counseling to help a woman identify her birth priorities
Unlimited 24 hour telephone consultation and e-mail support
Recommendations of resources, reading materials, and web site links
Referrals to appropriate services as indicated on an individual basis
Emotional Support
A Doula offers:
Preparation for the birth experience. A doula helps a woman to identify and express any fears or expectations about labor
Continuous emotional support during entire labor and recovery, including reassurance about the normalcy of labor, explanations of all medical interventions before they occur and the reasons they are necessary
Positive assurances, encouragement, praise, affirmation, and empowering phrases
The ability to preserve and nurture a positive birth memory
Physical Support
A Doula offers continuous physical support during entire labor and recovery including the following:
Guided relaxation techniques
Patterned breathing techniques
Massage
Attention focusing techniques
Birth Ball Use
Body Position suggestions that promote labor and birth progress:
Standing, leaning, slow dancing, walking, kneeling leaning forward, kneeling on one knee, sitting up, birth ball (sitting, leaning, swaying), lying down, side-lying, semi-reclining, supine with tilt to side, squatting, supported squat, lap squatting, the dangle, open knee-chest, closed knee-chest, lying semi-prone, etc.
Movement suggestions that encourage correct fetal positioning:
The lunge, pelvic rocking, abdominal lifting, abdominal stroking, stomp & squat, rhythmic motion, kegel, etc.
Hot and Cold therapy
Hydrotherapy
Aromatherapy
Specific Backache Comfort Measures:
Counter-pressure, double hip squeeze, knee press, pelvic rocking, the lunge, abdominal lifting, hands and knees, etc.
Reminders to urinate and hydrate frequently
Pushing instruction that encourage proper fetal descent
Support during recovery for any complications or side-effects
Help with initial breastfeeding
Post-partum visit to review birth and suggest any appropriate resources
Post-partum help with any breastfeeding problems
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