  |
Educate . Support . Nurture |
|
|
|||||||
|
A Doula’s primary responsibility is to help her client have a positive birth experience, however the mother defines it. Research has shown that what contributes most to creating a positive experience are continuous emotional, physical, and educational support offered by a trained Doula, or labour support person.
A Birth Doula accompanies a woman in labour, provides educational, emotional and physical support, suggests comfort measures for labour and provides support and suggestions for the client’s partner. A Doula plays a crucial role in helping the client’s partner become involved in the birth to the extent he/she feels comfortable.
The encouragement, assurance and constant presence of a Doula at a birth helps a woman and her birth partner face their labour confidently. With confidence comes the calm, relaxed acceptance that is needed for a labour to progress normally and naturally. Studies have shown that Doula-supported labours tend to be shorter, have fewer complications and require fewer medical interventions. The birth partner, who is often inexperienced in birth, also benefits from the emotional support of a Doula. Partners take cues from a Doula about how the labour is progressing, how the woman is coping and how to encourage the labouring woman. With the support of both her partner and her Doula, a woman feels safe to do the work she must to bring her baby into the world.
A Doula provides
invaluable physical support in labour by offering
suggestions for positions to help a labour progress, comfort
measures to help manage pain and techniques to encourage
relaxation.
Research has shown that labouring women supported by Doulas are less likely to require Oxytocin/Pitocin (or other labour inducing and augmenting medications), forceps or vacuum extractions and cesarean deliveries. By reducing the need for medical interventions Doulas help women enjoy faster recovery times and more positive outcomes for both mother and baby.
Whenever possible, a Doula provides her client and the client’s partner with prenatal and post-partum educational support. This may include explanation and discussion of care practices and procedures as well as general information about the birth process, breastfeeding and newborn care. Helping women take charge of the medical care decisions that need to be made creates feelings of empowerment and an overall more positive birth experience. In cases where medical interventions are necessary or desired by a labouring woman, a Doula can help her consider the risks, benefits and possible alternatives to those medical interventions. A Doula, while not able to communicate with a care provider on behalf of her clients, can help them get answers to questions about their labour and birth.
A Postpartum Doula offers education, companionship and non-judgmental support during the postpartum period. She assists with newborn care and family adjustment. In her support she offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents. When needed, a postpartum Doula can make appropriate referrals to community health and support resources.
|
|||||||
|
| Home | About Me | Services & Fees | Testimonials | Doula Care | Resources | Contact Me | 2008 All Rights Reserved
|
A
Doula does not replace doctors, midwives, nurses or other
medical staff. The Doula does not perform clinical or
medical tasks such as taking blood pressure or temperature,
monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or
providing postpartum clinical care. A Doula does not make
decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical care.
