Labor Doula
A Labor Support Doula provides:
Continuous physical, emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth, help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, massage and positioning; assistance to families in gathering information about the course of their labor and their options; continuous emotional reassurance and comfort; non-medical skills such as massage and other non-pharmacological pain relief measures; assistance to partners who want to play an active support role; and help so the woman has a safe and satisfying childbirth as the woman defines it. A Doula works with, not in place of, the father or other family members in supporting a woman through labor. Doulas also work with women who have no birthing support in place.
What does a Labor Doula do during labor?
A Doula is there to help the mother relax during labor using breathing and relaxation techniques, physical comfort measures, massage/acupressure, and emotional support and reassurance.
A Doula does not perform clinical tasks. She does not leave at the end of a shift, but provides continuous support through labor, birth and after birth.
A Doula is able to keep a clear perspective of what is going on in the birthing room during the labor and birth and use that perspective to keep Mom and Dad calm and in control.
A Doula’s job is to keep things calm and preserve the mother’s memories of a wonderful and fulfilling birth experience.
Will a Doula replace my partner during labor?
Both Dad’s and Doulas are key players in Mom’s labor support team. Many expectant fathers today want to share the whole pregnancy and birth experience. He wants to be actively involved; attending Lamaze classes, helping ease his partner’s labor pain, welcoming his baby at the moment of birth and help care for his newborn at home. A labor Doula can help a father experience this special time. She is the added pair of hands for massaging Mom’s back. She can get the cool washcloths for Mom’s forehead. She remains with Mom while Dad gets something to eat. Fathers tend to stay more involved with their partner with the addition of a Doula in attendance during labor. Fathers also report feeling more relaxed and enjoy the birth experience with a Doula during labor. They are a team, Mom, Dad and the Doula working toward the same goal…..a safe, supported birth experience.
What are the effects a Doula makes on birth outcomes?
Studies have shown that when Doulas are present at birth women have shorter births, fewer medical interventions, fewer cesarean births and healthier babies. Recent evidence also suggests that when a Doula is present during labor, women are more satisfied with their birth experience and the mother-infant interaction is enhanced as long as two months after the birth. With the support of a Doula during labor, fathers tend to stay more involved with their partner rather than pull away in times of stress. Fathers also report feeling more relaxed and able to enjoy their partner’s birth experience more when a Doula is present.
Several studies have documented the benefits
the one-on-one care that a Doula can provide with a decrease in:
Epidural use by 60%
Cesarean birth by 50%
Pitocin use by 40%
Request for narcotics by 30%
Length of labor by 25%
Next >> Role of a Labor Doula
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