Doula Love Me?

Along with the other events on Tuesday, Tyler and I also met with a doula for the first time and interviewed her. Her name is Jessica, and we were very happy with her answers to our questions, and her attitudes toward birth. A lot of people are unfamiliar with what doulas do, and why they are necessary, so below is some information from DONA International, the most well-known doula association.

The word "doula" comes from ancient Greek and is now used to refer to someone experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.  Studies have shown that when doulas attend births, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily. 

Specifically, the presence of a doula reduces the overall cesarean rate by nearly 50%, length of labor by 25%, oxytocin/pitocin use by 50%, pain medication by over 30%, the need for forceps or vacuum extraction by 34%, and requests for epidurals by up to 60%. Doula-attended mothers also report less pain during labor and postpartum show significantly less anxiety, fewer signs of depression, and a higher level of self-esteem.

(Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus, The Doula Book)

A birth doula: 

• Recognizes childbirth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life.
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
• Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for the birth.
• Stays with the woman throughout her labor.
• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping
  the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions.
• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and clinical care providers.
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience.
• Allows the woman's partner to participate at comfort level.

Doulas specialize in non-medical skills and do not perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams or mother/fetal heart rates.  Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions, or give medical advice. Most importantly, doulas do not make decisions for their clients; they do not project their own value and goals onto the laboring woman. 

The aforementioned information courtesy of DONA International.

After our meeting with Jessica, we've decided to use her as our doula. She is very focused on enabling the husband be as involved and feel as useful as possible, and helping with pain management when necessary. A lot of times husbands want to help, but don't know how. 

Her full time job is as an RN, so she has been present for a lot of births and C-sections and is familiar with both sides of the process. We're very excited to have found her. She will also meet with us a couple of times before the birth, once at our home, to discuss and practice laboring positions and techniques. We were happy that she is willing to come see us, when we are so far away, without charging extra. 

We're so excited to have found our doula!