What is a doula?

The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves."
I love serving families throughout their pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Doulas have been shown to help lower intervention rates, simply by being present at a birth. They also help families to have a more positive view of their birth experience.

A Birth Doula...

• Recognizes birth 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 birth
• Stays with the woman throughout the 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 her 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 his/her comfort level
  

*Photography by Birth Boot Camp

But what does this really look like when labor is actually happening...

• Your doula will come to your home and go over your birth plan, or help you develop one
• She will discuss what comfort measures may work best for you and then practice them with you
• You can even send us pictures and ask "Is this my mucus plug?" It happens all the time
• Your doula will come to your house when you think you are in labor, even if it is a false alarm
• We will provide comfort measures such as double hip squeeze, hot rice sock, and massage
• She will gently coach you as you transition in each stage of labor
• Your doula will not stand in the way of a partner who desires to be interactive with the labor, she will help guide them by showing them the best ways to help the laboring mother, making them feel like a confident partner
• We will help you determine when is the best time to head to the hospital or call your midwife
• Your doula will encourage you to breathe
• She will encourage you to change positions in order to allow your baby the easiest exit path
  
• Your doula will provide evidence based information to help you consider interventions that may arise during your labor
• She will stay with you when the nurses leave
• We can take pictures for you so you don't have to miss those precious first moments
• She will help you learn to breastfeed

Evidenced Based Birth provides wonderful statistics about the physiological benefits of a doula. When continuous labor support was provided by a doula, women experienced a:

• 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*

Alabama Births is now providing Doula services and Birth Boot Camp childbirth education classes to Gadsden and the surrounding areas. We look forward to serving you!

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Drop a comment and tell us about YOUR favorite doula!