| "If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it." - John H. Kennell, MD The word “Doula” is a Greek word, meaning “woman’s servant”. In nearly every culture throughout history, women have been surrounded and cared for by other women during childbirth. Doulas are trained and experienced in childbirth. The doula's role is to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth. The doula offers help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning. She also assists families to gather information about the course of their labor and their options. Perhaps the most crucial role of the doula is providing continuous emotional reassurance and comfort. Doulas specialize in non-medical skills and do not perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams or fetal heart rate monitoring. 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 values and goals onto the laboring woman. Women who are supported by a doula during labor report a higher degree of satisfaction with their birth experience, tend to have an easier time with mothering and breastfeeding, and are less likely to experience postpartum depression. - Excerpted from the DONA Position Paper: The Doula's Contribution to Modern Maternity Care |
What is a doula?
Benefits of Doula Care:
- - up to 50% reduction in cesarean rate
- - 25% shorter labor
- - 60% reduction in epidural requests
- - 30% reduction in analgesia use
- - 40% reduction in forceps delivery
*From Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter,
Easier, and Healthier Birth ; Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus
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This photo and the one above
courtesy of Ryan Green Photography.
courtesy of Ryan Green Photography.