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About Doulas
Doula (Doo-lah) comes from the Greek word meaning woman who serves.
The modern day Doula supports women and their partners during pregnancy, throughout the birth process in the hospital or birth centre, and during the postnatal period.
A Doula provides three types of support:
• General informational support
• Emotional support
• Physical support
A Doula is not a midwife, a nurse or a medical practitioner, but is a valuable member of the birth team. Doulas DO NOT provide medical, nursing, midwifery or any therapeutic care, nor do they comment on, interpret or judge this care but they do make a great deal of difference to the birth outcome.
Continuous support for women during childbirth
Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hofmeyr G J, Sakala C
This is a Cochrane review abstract and plain language summary, prepared and maintained by The Cochrane Collaboration. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).
Plain language summary.
Continuous labour support reduces a woman's likelihood of having pain medication, increases her satisfaction and chances for 'spontaneous' birth, and has no known risks . Supportive care during labour may involve emotional support, information, and comfort measures. Such care may enhance normal labour processes and thus reduce the need for obstetric intervention. Women who received continuous labour support were less likely to use pain medications and were more likely to be satisfied and to give birth 'spontaneously' (with neither caesarean nor vacuum nor forceps). In general, labour support was more effective when it was provided by women who were not part of the hospital staff.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006 Issue 3. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd
My role as your Doula
As your Doula I will visit you and your partner at your home, or mine, for a minimum of four of pre-arranged visits. The home antenatal visits prepare the way for the best labour and birth for you as an individual. During these visits we will get to know each other and I will bring information to broaden your childbirh education. This may include such things as journal articles, books and videos and items that you may have requested from the Confident Birth library. I make an effort to include a wide variety of information that gives an unbiased view of issues concerning childbirth. I will also demonstrate non-medical pain relief methods such as massage, heat, visualization, aromatherapy, music and water therapy.
I firmly believe that my job is to serve YOU and that only YOU can know the best birth options for yourself. The information I bring is meant for you to deepen your personal knowledge and begin your own exploration so that you can better judge your needs.
As your knowledge grows you will be able to develop your birth preferences and instruct me about the type of birth you would like. I will then be able to offer suggestions about comfort measures and strategies to assist your physical and emotional wellbeing. We will be able to practice these in your home with your partner to more fully prepare for the birth process.
From the moment you engage my services you will have access and borrowing rights to the extensive library and may request any additional information from me at any time. Closer to your due date I offer individual guided meditation and relaxation sessions and/or Reiki, this is in addition to the four set meetings.
When you go into labour I will meet you at your home or the hospital/birth centre and stay with you throughout the birth process to support you in the way planned. |
