My Doula Oblongata

What is a doula anyway?

 

• It comes from a Greek word meaning “Woman’s Servant”

• A doula is a woman trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a woman during labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period

• A doula performs no clinical tasks

• A doula supports you in the birth YOU want!

 

Benefits of Birth Doulas

• Shorter labor

• Fewer complications and interventions:

– Cesarean rates reduced

– Less usage of episiotomies

– Less need for medications to speed labor

– Less need for forceps/vacuum extractor

– Fewer requests for pain medications

• Increased confidence in yourself and in your partner

• Higher success rate in breastfeeding

• Increased satisfaction with birth experience

• Moms view their baby more positively

• Continuity in care: we are there during the prenatal, labor, birth and immediate postpartum periods

• Lowers anxiety and stress levels

• Moms are less likely to have postpartum depression

• Babies have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries

 

Benefits to Partner

• Allows partner to be involved to their own comfort level

• Support and help for the partner (doulas do NOT replace the partner!)

• Partner can take breaks

• Increased confidence in themselves and the laboring mother

• Partner views birth experience and baby more positively