| What is a Doula? If you are considering hiring a doula for the birth of your baby, you probably have some idea of what a doula does. But what do you tell your friends, mothers-in-law, and others who ask, "What's a doula?" Drs. Marshall Klaus and John Kennell, and Phyllis Klaus C.S.W., founders of Doulas of North America along with Penny Simkin and Annie Kennedy, chose the word doula to describe a woman who helps other women. (It is a Greek word for a particular female household servant.) Doulas are trained birth professionals with experience and instinctual knowledge to offer. Simply put, a doula provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after birth, for the birthing mother and her family. She does not normally do any kind of medical assessments or advising, but educates a family on choices. Advocating consists of advance education and discussion, and helping the mother find her own voice, but not speaking for her. Doulas may be trained and certified or self-taught, or both. Doulas are not new. Up until relatively recently,mothers all over the world have given birth with the constantly available support of other experienced females. Even with the increased safety of hospital birth and homebirth with trained lay midwives, we must not disregard this important ingredient. We can have both. Some places to learn more about the history of the doula are at the website www.dona.org, "The Doula Book" by Klaus, Kennell and Klaus (formerly called Mothering the Mother), and many birth websites and books. |
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| What about dads/husbands/partners? Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow. In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences. Experience has shown that doulas do not "take over" their jobs but enhance their role by modeling behavior, drawing them closer, and assuring them that the processes of birth are normal and desirable. Our society has quickly gone from barring partners from the birth arena, to relying upon them for full support in labor. Neither is a balanced approach. The pain and blood of birth are not the same as pain and blood of injury or illness, but to a loved one inexperienced in birth and feeling alone, this might be difficult to remember or distinguish. Fathers and partners end up being our best advertising! |
| Studies show that when doulas are present at birth, women have shorter labors, fewer medical interventions, fewer cesareans and healthier babies. Recent evidence also suggests that when a doula provides labor support, women are more satisfied with their experience and the mother-infant interaction is enhanced as long as two months after the birth. With doula support, fathers tend to stay more involved with their partner rather than pull away in times of stress. |
| Doula's of the Shenandoah 888-572-4835 doula@doulasoftheshenandoah.com |
A Professional, Full Service Pregnancy and Childbirth Resource |
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