Birth Doula
What is a Birth Doula?
The word, "doula," comes from the Greek word for the most important female slave or servant in an ancient Greek household, the woman who probably helped the lady of the house through her childbearing. The word has come to refer to "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth." (Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, Mothering the Mother)
A doula...
- Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor
- Recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
- Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical care providers
- Perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman and her family in getting the information she needs to make good decisions
Dads and Doulas?
Key Players on Mother's Support Team
There was a time when expectant fathers were portrayed as anxious, floor-pacing, cigar smoking men who were tolerated in hospital corridors until the long-awaited moment when a nurse or doctor would announce they were the proud father of a daughter or a son. Today's expectant fathers are different.
When it comes to pregnancy, birth, and parenting, today's father wants to share everything with his partner. He wants to be actively involved; ease his partner’s labor pain, welcome his baby at the moment of birth and help care for his newborn at home. A labor doula can help a father experience this special time with confidence.
The word "doula" which comes from ancient Greek, today refers to a woman trained and experienced in childbirth. A doula provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the expectant mother and her partner during labor, delivery and in the immediate postpartum period. The wisdom and emotional support of experienced women at birth is an ancient tradition.
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.
Today, a father's participation in birth preparation classes or his presence at prenatal visits and in the delivery suite is a familiar occurrence. Yet, we sometimes forget that the expectations of his role as a "labor coach" may be difficult to fulfill. Sometimes it is also culturally inappropriate for an expectant father to be so intimately involved in the process of labor and birth.
The father-to-be is expected among other things to become familiar with the process and language of birth, to understand medical procedures and hospital protocols and advocate for his partner in an environment and culture he is usually unfamiliar with. A doula can provide the information to help parents make appropriate decisions and facilitate communication between the laboring woman, her partner and medical care providers.
At times a father may not understand a woman’s instinctive behavior during childbirth and may react anxiously to what a doula knows to be the normal process of birth. He may witness his partner in pain and understandably become distressed. The doula can be reassuring and skillfully help the mother to cope with labor pain in her unique way. The father-to-be may need to accompany his partner during surgery should a cesarean becomes necessary. Not all fathers can realistically be expected to "coach" at this intense level.
Many fathers are eager to be involved during labor and birth. Others, no less loving or committed to their partner's well being, find it difficult to navigate in uncharted waters. With a doula, a father can share in the birth at a level he feels most comfortable with. The doula’s skills and knowledge can help him to feel more relaxed. If the father wants to provide physical comfort such as back massage, change of positions, and help his partner to stay focused during contractions, the doula can provide that guidance and make suggestions for what may work best.
Physicians, midwives and nurses are responsible for monitoring labor, assessing the medical condition of the mother and baby, and treating complications when they arise. But childbirth is also an emotional and spiritual experience with long-term impact on a woman's personal well being. A doula is constantly aware that the mother and her partner will remember this experience throughout their lives. By “mothering the mother” during childbirth the doula supports the parents in having a positive and memorable birth experience.
The benefits of doula care have been recognized worldwide. The Medical Leadership Council of Washington, D.C, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada and the World Health Organization are among the many healthcare organizations that value the benefits that doulas provide to women in labor.
The father's presence and loving support in childbirth is comforting and reassuring. The love he shares with the mother and his child, his needs to nurture and protect his family are priceless gifts that only he can provide. With her partner and a doula at birth a mother can have the best of both worlds: her partner’s loving care and attention and the doula's expertise and guidance in childbirth.
Waterbirthing
Warm Water has Several Incredible Benefits to a Laboring Woman:
- Takes away gravity, making it very easy to move into any position of comfort.
- The pressure of the water supports your body and muscles, especially the uterus and back.
- Softens and relaxes the tissues of the perineum helping them to stretch more easily. The incidence of tearing is decreased birthing in warm water.
- Decreases stress hormones, including adrenaline, which slows, or even stops labor.
- Facilitates relaxation. This is the most important benefit because relaxation:
- Speeds Labor
- Decreases pain!
Why Waterbirth for Baby?
Waterbirth is such a gentle way to enter the world! As the baby leaves his former home of warm amniotic fluid, he enters like warm water, where the sounds are muffled and the sights are dimmed, and he is gently lifted up to the surface just enough so that he can begin to breathe. His body continues to stay warm and supported in the water. Water-born babies, once they are gently pulled up out of the water, tend to cry less, while still having good muscle tone and respirations, than babies born outside of water. Some babies love to float in the water and stretch out with mom’s help. This is an incredible bonding moment between mom and baby.
Is Waterbirth Safe?
Yes, waterbirth is very safe, in fact worldwide statistics show that waterbirth, without the use of drugs, is the safest way to be born. The concern of most parents is will their baby inhale water and drown? Babies have what is called a dive reflex which causes them to swallow instead of inhale when water gets in their mouth or nose. They swallow and then hold their breath. Because they are still attached to the umbilical cord, they continue to receive all their needed oxygen through it, making it unnecessary to breathe up to several minutes after birth. However, most care providers gently but immediately bring the baby’s face out of the water after the birth to initiate breathing. When the baby’s face comes in contact with cool air, it is believed that this is one of the main things that stimulate him to breathe and most babies begin breathing within seconds of this.
People never sing...except in the bathroom. Birthing women also make their natural sounds next to running bath water. There is something about the power of water. People are drawn to water, spas, and sacred streams. Women in labor are drawn to water, too.
Michael Odent, MD
Breastfeeding
As a mother, one of the best things that only you can do for your baby is to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding is more than a lifestyle choice — it is an important health choice. Any amount of time that you can do it will help both you and your baby. While breastfeeding isn't the only option for feeding your baby, every mother has the potential to succeed and make it a wonderful experience. Breastfeeding can be one of the most important things you do for both you and your baby!
The health benefits of breast-milk for infants include:
- A stronger immune system
- Decreased risk of asthma, lower respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis
- Improved protection against allergies and intolerances
- Proper development of jaw and teeth
- Association with higher IQ and better grades in school
- Reduced risk for sudden infant death syndrome, as well as chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and childhood leukemia.
The benefits of breast-feeding for mothers include:
- Quality time spent bonding with baby
- Quicker return to pre-pregnancy weight due to increased calorie expenditure
- Less postpartum bleeding, faster shrinking of the uterus and return to menstrual cycle
- Lowered risks for breast and ovarian cancer, as well as type 2 diabetes
- Better bone density with less risk of hip fracture
- Improved self-esteem and less risk of postpartum depression
- Cost savings from not buying formula.
Patient Testimony
“… Dr. Sarah and I met in order to meet one another and go to over any plans, requests, or concerns I was to have with the pending birth. Dr. Sarah was caring, highly-educated, and thorough in our discussion. She really eased my mind of my greatest concerns over the pending C-Section I was about to have as my son was transverse (side-ways). Dr. Sarah arrived on birth day at the hospital with us and changed into hospital scrubs in order to accompany me in surgery. She easily translated the hospital jargon to me when I didn't understand what the Doctors and nurses were asking me. Once in surgery and as soon as our son was born we had decided that my husband would stay with our son and his team of Doctors and nurses. At that point, Dr. Sarah came to my side and stayed with me for the remainder of the surgery. I was so comforted to have a familiar person and her soothing voice beside me. She made sure I was comfortable, that I knew what was happening (not only with my surgery but also with my son), and that my requests were fulfilled. She stayed beside me and helped me make it through the most difficult part of the surgery. And, when it was all over, it didn't seem as bad as I was just sure it was going to be…”
“… As our day together concluded Dr. Sarah left me her contact information and encouraged me to call her if I had questions or concerns. Over the next week, Dr. Sarah called me frequently to make sure my son and I were doing well. In addition, she stayed in contact with us over the next several weeks. We've been into Dr. Sarah's office several times since my son's birth having him and I adjusted in order to stay in optimum health.
I highly recommend Dr. Sarah her skill and knowledge as a Chiropractor and also her experience as a Doula and a mother are priceless! I believe having her accompany you during birth is the absolute optimum situation for a mother and her new child. I can't thank Dr. Sarah enough for being by my side and for helping to make what I thought was going to be a very scary day the most enjoyable and memorable day of my life.”
Stacy S.
