The term "doula" is an ancient Greek word meaning woman servant. It
refers to a woman trained and experienced in childbirth. My role as your
doula is to provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational
support to you the expectant mother and your partner, during labor,
delivery and the immediate postpartum period.
The wisdom and emotional support provided by experienced women
during labor and birth is not a new idea. In nearly every culture
throughout history, women have been surrounded and cared for by
other women during childbirth. The modern doula is an ancient
tradition. Studies have shown dramatic enhancement of overall birth
satisfaction when a doula is present.
refers to a woman trained and experienced in childbirth. My role as your
doula is to provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational
support to you the expectant mother and your partner, during labor,
delivery and the immediate postpartum period.
The wisdom and emotional support provided by experienced women
during labor and birth is not a new idea. In nearly every culture
throughout history, women have been surrounded and cared for by
other women during childbirth. The modern doula is an ancient
tradition. Studies have shown dramatic enhancement of overall birth
satisfaction when a doula is present.
Benefits of having a Doula at your birth:
What is a Doula?
Katie Bachand ~ Birth Doula
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In their book, Mothering The Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a
Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth, Marshall Klaus, John Kennell and
Phyllis Klaus summarize scientific studies which have been carried out on
the advantages of doula-assisted births. The evidence cited is drawn
from six randomized, controlled studies. Two studies were carried out in
Guatemala, the first one with 136 women, and the second with 465
women. One study took place in Houston, Texas with 416 women. A
further study involving 192 women was carried out in Johannesburg,
South Africa. The fifth and sixth studies were done in Helsinki, Finland
and in Canada.
All participants were primiparas (a medical term used to describe women
who are giving birth to their first child). All participants were in good
overall health and had uneventful pregnancies. They were invited to
participate when they were admitted into the hospital in labor. The
Guatemalan doulas were trained in a 3 week course. In the South African
study the women were untrained lay-women. The doulas were asked to
stay with the laboring women constantly. They were instructed to use
touch and verbal communication focusing on three primary factors:
comfort, reassurance and praise. All of the doulas in the study had
experienced regular labors and vaginal births.
In all the above studies, the doulas used soothing words, touch and
encouragement. They explained the procedures as they occurred and
translated medical terms into laymen's terms. The results of the studies
were as follows:
Reduced the overall cesarean rate by 50%, check your hospitals cesarean
rate here
Reduced the length of labor by 25%
Reduced oxytocin use by 40%
Reduced the use of pain medication by 30%
Reduced forceps deliveries by 40%
Reduced requests for epidural pain medication by 60%
Reduced incidences of maternal fever
Reduced the number of days newborns spent in NICU (neo-natal infant
care unit)
Reduced the amount of septic workups performed on newborns
Resulted in higher rates of breastfeeding
Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal confidence
Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal and
newborn health
Resulted in decreased rates of postpartum depression
A doula provides support consisting of praise, reassurance, measures to
improve the comfort of the mother, physical contact such as rubbing the
mother’s back and holding her hands, explanation of what is going on
during labor and delivery and a constant friendly presence. The birth
doula recognizes childbirth as a transformative life experience. Her
primary objective is to nurture and protect a woman’s memory of her
birth experience.
Care in Normal Birth: a Practical Guide. Report of a Technical Working
Group. World Health Organization, 1996.
Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth, Marshall Klaus, John Kennell and
Phyllis Klaus summarize scientific studies which have been carried out on
the advantages of doula-assisted births. The evidence cited is drawn
from six randomized, controlled studies. Two studies were carried out in
Guatemala, the first one with 136 women, and the second with 465
women. One study took place in Houston, Texas with 416 women. A
further study involving 192 women was carried out in Johannesburg,
South Africa. The fifth and sixth studies were done in Helsinki, Finland
and in Canada.
All participants were primiparas (a medical term used to describe women
who are giving birth to their first child). All participants were in good
overall health and had uneventful pregnancies. They were invited to
participate when they were admitted into the hospital in labor. The
Guatemalan doulas were trained in a 3 week course. In the South African
study the women were untrained lay-women. The doulas were asked to
stay with the laboring women constantly. They were instructed to use
touch and verbal communication focusing on three primary factors:
comfort, reassurance and praise. All of the doulas in the study had
experienced regular labors and vaginal births.
In all the above studies, the doulas used soothing words, touch and
encouragement. They explained the procedures as they occurred and
translated medical terms into laymen's terms. The results of the studies
were as follows:
Reduced the overall cesarean rate by 50%, check your hospitals cesarean
rate here
Reduced the length of labor by 25%
Reduced oxytocin use by 40%
Reduced the use of pain medication by 30%
Reduced forceps deliveries by 40%
Reduced requests for epidural pain medication by 60%
Reduced incidences of maternal fever
Reduced the number of days newborns spent in NICU (neo-natal infant
care unit)
Reduced the amount of septic workups performed on newborns
Resulted in higher rates of breastfeeding
Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal confidence
Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal and
newborn health
Resulted in decreased rates of postpartum depression
A doula provides support consisting of praise, reassurance, measures to
improve the comfort of the mother, physical contact such as rubbing the
mother’s back and holding her hands, explanation of what is going on
during labor and delivery and a constant friendly presence. The birth
doula recognizes childbirth as a transformative life experience. Her
primary objective is to nurture and protect a woman’s memory of her
birth experience.
Care in Normal Birth: a Practical Guide. Report of a Technical Working
Group. World Health Organization, 1996.
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Cesarean Rates for Washington State Hospitals
2008
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Cesarean Rates for Washington State Hospitals
2008
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