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A Doula is a non-medically trained birth support
specialist. Doula means “servant” or “slave” in the Greek Language. So, a Doula
is a laboring mother’s servant or helpmate. A Doula provides emotional, physical
and mental support for the mother and her partner during labor. She knows all of
the medical terms and is trained on how to help a woman get through birth no
matter what kind of birth the mother chooses (home, water, hospital, unmediated,
medicated and even c-section). She supports the mom’s educated choices no matter
how she may feel about them personally. My saying is “It is YOUR birth, YOUR
baby, and YOUR body.”
With a doula, you have all the backup you need. Whether
you want her to be the main support or to help dad help mom is up to you. A
doula is there physically and emotionally for both of the parents. She stays
with both parents through shift changes of nurses and doctors until the baby is
born.
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Below are just a
few reasons why people hire doulas. (taken from www.maternitywise.org)
- tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
- 26% less likely to give birth by c-section
- 36% less likely to be dissatisfied with or negatively rate their childbirth experience
- 41% less likely to have need for Pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and
cesareans
- 28% less likely to use any pain medication and/or epidurals
Research shows
parents who receive support can… ( taken from www.DONA.org)
- feel more secure and cared for
- are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
- have greater success with breastfeeding
- have greater self-confidence
- have less postpartum depression
- have lower incidence of abuse
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