For thousands of years, women met the unique challenges of childbirth with the continuous support of other women throughout their labor. When birth shifted from taking place at home, within the community, into the hospital setting - this essential component of care was forfeited. Today, many women and their families are bringing back this tradition by including professional labor support in their team of caregivers.
In a series of six clinical trials, the presence of doulas resulted in...
50% fewer cesareans
25% reduction in the length of labor
30% less usage of pain medication
40% less use of the drug pitocin
50% fewer Epidurals needed.
In addition to the obvious contributions to the mother's comfort level and the potential for a less complicated, safer delivery - these statistics also point to enormous savings in light of the current health-care crisis. For this reason, many hospitals and HMO's around the country have begun in-house doula programs where the institution and/or insurance provider makes these services available to clients.
A common concern for many is how the birth assistant affects the role of the father or primary support person at the birth. Contrary to what may be thought, the services they provide directly facilitates the family being able to give the love and attention that only they can give. The labor support provider brings with them a level of expertise gained from extensive training and study as well as experience from attending many other births. Having their continuous support often relieves the family of the pressure they may feel that to "be the experts" and frees them to feel and express their own emotions as they themselves witness the miraculous and challenging process of labor and birth. Among consumers who have utilized the services of a labor support provider, it is often the woman's partner who raves afterwards about the benefits of having the support at the birth.
Also, labor support providers do not duplicate the services of doctors, midwives or nurses in the hospital setting. Their job is to work in collaboration with the rest of the team to support the family in having the safest and most satisfying birth possible. The main support doulas provide is to work with the mother and her labor in the areas of physical comfort and emotional encouragement. Because they do not have the larger responsibilities of the primary caregivers, they are able to focus on their work as they stay with the family throughout. In this way, the family is able to have at least one caregiver who is with them for the entire birth experience.
Generally birth assistants are used by families who begin their labor with natural childbirth as their goal and who desire a minimum use of technology. They recognize the value of staying home in the early part of labor, but may not feel confident in being completely alone once the labor gets started. Typically, the labor support provider will meet with a family during the final trimester of their pregnancy to get acquainted and to learn about prior birth experience, and their priorities for this birth. They may discuss the birth plan, supplies needed, and comfort suggestions for the final phase of pregnancy. Then, when labor starts, with the support of the physician or midwife, the family may choose to labor at home with support of the birth assistant, going to the hospital when active labor has been established. The doula then helps with the transition to the hospital and stays with the family until an hour or two after the baby has been born. Many birth assistants also provide a postpartum visit or services as well. In addition other services may be offered such as photography, video, sibling support, massage, etc.
To choose a labor assistant, it is suggested that you meet with more than one in making your choice. As the invitation to be at your birth is highly personal, it is important that you feel connected to and comfortable with the one you choose. The women who do this work know that, and understand that one provider may be a better match than others for a particular client. Below is a list of suggested questions you may want to ask:
~ excerpt by Mayri Sagady
