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| Frequently Asked Questions If you have questions that are not listed here, please contact us. It may be one that others are also interested in. What is a doula? "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and after childbirth." (Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, Mothering the Mother) The word, "doula" comes from the Greek word for the most important female servant in an ancient Greek household, the woman who probably helped the lady of the house through her childbearing. You may hear about 3 types of doulas: Antepartum Doula - is someone that is experienced in caring for a pregnant mom who hasn't yet had her baby. She may be hired when a mom is on bed rest and needed help or perhaps, feeling stressed with home or baby preparations before labor. They are usually hired for a certain number of hours or days. Birth Doula - This is who most people are referring to if they use the generic term "Doula". She help a woman prepare for her labor and birth by helping to provide information and education, write a birth plan, communicate more effectively with her care provider, and practice for the upcoming birth. She labors with a woman at her home or meets her at her place of birth. She is there with the mom for every contraction with comfort, suggestions and support. Her sole responsibility is for the mother & partner's emotional well being and physical support. This Doula is hired for several months before the birth, to attend the labor and birth, and to follow up after the birth. Postpartum Doula - is an experienced woman who cares for the mother after she's had the baby. Often women try to do too much, too soon. In many cultures women are given several weeks to months of care after a birth to adjust to her new role and to allow her body to recover. This Doula provides in-home support - helping with breastfeeding, taking care of things so mom can nap undisturbed, does light housekeeping, meal preparation and errands. Her sole responsibility is to "mother the mother, so the mother can mother the baby." This type of doula is usually hired for a certain number of hours for a specific number of days or weeks.
What are the benefits of using a doula? Are doulas only for women who want a natural non-medicated birth?
NO, a doula can be of great assistances to any woman in labor. She will help the mother to decide the type of birth she desires and provide comfort measures to help her through pregnancy, last trimester, and especially early labor if the mother plans on having an epidural. A doula gives information about all aspects of pregnancy and can help you prepare yourself physically and emotionally for the birth. A doula can explain medical procedures and offer suggestions or alternatives, when available. She can help you make informed decisions about things that come up during labor. Your doula is there for you and only you. She is often known at the hospital labor unit and can attend to your basic needs quicker than the staff who have other moms to care for. And, mothers electing to have an epidural need to know that there is the possiblity of having windows or one side where the medication doesn't take. This can be scary, having an experienced doula there explaining what's going on and to help you with each contraction and prepared with comfort measures, is very reassuring.
Dads and doulas - how do they work together? Having a doula allows a dad to participate in the birth at his own comfort level. A doula is also a wonderful support for the dad. She often will see little things, that he might not, that would be helpful to the mom & help him to better support his wife. The doula is good at taking the "edge" off the medicalness of a hospital birth by keeping things calm and reminding the couple of the normalness of birth. She is great at taking care of Dads too - giving him a break to have something to eat or drink or a short nap. She can answer questions from family and friends. A doula can also guard a couple from intrusions from staff or visitors, when they need some time alone during this intimate event of birth. She may even have a snack in her bag for dad. Here is a good article which will answer some common questions about dads & doulas.
What's the difference between a doula and a labor nurse in the hospital? A doula is there to take care of you and only you. The labor nurse may have 2 or 3 other mothers in labor at the same time that she has to care for. Some doulas have done several deliveries in a hospital labor unit and is familiar with the staff, procedures, where the ice machine is, extra linens, etc. so that she can get thing when needed without having to wait. Nurses have to prioritize their patients and if there is more than one in labor the one furthest along is usually a higher priority.
What's the difference between a doula and a midwife? A midwife is a health care professional offering care to childbearing women during their pregnancy, labor, birth, and during the postpartum period. As a health care professional they perform clinical task and can diagnose medical conditions and give medical advice. During labor one of their responsibilities is recording clinical information such as blood pressure, fetal heart rate, dilation, etc. The midwife usually attends the mother once labor is well established. A midwife often has several clients at a time. During the delivery they are quite busy :-) Some midwives work as the doula and the midwife. But, often a midwife will welcome the addition of a doula to a birth team. A doula's role is to provide continuous physical and emotional support to women and their partners during labor and birth. A doula usually attends to the mother from early labor until after the birth. A doula offers information, assistance and advice on topics such as breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning. Doulas often have fewer clients than a midwife. Doulas do not perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams or fetal heart rate monitoring. Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions or give medical advice. Doulas and midwives often work together as their philosophy and practice is complementary, which makes the doula-midwife team a wonderful option.
How do I find the right doula for me?Ask other mom who they would recommend. Ask childbirth educators, midwives office, your doctor's office, hospital labor nurses. Check out websites on the internet. Interview several doulas. Most doulas will give you the names of other doulas in your area. We all want you to have a good personality match & know that each client comes with their own special needs and expectations. This is such a special & intimate time that it's important that you feel comfortable with who will be attending you during your birth.
What happens if you can't come when I'm in labor? As soon as you think you're in labor, you call us. Since there are 2 of us in partnership, even if there is an emergency for one of us, the other will come. We come to your home to support you during early labor and stay with you throughout your labor, birth and early postpartum. If you have a long labor we may tag team so you will have fresh help. During your prenatal visits you will meet both of us, then you pick which of us you would prefer to be your primary care doula. The other is then your backup doula.
Recommended Books? The Thinking Womans Guide to a Better Birth--Henci Goer The Birth Partner--Penny Simkin Childbirth Without Fear--Grantly Dick-Read Hey, Who's having this Baby Anyway?--Breck Hawk HypnoBirthing--Marie Mongan Birthing from Within--England and Horowitz Husband Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth--Bradley, Hathaway The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers--Newman and Pitman
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding La Leche League International The Year after Childbirth--Sheila Kitzinger The Baby Book--Sears and Sears
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