An attendant at birth (or doula)
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Here is some information on doulas, or attendants at birth, and what they can do for you
1. What is a doula?
The word doula is used to denote a person who provides emotional and physical support to a pregnant woman, a couple or more generally a family expecting a child. The doula also offers information to parents so that they can make their own choices.
The doula meets with parents during pregnancy, providing a listening, information on the different choices and an empathic emotional support.
She supports a woman during labor and delivery.
She continues to support the family often 2 to 3 months after birth to answer questions such as on baby care, breastfeeding, crying, sleep ...
2. What is a doula can do for you?
A doula provides continuous support of the design in the early weeks of the child. It supports continuous, provided by a person familiar with which parents feel confident during this period so sensitive of motherhood, particulièrememt is popular with parents. The doula will probably be the only person who will coast to parents throughout the birth and birth. Medical personnel are often unavailable for a continuous support (watchtowers and other women giving birth simultaneously being common).
The doula can, if parents request it, they provide comprehensive information to help them choose the type of birth they want and thus establish their birth plan.
The doula can also be a listening ear for fathers who may have little listening about their concerns, doubts, questions or fears about the birth of their child. During labor, the doula can tell the father what steps his partner passes or give him the opportunity to express his fears without interfering with the serenity of the mother who usually focuses on work and can not explain that she lives.
The doula can provide to parents, if they so request, the information "evidence based" or evidence-based medicine, on general subjects, or may do research on specific topics in relation to their specific situation.
Generally, the doula can provide the following services, depending on what parents want:
- Presence, attentive listening and active;
- Encouragement, incentives to develop their confidence
- Information for their writing of their birth plan
- Information on options, birth, feeding
- Tai Chi and other tools of comfort, relaxation areas, non-medical options for pain relief (with the partner, positions, massage ...)
A very important point concerns the definition of what parents want and expect from their doula. Every family is different and every single birth. Your doula will fit your needs and wishes, she will always respect your decisions.
3. What is a doula can not do?
A doula provides no medical care. It does not examine you and do not diagnostic.
For example, she does not listen to the baby's heart, or take your blood.
It may however be required to ask you questions about your life as a woman, for example your previous pregnancies, in order to better assist you or provide you with information specific to your situation.
4. The benefits of a doula
Recent scientific studies have shown that women who have benefited from support by a doula are less brought to a cesarean section, an assisted birth (forceps, suction cups, abdominal phrase ...), a trigger or anesthesia. Accompanied by the birth doula is often shorter, with a lower level of complications and medical interventions.
Randomized clinical trials (references below) on the emotional and physical support during labor have shown multiple benefits:
- 50% decrease in the rate of cesarean
- 25% reduction of working time
- 60% reduction in epidural request
- 30% reduction of analgesic use
- 40% reduction of the use of forceps