Do You Really Need a Doula at Your Birth?

Although a woman helping other women labor and birth is a centuries old practice, the doula support profession is a relatively new concept. A doula is someone is there to support a woman during her labor and delivery. The word doula is a Greek word and refers to a woman who serves another woman, or a woman's slave. In the modern context a labor support doula is someone at the birth to support the mother and her wishes.

Many women wonder why they would need to hire a doula. Most have partners or family members who will be with them during the birth and many hospitals have nurses on staff to care for the laboring mother. And while these people can offer a wealth of support to the mother, a doula can still be a valuable part of the childbirth experience.

A doula is not there to take the place of the partner in the birth; she will not have the partner step aside from his important role of supporting the mother. Rather a doula will offer additional support, and offer the partner a break if needed. While the partner is talking to the mother, soothing her, or helping her cope the doula can give comfort and help relax the laboring mother. Think of her as an additional set of hands there to help. She can also be the partner's back up and support. During a long labor she can take the reins while he leaves to get something to eat, use the bathroom, or check on other children. Ensuring that the mother is never alone during this important event.

The doula can also keep the mother's wishes held firm. A partner might become frightened by the mother's sounds and movements during labor. Sometimes partners do not want to see the mother in pain and try to talk her into a procedure that she might not want in an attempt to ease the pain or speed the labor. A doula can gently remind both mother and partner of what their original plan was and why they chose such, and can reassure the partner that what is happening is normal.

A doula can also provide the one on one support that the nurses often cannot. With many patients to care for the staff is often unable to offer as much care as the laboring mother might need. Though a doula cannot provide medical care, she can focus all of her attention on the mother without being called away to other patients. She also has time to build a bond between the mother and herself before labor begins. The time spent talking with and planning with your doula once you have hired her can help build a trust that is very important during the emotional times of normal labor.

A doula can also take the time to help you make decisions about your birth. Before labor she will work with you to build a birth plan that will help you create a healthy and happy birth. She can help you find information regarding various topics surrounding your birth from the risks of pain medications to the benefits of water. A knowledgeable doula will help ensure that you can make an informed choice about the care you receive during your labor.

Whether you are looking for additional support, personal care from a trusted caregiver, or insight into birth procedures a doula is your best choice. With many women choosing this honored field and several organizations dedicated to training women, finding a doula that you can work with is becoming more and more effortless. It is for these reasons, and more that many women are looking at doulas for their labor and childbirth.