Using a Doula for Labor / Delivery and Postpartum Care

If you are a woman expecting a baby in the near future you may want to consider hiring a doula. A doula is a woman who specializes in personalized care, both physically as well as emotionally for a woman going through labor and delivery, as well as during the weeks following the birth. The option of hiring a doula is even more appealling for the mother who is desiring to do an unmedicated birth. Doulas are trained in providing ways for a woman to gain relief from the pain of labors without succumbing to pain meds by way of herbal and homeopathic routes, warm baths, massages, and positive verbal affirmations and encouragments. Doulas can be a wonderful source of support and encouragment in any birth enviroment, whether it be in a hospital, birthing center or home birth. They are not intended to in any way replace the primary birth coach (which is usually the father of the child.) but are there as a way to help with all of the obstacles and details of labor and delivery so that the partner can in turn simply focus on the mother and the experience as a whole.

Doulas can intercede between doctors and the mother to help the mother make the best choices she can for her comfort and well being as well as the child's. They can also help the mother make an informed decision in terms of pain medication if the mother decides to take them during labor. If an emergency situation comes up such as a cesarean section a doula can help keep the mother calm and help to map out an affirmative plan of action.

Many doulas also offer postpartum care packages, which may include one or many visits to the mother's home in the days and weeks following birth. They provide a variety of services to the postpartum mother ranging in everything from breastfeeding support, infant care, cooking dinners, doing laundry, etc.... Whatever the mother needs to make her postpartum days easier and to provide the optimal bonding experience between herself and her child.

The fees for doulas range broadly from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on the services provided. Some insurance providers may cover all or a portion of the cost. For those women whose insurance does not cover the cost many doulas are willing to work out payment plans or work on a sliding scale to provide services to the mother. Check out www.dona.org to learn more about how doulas are trained and how to find one in your area.