.:Doula!?:.

Has anyone ever used a doula or interviewed doulas? I am thinking of hiring one for my child birth. I interviewed Angela at a Greater Birth and she was just so great. She answered a lot of my embarrassing questions. I felt really comfortable to ask her anything and everything. I think she would be such an amazing addition to my support system. I have decided that I do want to have an epidural but want to avoid any unnecessary medical interventions. Things like c section, vacuum, forceps, episiotomy, etc. I say unnecessary because I do understand that things may arise that are beyond my control. Things that may require other actions. But I want to trust in my body. I want to trust that it will guide me through this process. Child birth is a natural beautiful process that I want to recall as a happy time. I want a beautiful birth story where I was comfortable and completely educated before making any decisions.

Some info on Doulas:

What is a birth doula?
A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth.

What effects does the presence of a doula have on birth outcomes?
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:
•tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
•reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
•reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction
•reduces the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as the incidence of cesareans

What effects does the presence of a doula have on the mother?
When a doula is present during and after childbirth, women report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, have fewer cesareans and requests for medical intervention, and less postpartum depression.

What effects do the presence of doulas have on babies?
Studies have shown that babies born with doulas present tend to have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries, breastfeed more easily and have more affectionate mothers in the postpartum period.

Does a doula replace nursing staff?
No. Doulas do not replace nurses or other medical staff. Doulas do not perform clinical or medical tasks such as taking blood pressure or temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or providing postpartum clinical care. They are there to comfort and support the mother and to enhance communication between the mother and medical professionals.

Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?
A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical care. She provides informational and emotional support, while respecting a woman’s decisions.

Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary?
No, a doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and plays a crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to the extent he/she feels comfortable.