A birth doula is a professional who is trained to continuous provide physical, emotional, and informational support to a woman in labor, and her partner.  The word “doula” is a Greek word meaning servant, and that is truly what a doula does!

 

During a hospital birth, the nurse will visit the mom intermittently to check vital signs, conduct vaginal exams, monitor the baby, and conduct other medical needs.  During her shift, the nurse will be caring for other patients, completing paperwork, and communicating with the doctor or nurse midwife, so she will not be able to stay with the laboring mother to provide comfort measures.  Come shift change, the nurse will leave and a new nurse will come to check on the couple.  An expectant mother very rarely meets her nurses prior to her arrival at the hospital.

 

On the other hand, a doula stays with the couple continuously.  It is optimal to have the doula join the laboring mom at her home so the mom can labor in a familiar and comfortable environment as long as possible.  The doula will travel to the hospital with the couple and will stay with them for the duration of the labor and birth.  The medical procedures are left to the staff at the hospital, and the doula does the rest.  Doula will assist the mom and her chosen coach as they utilize relaxation, position changes, massage, tub/shower, and other natural pain management techniques.  She will get food and drink for the mom and her partner, gather tools such as pillows and towels, use the birth ball, and even take pictures.  As mentioned, a doula is truly a servant for the laboring mother and her partner.

 

In The Bradley Method®, we teach that the partner (husband or otherwise) is the primary coach for the mother.  A doula, therefore, is considered to be an assistant coach.  When I attend births as a doula, I like to remind myself to “make the dad look good.”  I grab the tools and make the suggestions he needs to provide the best support for his wife or partner. 

 

Research has indicated that the support of a doula often results in:

- Shorter labors

- Fewer complications

- Fewer instances of medical augmentation

- More positive feelings about the birth experience

- Fewer requests for medical pain management

- Fewer instances of postpartum depression

- Mothers with more confidence in their abilities

- Greater success with breastfeeding

 

So, how do you find one of these amazing women?  Here are some ideas: 

- Visit the DONA website  to find a doula certified through an international organization.

- Visit DoulaMatch  to search for doulas near you.

- Ask your childbirth educator, prenatal yoga instructor, or care provider.

- Attend a local birth circle  meeting and inquire about doulas.

- Ask your friends, family, and other moms that you know.

 

DONA has a wonderful list of recommended interview questions for doulas.  I can’t emphasize enough the last two lines on that website:

 

“The way that you feel with a doula is more important than the number of births that they have attended or how many new families they have nurtured. You may want to interview more than one doula and make comparisons before choosing your doula.”

 

I always suggest that the Coach lead the interview because he will be working very closely with the doula and I feel that his opinion is just as important as the mom’s.  Watch how the doula interacts with the Coach.  Does she honor his opinions and speak as if she were his assistant?  Or does she disregard his thoughts and direct her remarks to the mom?  Her personality during the interview is a great indicator of how she’ll be during the birth. 

 

The top two reasons I have heard for not hiring a doula are: cost and concerns that the Coach’s role will be diminished.  Please don’t let either of these hold you back from the labor support you need!  If cost is a concern then clarify your budget with the doula prospects and search for someone in your price range.  Ask expensive doulas to refer you to low-cost doulas.  There are even doulas who are providing their services for free as they work on their certification.  Ask around!  As far as the Coach’s role, almost all doulas will work very hard to assist and honor the Coach as the mom’s primary labor support.  If you would like to learn more, I recommend the Dads and Doulas document on the DONA website (http://www.dona.org/PDF/DadsandDoulas.pdf). 

 

Most birth doulas will meet with a couple at least twice during the pregnancy.  Prenatal visits may be done in your home or in a public place, depending on your preference. Typically these prenatal visits involve discussions of your birth preferences, practicing comfort measures, discussing your fears or concerns, and a little childbirth education.  Most doulas are well-connected in the local birth community and will assist you in finding additional services (chiropractors, lactation consultants, etc.) if needed.  If you would like, you can ask your doula to come along with you on a prenatal visit so you can introduce her to your care provider.  As a doula, I feel that it is important for one of the prenatal visits to be conducted in the couple’s home so I know how to find them in the middle of the night, we can practice labor positions in their space, they can show me where important supplies are, and so we can discuss other home-related topics that always seem to come up while we are sitting there.

 

When the big day arrives, I recommend contacting your doula as soon as you think you are in labor.  She won’t rush over to you right away (unless your birth is progressing quickly), but the “heads up” enables her to adjust her plans for the day, take a nap, and be in a better position to serve you.  I was on my way to visit a farm with my family when I received a text message from a doula client that her water broke a couple weeks before her due date.  With this notice, I knew to send my family along and I stayed home and ate a good meal and rested while I waited for the couple to call and ask me to join them.  Keep in touch with your doula throughout your labor.  Clients always ask me, “When will we know that it is time for you to come over?”  My answer, “There’s no magic time.  You’ll just know.”  And you will!

 

If you are planning a hospital birth then I advise you having the doula meet you at home before you go to the hospital.  (Of course, if things are going quickly or there is an emergency then the doula will meet you there.)  By having the doula come to your home you are likely to spend more time laboring in your own comfortable space and be further along when you arrive at the hospital.  Also, the doula can assist you with the drive to the hospital, carry your bag, etc.

 

During your birth, the doula will be with you the entire time.  She will be anticipating your needs for food, drink, position changes, bathroom, etc., but don’t hesitate to ask for anything.  Some moms have expressed concern about seeming bossy or hurting feelings – no worries.  Remember the doula is there to serve you!  She will provide Mom and Coach with consistent and continuous support.

 

Remember that a doula should not practice medicine.  Don’t ask her, or allow her, to make a diagnosis or tell you what decisions you should make.  Her role is to provide information and answer your questions.  For the sake of liability, all medical matters need to be handled by you and your care provider.

 

After the baby arrives, your doula will stay with you until your family is settled in and breastfeeding is off to a good start.  (Usually this is a couple hours.)  When I serve as a doula, I like to help clear the space and take any unnecessary items (labor tools) to the couple’s car.  Most doulas will check in with you throughout the first couple weeks and will come for a postpartum visit around a week out.  The purpose of the postpartum visit is to see how you are recovering and if have any additional needs, and also to help process your birth experience.  For my son’s birth, I was in a “labor land” haze during active labor so I really relied on our doula’s feedback to help put my birth story together.

 

If a family is in need of additional support after the baby’s birth (i.e. cooking, cleaning, baby care, etc.) then they should search for a postpartum doula.  Check-in and read Friday's post this week to learn more about postpartum doula care from Jaqueline Norris, owner of Sweet Blessings Doula Services.

 

Here is an alphabetical listing of local Bradley Method® instructors who also serve as doulas:

- Victoria Calleja - 623.234.4767 - victoriacalleja@yahoo.com

- Rachel Davis - 480.330.3070 - birthandearth@gmail.com

- Klarissa Jones - 480.993.4834 - klarissa@firststepsbirthservices.com

- Crystal Magnuson - 602.320.9999

- Laura Nyman - 801.528.1295 - lilypad49@hotmail.com

- Zabrina Pell - 602.743.9890 - zabpell@gmail.com

 

 

The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions by Penny Simkin

 

Assistant Coach’s Manual published by the American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth.  (Contact your Bradley Method® instructor to purchase or borrow a copy.)  This is a great resource for friends and family who will be attending your birth!

About the author:

December 5, 2011 to

February 20, 2012

Mondays @ 6:30 pm

Call 602-684-6567 or

email us at

krystyna@sweetpeabirths.com