What Is A Doula...?
While there are plenty of expecting mommas and familes who know what a doula is and are actively looking to secure one for the birth of their little one, there are many more who do not know what a doula is.
Willfully, this page will answer many of the questions you have about what a doula is and why you should look to have one at your birth - starting with the most important question of all.
What is a doula...?
Willfully, this page will answer many of the questions you have about what a doula is and why you should look to have one at your birth - starting with the most important question of all.
What is a doula...?
Doula is a Greek word whose definition has come to mean a woman who helps other women. The word has further evolved to mean a woman experience in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and after childbirth.
- "The Doula Book" by Marshall H. Klaus, MD, John H. Kennell, MD, and Phyllis H. Klaus, MFT, LMSW
However, what does this definition mean?
A doula is, very simply put, a birthing companion. Someone who is present during a woman’s labor and assists, comforts, supports, and encourages her through the entire process of giving birth from the earliest contractions to after the newborn has come into the world.
However, as our communities have become less closely-knit, the traditions of mothers, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, and friends naturally being around and involved in the pregnancy, labor and childbirth of a woman, as well as being a presence in the first few weeks after the birth, are not nearly as available to those of us in need, as the demand for it calls for.
This is where the modern-day doula comes in.
Doulas can and are an incredibly beneficial presence in the life of a mother, a couple, or a family who are expecting a baby, because of their knowledge, experience, and skills in the areas of pregnancy, labor, birth, breastfeeding, postpartum care and support, and newborn and infant care.
A doula is, very simply put, a birthing companion. Someone who is present during a woman’s labor and assists, comforts, supports, and encourages her through the entire process of giving birth from the earliest contractions to after the newborn has come into the world.
However, as our communities have become less closely-knit, the traditions of mothers, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, and friends naturally being around and involved in the pregnancy, labor and childbirth of a woman, as well as being a presence in the first few weeks after the birth, are not nearly as available to those of us in need, as the demand for it calls for.
This is where the modern-day doula comes in.
Doulas can and are an incredibly beneficial presence in the life of a mother, a couple, or a family who are expecting a baby, because of their knowledge, experience, and skills in the areas of pregnancy, labor, birth, breastfeeding, postpartum care and support, and newborn and infant care.
What Can A Doula Do For Me...?
Because of the doula’s formal training in a variety of areas all relating to a woman and her pregnancy, there are many positive and empowering ways in which a doula helps to change, improve, and reduce the common problems mothers, babies, and their families can be faced with during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. A number of research studies by both the medical and scientific communities have come to prove that the presence of a doula in the life of an expectant mother, couple, or family can:
* Reduce the rate of C-sections, epidurals, pain medications, and unnecessary medical interventions to be had by the laboring mother, through the use of comfort measures and relaxation techniques
* Improve how mothers and babies bond with one another after birth
* Improve how mothers feel about their labor, their partners, and their ability to mother, following the birth
* Improve the potential for successful breastfeeding
* Reduce the potential for infant or maternal mortality outcomes, through being a supportive, caring presence during the postpartum period, as needed and when needed.
* Reduce the rate of C-sections, epidurals, pain medications, and unnecessary medical interventions to be had by the laboring mother, through the use of comfort measures and relaxation techniques
* Improve how mothers and babies bond with one another after birth
* Improve how mothers feel about their labor, their partners, and their ability to mother, following the birth
* Improve the potential for successful breastfeeding
* Reduce the potential for infant or maternal mortality outcomes, through being a supportive, caring presence during the postpartum period, as needed and when needed.
Is A Doula Right For Me...?
Doulas offer a variety of services in addition to the standard model of care, which can often based upon where they are located at and the needs of the community they are servicing. Every doula may have something unique to offer as apart of their personal service package and there is always something to suit the needs for a mother, couple, or family that is truly interested in a doula being apart of their pregnancy and birth experience.
If nothing else, it never hurts to seek out local doulas in your community and ask for a consultation of their services. You can get excellent information, learn a bit more about the birthworking community in your area, and become familiar with the options and resources available to you, in order to have the support, care, and assistance you and your baby need to be well, healthy, and informed in pregnancy and birth!
If nothing else, it never hurts to seek out local doulas in your community and ask for a consultation of their services. You can get excellent information, learn a bit more about the birthworking community in your area, and become familiar with the options and resources available to you, in order to have the support, care, and assistance you and your baby need to be well, healthy, and informed in pregnancy and birth!
Still interested in knowing more about what a doula is and what a doula can do to improve your birth experience?
EarthBorn Birthwork offers FREE consultations on all services. Contact me today and I will be honored to connect with you, to help you discover what can a doula can do for you and your birth, and how having an EarthBorn doula can help you have a positive, healthy, happy birth!
EarthBorn Birthwork offers FREE consultations on all services. Contact me today and I will be honored to connect with you, to help you discover what can a doula can do for you and your birth, and how having an EarthBorn doula can help you have a positive, healthy, happy birth!