Supportive Services For Your Normal Birth
Why a Doula?
"Doulas are the most positive innovation I've seen. And that's because they fit in anywhere: at home, at the hospital, at birth centers. Doulas appeal to many women and their partners -- the idea of having someone there just for them, who has no other obligations, no shift changes -- even fathers who want to play the primary support role are relieved to know there's going to be someone there reminding them and helping out and giving them a break if necessary and offering perspective. The doula is the most significant change that's taking place in the direction of woman-centered childbirth." ~ Penny Simkin, co-founder of Doulas of North America
Many studies have found that Doula assisted labors offer numerous benefits both to the mother and child.
Women with labor support have:
a reduction in the duration of labor
less use of pain relief medications
lower rates of forcep or vacuum extraction
lower rates of episiotomy
reduction in cesarean deliveries
were breastfeeding past 6 weeks post partum
reported greater self-esteem, less depression, and a higher regard for their babies and their ability to care for them
reported their infants as less fussy
Newborns in supported births have:
lower rates of fetal distress
fewer are admitted to neonatal intensive care units
M.H. Klaus, J.H. Kennell, "The doula: an essential ingredient of childbirth rediscovered." Acta Paediatr. 1997 Oct;86(10):1034-6.P. Keenan, "Benefits of massage therapy and use of a doula during labor and childbirth." Altern Ther Health Med. 2000 Jan;6(1):66-74.Manning-Orenstein, Grace, "A birth intervention: the thereapeutic effects of doula support versus Lamaze preparation on first-time mothers' working models of caregiving." Alternative Therapies, July 1998, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 73-81.
"Doulas are the most positive innovation I've seen. And that's because they fit in anywhere: at home, at the hospital, at birth centers. Doulas appeal to many women and their partners -- the idea of having someone there just for them, who has no other obligations, no shift changes -- even fathers who want to play the primary support role are relieved to know there's going to be someone there reminding them and helping out and giving them a break if necessary and offering perspective. The doula is the most significant change that's taking place in the direction of woman-centered childbirth." ~ Penny Simkin, co-founder of Doulas of North America
Many studies have found that Doula assisted labors offer numerous benefits both to the mother and child.
Women with labor support have:
a reduction in the duration of labor
less use of pain relief medications
lower rates of forcep or vacuum extraction
lower rates of episiotomy
reduction in cesarean deliveries
were breastfeeding past 6 weeks post partum
reported greater self-esteem, less depression, and a higher regard for their babies and their ability to care for them
reported their infants as less fussy
Newborns in supported births have:
lower rates of fetal distress
fewer are admitted to neonatal intensive care units
M.H. Klaus, J.H. Kennell, "The doula: an essential ingredient of childbirth rediscovered." Acta Paediatr. 1997 Oct;86(10):1034-6.P. Keenan, "Benefits of massage therapy and use of a doula during labor and childbirth." Altern Ther Health Med. 2000 Jan;6(1):66-74.Manning-Orenstein, Grace, "A birth intervention: the thereapeutic effects of doula support versus Lamaze preparation on first-time mothers' working models of caregiving." Alternative Therapies, July 1998, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 73-81.