Doula is an old Greek term for most important female servant during childbirth. Today it means a woman trained to support women during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

What are the facts?

Research in eleven random clinical trials over 27 years, states the presence of a doula can yield the following results:

A reduction in...

- Cesarean section rate
- Length of labor
- Oxytocin use
- Pain medication use
- Forceps/vacuum assisted deliveries
- Request for epidural anesthesia

And an increase in parent’s satisfaction!

What do they do?

A doula for birth may provide the following support for women and their families:

Informational:  Providing the risks/benefits of procedures during pregnancy, labor and birth, reading material, websites, support groups, integrative practitioners and community referrals for specialized needs of the mother or family.

Emotional:  Continuous encouragement for the mother, giving her the support to achieve the birth she would like.

Physical:  Techniques, such as masssage and acupressure along with the use of music therapy, aromatherapy, and positioning may all help the mother to cope with her labor easier. Utilizing these coping techniques may lessen her need for pain medications or a cesarean section.

Providing this emotional, informational and physical support for women during the final days of pregnancy, during their birth and early postpartum is the focus of a birth doula.

Birth plan and basic breastfeeding assistance may also be provided as needed.

 
Michelle Hart
~ DONA trained Birth Doula ~

Providing support and services for women and their families during the childbearing years.

Other Interests:

I  volunteer at New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding.  I credit this experience as being responsible for instilling in me the necessity of services for families at multiple levels of need: emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

I also volunteer with Operation Special Delivery to provide services for women in childbirth who have partners unable to attend due to being in the armed services.