Forgive me for my quietness blog wise, I have been rather busy with Better Birthing developments and having a much deserved holiday too.I am back in full swing now and hopefully this blog will be growing along with our plans for the business. Here is the first of our new series:
I am often asked as a doula what I am and why or even how I am needed or can help a woman in labour. It’s a question that gets asked over and over in my antenatal classes and one I actually began thinking on myself. Just what do I do as a doula?
Now we all know the stats and research but just to keep it fresh in our minds:
A Doula is a Greek word meaning “woman who helps women”
Benefits of a doula include:
A worldwide study, involving more than 1500 women, found that mother’s who received Doula support were the ones with the shortest labours. Other benefits found in this study by Klaus et al. include:
- Greater than 50% drop in caesarean births.
- 30% reduction in the mother’s need for medication.
- 60% reduction in epidural requests.
- 40% reduction in forceps delivery
- Better attachment and bonding between mother and baby.
- Reduced need for medical intervention.
- Reduced incidence of post partum depression.
- Improved mother and baby well-being.
- Positive feelings about labour and birth
Those are the findings of research gone and the evidence, however I started to look at the basics the true meaning of the root word ‘Doula’ and thus came up with this post.
The word stems from the ancient greek word ‘doulos’ which actually meant slave and was used as the lady of the house would turn to her head servant to help her during labour and birth. Since then the word has become synonymous with birth partner, labour support person and is pretty much known worldwide.
When I started out as a doula in the 90′s this was not so and often I had to explain to midwives, clients and others just what it was and what I did. At some point in almost all of the labours that I attended someone in staff would ask ‘just what are you and how do you help?’ Now it is a more common term and most if not all of midwives and birth professionals know what a doula is, but just what do we do?
I began to look at my own practice and reflect on what I offer and what I do, so what follows is unique to me, remember each doula will have her own unique way of working, some will offer some things such as massage or aromatherapy and others wont, you need to remember this when booking a doula and find one that matches what you are looking for. Generally speaking a doula is not a medical person and although each will have various degrees of knowledge they should all have understanding of labour and how a woman’s body works during childbirth.
I like to walk alongside a couple and instead of prescribing what to do and what is best, I prefer to show couples all possible choices they may have and then allow them to make informed choices. Since I am also an antenatal teacher, my own clients get a mini-session with me explaining hormones of birth and some basics to do with breathing, positions and managing through contractions. My own beliefs are that birth is natural and that each mother can give birth in the way she as meant to, she just needs to have the tools to discover her own special birth truth. While I love home births and waterbirths, I know that some mothers may not find home a comfortable and safe place as it all depends on circumstance and your background too. What I do stress more than anything is that it is your birth and it is as unique as you are and that it should be a wonderful event that is memorable.
Other services that I offer doula clients are a few visits antenatally and 24/7 telephonic support as well as 2 postnatal visits too. I do offer full postnatal services but that is a whole other post that I will write. I do assist couples with birth plans as we look at options and help with breastfeeding support too.
During the labour I am with the couple/mother from when she feels that she needs me, generally I usually end up encouraging, ensuring all physical needs are met and being there for the couple. As labour intensifies, more often than not I am found holding the mother’s hand or rubbing her back and just being with her as she needs me. I stay with the mother after the birth and get that all important skin to skin and breastfeeding going and make the mother comfortable, which usually involves making a cup of tea.
For me it is all about being there and just letting the mother know that someone she trusts and knows is there, of course the massaging and holding hands and speaking positive affirmations is part of this but I always feel the most important part is the being and the confidence that a mother gains just having a constant safe person there is amazing.
For more information on my services or to book please go to www.betterbirthing.org.uk or email claire@betterbirthing.org.uk
