I am excited to announce that I have moved to NW Arkansas! I am starting to take clients from this beautiful region! My husband and I relocated here last year at the end of 2014. It took a while to "set up camp", hence the lapse in doula work. But, I am pleased to announce I am back at it and excited for a new season in the birth world.
I am taking clients in Bentonville, Springdale, Rogers, Siloam Springs and more! If you are seeking a doula in any of these areas or surrounding, please send me an email.
I look forward to hearing from you!
mademarvelousbirth@gmail.com
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Friday, September 20, 2013
"What does a doula do?"
I get asked this question frequently from interested (and maybe concerned, ha ha!) friends and family. So, I thought I would take some time to shed some light on this topic.
"Doula" comes from a Greek word meaning caregiver or servant. This is at the heart of what a doula is. A trained doula knows what questions to ask to understand her client's needs and desires. She knows how to read the needs of a woman in labor and bring comfort to her client with adequate measures. She is able to respond with sensitivity and grace to a pregnant or birthing mom, setting aside her own feelings.
A doula also arms mothers with information, which can help them (mom and dad) head into labor with increased confidence. A doula should also be able to set aside her own feelings and expectations about what a "good birth" would be. Some say, "You can't really plan for a birth." And, so, many women don't even know the choices that are theirs to make. Yes, its true, there will always be emergencies and things that go differently than we expect. But, because of this mentality, we have made the exception the rule and are often intimated to even ask our care providers poignant and important questions. This is perfectly acceptable behavior and healthy thing for any patient to do. It does not undermine the trust we have in that person, but can actually strengthen that patient-provider relationship, if done with respect. We choose our care providers because we have some measure of trust in them. This is very, very important and a doula should not undermine this relationship. But, being a passive patient is also unhealthy. It can leave a woman feeling disregarded or mistreated, if her needs and desires are never voiced. A doula helps her client develop a sense of what she desires for her birth. And this, in turn, should strengthen the patient-provider relationship as the client is more confident to enter into informed dialogue with her doctor or midwife.
A doula also feeds her clients information on pregnancy, diet, and fitness. It is very important that moms understand the active role they play in the birth of their baby. This extends into the realm of their own overall health. A doula can help them determine if they are eating too much or too little, if they are getting adequate exercise and what exercises are safe and necessary. They can help them know what foods are important to consume and what things they need to avoid. Ultimately, this helps a woman feel confident heading into labor, knowing she has done all she can for the health of her body and her baby.
A doula helps her client handle pain with comfort measures. A doula may use massage, aromatherapy, soft tones, encouraging words, prayer, and other relaxation techniques to soothe her client during labor. A laboring mom who remains relaxed and comforted by the presence of a doula is statistically more likely to have a shorter birth with fewer complications. It is crucial that a mother in labor experience pain with comfort vs. pain with suffering. Also, it is vital that a mom in labor remain relaxed and focused through each contraction. Doulas are skilled at helping their clients remain comforted, relaxed and focused during labor.
Hopefully that answers some of the questions regarding what a doula does. If you have ever had a doula (and loved it!) than what is written above is just barely touches on the experience you had. Most laboring moms who have found comfort and strength in the presence of a doula would tell you that their birth far exceeded their expectations. They would say that they didn't regret it and would often do it again. So, is having a trained doula important to creating a memorable and marvelous birth experience? I think so.
* Here are stats I am sharing on births which included a hired doula:
Effects on Birth Outcomes:
"Doula" comes from a Greek word meaning caregiver or servant. This is at the heart of what a doula is. A trained doula knows what questions to ask to understand her client's needs and desires. She knows how to read the needs of a woman in labor and bring comfort to her client with adequate measures. She is able to respond with sensitivity and grace to a pregnant or birthing mom, setting aside her own feelings.
A doula also arms mothers with information, which can help them (mom and dad) head into labor with increased confidence. A doula should also be able to set aside her own feelings and expectations about what a "good birth" would be. Some say, "You can't really plan for a birth." And, so, many women don't even know the choices that are theirs to make. Yes, its true, there will always be emergencies and things that go differently than we expect. But, because of this mentality, we have made the exception the rule and are often intimated to even ask our care providers poignant and important questions. This is perfectly acceptable behavior and healthy thing for any patient to do. It does not undermine the trust we have in that person, but can actually strengthen that patient-provider relationship, if done with respect. We choose our care providers because we have some measure of trust in them. This is very, very important and a doula should not undermine this relationship. But, being a passive patient is also unhealthy. It can leave a woman feeling disregarded or mistreated, if her needs and desires are never voiced. A doula helps her client develop a sense of what she desires for her birth. And this, in turn, should strengthen the patient-provider relationship as the client is more confident to enter into informed dialogue with her doctor or midwife.
A doula also feeds her clients information on pregnancy, diet, and fitness. It is very important that moms understand the active role they play in the birth of their baby. This extends into the realm of their own overall health. A doula can help them determine if they are eating too much or too little, if they are getting adequate exercise and what exercises are safe and necessary. They can help them know what foods are important to consume and what things they need to avoid. Ultimately, this helps a woman feel confident heading into labor, knowing she has done all she can for the health of her body and her baby.
A doula helps her client handle pain with comfort measures. A doula may use massage, aromatherapy, soft tones, encouraging words, prayer, and other relaxation techniques to soothe her client during labor. A laboring mom who remains relaxed and comforted by the presence of a doula is statistically more likely to have a shorter birth with fewer complications. It is crucial that a mother in labor experience pain with comfort vs. pain with suffering. Also, it is vital that a mom in labor remain relaxed and focused through each contraction. Doulas are skilled at helping their clients remain comforted, relaxed and focused during labor.
Hopefully that answers some of the questions regarding what a doula does. If you have ever had a doula (and loved it!) than what is written above is just barely touches on the experience you had. Most laboring moms who have found comfort and strength in the presence of a doula would tell you that their birth far exceeded their expectations. They would say that they didn't regret it and would often do it again. So, is having a trained doula important to creating a memorable and marvelous birth experience? I think so.
* Here are stats I am sharing on births which included a hired doula:
Effects on Birth Outcomes:
- Labors are 25% shorter.¹
- There are fewer complications.
- Cesarean rates are reduced by 50%.¹
- There is 40% less need for oxytocin to speed up labor.¹
- Need for forceps is reduced by 40%.¹
- Women request 30% less pain medication and 60% fewer epidurals.¹
- Greater satisfaction with their birth experience.
- More positive assessments of their babies.
- Less postpartum depression.
- Babies have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries.
- Babies breastfeed more easily.
- Mothers are more affectionate to their babies postpartum.
- The cost of obstetrical care is dramatically reduced.
- Women are pleased with the personalized care doulas offer.
- The Benefit of continuous support in labor is recognized by:
- The World Health Organization
- The Medical Leadership Council (an organization of over 1200 U.S. hospitals)
- The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada
(statistics only) from: http://www.beginswithbirth.net/statistics.shtml
(statistics only) originally taken from: ¹ Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth, by Kennell, Klaus, and Kennell (1993)