If you're just starting out and unsure about what a doula is, what we do and how having doula support could benefit you then this blog post is for you, my friend!
So, what exactly is a doula?
The word "doula" comes from the Greek meaning "a woman who serves". Now, that's a pretty broad meaning so let me break it down for you a bit. There a doulas for all different types of life events. Ranging from fertility to loss, labor to postpartum, abortion care, transition and end-of-life. Doulas are trained to support people during these life events and help facilitate a smoother transition into a new chapter. I serve as a doula in the perinatal space, providing support from pregnancy through the postpartum period.
Super! But what does a doula actually do to support me?
As your birth and postpartum doula, I provide evidence-based informational support, advocacy, physical and emotional support during your perinatal journey. This goes for you AND your partner. Let's not forget about them! If you have questions during your pregnancy like "How can I ease morning sickness?" or "Why does my calf cramp at night?" I can help you answer those questions by providing information and giving you tips and tricks. I also help you create a birth plan and teach you about your options during labor and birth. You don't know what you don't know, but you have all the say in the world! I love educating, helping you learn and make decisions. Providing unwavering physical and emotional support is invaluable during labor and birth. Having back labor? I can help with that. Not sure if you want an epidural? I can give you options and information to help you decide. Baby needs to rotate through the pelvis? I can help with maternal positioning to promote optimal fetal position for birth. I could go on and on and on, but for the sake of a shorter-than-novel blog post, I digress.
What does the research say about having a doula?
Oh friend, I'm so glad you asked! A recent (2017) Cochrane review found that continuous labor support can improve a number of outcomes for both mother and baby. 26 studies from 17 countries involving more than 15,000 women found the following:
Women were more likely to go into spontaneous labor
Increased rates of vaginal birth
More likely to have higher Apgar scores within 5 minutes of birth
Less likely to have an assisted delivery (foreceps, vacuum or Cesarean)
A decreased need for pain medication
Shorter labor
Increased maternal satisfaction
There is also a great signature article by Evidence Based Birth that goes into detail about doula support and the Cochrane review findings!
Basically, a good doula is the real deal. While we cannot save you and we're not necessarily super heroes, we are a very important part of your birth team!
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