Today starts World Doula Week so I thought it fitting to write about why doulas rock. What is a doula you may ask . . . Well essentially they offer support to women and their partners during labor. I had an awesome doula, Monica, when A was born and a contribute a large part of me being able to have a natural birth to her encouragement and wisdom. The great thing is that they are not just for women planning to have a natural birth, they can be of assistance to planning to have epidurals or c-sections as well. Here are ten great things about doulas:
- They reduce the chance of having interventions during labor – 50% reduction in Cesarean rate, 60% reduction in epidural requests, 40% reduction in Pitocin use, 25% shorter labor, 30% reduction in analgesic use, 30% reduction in forceps delivery.*
- They can be a source of information before your baby arrives – Monica was able to answer several questions for me . . . Q. What is that strange feeling? A. Braxton Hicks, Q. Did my water just break? A. Nope, just pee . . .
- They help dads too – My husband will be the first one to suggest a doula to a pregnant mom. In the beginning of labor my doula helped Eric understand what I was going through and what he could do to help me. I really think was a more active participant in my labor because Monica was there.
- They can come to your house if you would like to labor at home before going to the hospital – I spent way more time at the hospital than I ever could have imagined, but I am grateful for the hours I got to spend in the comfort of home with my doula there to support me.
- While a doctor or midwife may have other patients to tend to, your doula will stay with you throughout your entire labor and birth of your baby – Monica was with us 36+ hours!!
- If/When the need for an intervention arises they can offer suggestions that align more closely with your birth plan – When the pressure was on me to start pitocin, my doula was able to offer a more suggestions for natural approach to getting my contractions started again. Even though I eventually did have to get the pitocin, I am confident that I tried everything I could and that the pitocin was a necessary intervention.
- They encourage you when you think you can’t – Labor is hard work, but just when you think you can’t go on, it is really nice to have your own personal cheerleader to tell you, you can.
- If you plan to breastfeed they can stay with you until you get things started – My little A has a mighty hunger, so we have always done fairly well with the whole breastfeeding thing, but it was nice to have someone there to assist us an let us know we were getting off on the right start.
- They can help you remember your birth better – Monica documented my entire birth experience from the time she I called her to tell her my water had broken (for real this time.) Everything from contractions, to what positions I labored in, to my nurses names were was documented for me.
- They take awesome photos like these -
