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Given birth is a stressful time, it is hard to know if you are making the right decisions for your self and your baby. It is tough to sort through all the options and medical advice given to you by doctors, family and friends to make te right birth plan for you, it is even more difficult to stick to it. This is where a Doula comes in. A Doula is a pregnancy and birth caregiver. It is not a new idea, in many cultures women have a support person, usually a friend or knowledgeable and experienced woman. They provide support to a woman and her family before, during and after childbirth. A Doula is a support person who helps mothers and couples to make decisions and provide balanced information. She can also liase with birthing centres, hospitals, and medical staff to ensure couples get the birth care they need. A Doula is not a medical professional though they have training and experience with childbirth. There are two types of Doulas: Birth Doulas and Post-Natal Doulas. While many Doulas provide both services it is important to enquire with your Doulas and see if she provides both. A Birth Doulas predominantly deals with creating a birthing plan and preparing mothers and couple for the birth. She will assist during labour in a support role. A Post-Natal Doula helps the mother return to the home after the birth. She is a source of support and information for a new mother. A Post-Natal Doula can help with breastfeeding support and assist new mothers to prepare for life after the birth of their child. A Doula helps to keep a couple calm and lend a helping hand during a stressful time. Typically a Doula will not perform any medical tasks, unless she is also trained as a midwife or nurse. Generally a Doula does not check blood pressure, heart rates of the mother or baby, or do vaginal examinations. When choosing a Doula you should discuss any extra qualifications she has prior to enlisting her services. So why pay a woman you don’t know to support you through your birth? Isn’t that the role of your partner and family? Well studies show that women who have a Doula are 50% less likely to have a caesarean sections and it is 40% less likely the forceps will be used. There is a 30% in the use of pain medication during birth by women who use a Doula and a 25% reduction in labour length. As Doulas are becoming more common many birthing centres, hospitals, doctors and midwives are becoming comfortable with their use. Doulas do not replace any of the existing medical team and therefore there is rarely a problem with having a Doula at a conventional hospital birth. A Doula is simply added support to make sure the wishes of the couple or mother are considered.
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