1. Why do I need a doula?
The presence of a doula has a researched and documented positive effect on labour, birth and postpartum outcomes:
*45% reduction in caesarean sections
*60% reduction in requests for epidural
*30% reduction in use of pain medications
*40% reduction in use of oxytocin (Pitocin)
*30% reduction in the need for forceps
* decreased postpartum depression
*improved breastfeeding rates
(taken from Kennel, Klaus and Kennel, "Mothering the Mother")
2. Why isn’t a nurse or midwife all that you need for labour support?
While there may be exceptions, the demands of modern-day care in hospitals and cuts in staffing keep nurses from giving much in the way of supportive care. In fact, studies show that typical labour-and-delivery nurses spend only 10% of their time engaged in labour support activities, and half of that time is spent giving instructions or advice, as opposed to comfort measures or encouragement. Also, the nurse has probably never met you before. She doesn’t know your individual desires or issues, and unless you are fortunate enough to have your labour fit into one shift, you will have more than one nurse. By contrast, doulas stay with you throughout.
Midwives are more likely to provide supportive care, especially those attending home or birth-center births, but they too may have other responsibilities that prevent them from staying with you continuously. And like nurses, may work shifts.
3.Why isn’t your partner or other family members or friends enough?
However important the father’s role during labour, studies have shown fathers to have the same beneficial effects as a woman labour companion. Female friends or relation could take on the doula role, as they have in the past and still do in traditional cultures. Nonetheless, few woman in our culture today have the requisite knowledge, skills and familiarity with birth.
4.Does having a doula detract from the father’s role?
Working as a team, the doula enhances and complements the father's care while relieving him of perhaps unrealistic expectation that he know all and be all to you in labour. Fathers in one doula study liked having a doula and none felt displaced. They reported that not only did doulas help them help the moms, some of the doulas took care of them too.
5.Will having a doula sacrifice privacy?
Intruding on privacy may be a possibility at home births, but even in that setting, you will probably find an extra pair of hands belonging to someone known to you a welcome addition. In the busy institutional environment of the hospital, a doula can help preserve privacy and create an intimate atmosphere. Depending on your doctor or midwife's on-call practices, she may even be the only person caring for you who is familiar.
The presence of a doula has a researched and documented positive effect on labour, birth and postpartum outcomes:
*45% reduction in caesarean sections
*60% reduction in requests for epidural
*30% reduction in use of pain medications
*40% reduction in use of oxytocin (Pitocin)
*30% reduction in the need for forceps
* decreased postpartum depression
*improved breastfeeding rates
(taken from Kennel, Klaus and Kennel, "Mothering the Mother")
2. Why isn’t a nurse or midwife all that you need for labour support?
While there may be exceptions, the demands of modern-day care in hospitals and cuts in staffing keep nurses from giving much in the way of supportive care. In fact, studies show that typical labour-and-delivery nurses spend only 10% of their time engaged in labour support activities, and half of that time is spent giving instructions or advice, as opposed to comfort measures or encouragement. Also, the nurse has probably never met you before. She doesn’t know your individual desires or issues, and unless you are fortunate enough to have your labour fit into one shift, you will have more than one nurse. By contrast, doulas stay with you throughout.
Midwives are more likely to provide supportive care, especially those attending home or birth-center births, but they too may have other responsibilities that prevent them from staying with you continuously. And like nurses, may work shifts.
3.Why isn’t your partner or other family members or friends enough?
However important the father’s role during labour, studies have shown fathers to have the same beneficial effects as a woman labour companion. Female friends or relation could take on the doula role, as they have in the past and still do in traditional cultures. Nonetheless, few woman in our culture today have the requisite knowledge, skills and familiarity with birth.
4.Does having a doula detract from the father’s role?
Working as a team, the doula enhances and complements the father's care while relieving him of perhaps unrealistic expectation that he know all and be all to you in labour. Fathers in one doula study liked having a doula and none felt displaced. They reported that not only did doulas help them help the moms, some of the doulas took care of them too.
5.Will having a doula sacrifice privacy?
Intruding on privacy may be a possibility at home births, but even in that setting, you will probably find an extra pair of hands belonging to someone known to you a welcome addition. In the busy institutional environment of the hospital, a doula can help preserve privacy and create an intimate atmosphere. Depending on your doctor or midwife's on-call practices, she may even be the only person caring for you who is familiar.