This week was World Doula Week! Did you celebrate by saying thank you?
I love doulas,midwives and other supportive birthing partners! I’ve used them for the last 4 births and it’s made a world of difference compared to the first 5 births. I’ve found them tobe able to minimize my stress and pain, level in oerder to enourage healthly- natural births
Have you met a doula? They are some of the most open minded people ever, and there are different types of birthing partners. Midwifes are one step above doulas and one step under OBGYN’s. and your husband are right there beside the doula. As she works as your assistant, voice, and planner. A post-partum doula is just as awesome, the will go from the pre labor, Labor and delivery , to the post care. Yes, someone can come by and nurture mom after the birth and refrain from nagging about the state of the house.
I was talking with two of my mom friends and asked them to consider a doula. They both asked why and I responded by saying that a birth doula is knowledgeable about childbirth, understanding the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. She provides continuous emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint while remaining with the woman throughout the entire labor and birth. The constant support is possible because birth doulas have no other “patients” to attend to, no shift change and no other responsibilities other than the overall well-being of the woman in labor.
Doula’s often use the power of touch and massage to reduce stress and anxiety during labor. Massage helps stimulate the production of natural oxytocin. The pituitary gland secretes natural oxytocin to the bloodstream which causes uterine contractions and also secretes it to the brain, which results in a feeling of well being, drowsiness and a raised pain threshold. Synthetic IV oxytocin can not cross into the blood stream and brain, so it increases contractions without the positive psychological effects of natural oxytocin.
At least thirteen scientific studies evaluating the effectiveness of doulas have shown that having a doula present at your birth can have the following results:
* Shorter labor by 25% (average two hours less for first time mothers)
* Reduced need for pain medication
* Fewer episiotomies
* 40% reduction in the use of forceps
* 40% reduction in the use of Pitocin
* 50% reduction in cesarean rate
* 60% reduction in the request of epidurals
* Greater satisfaction with the birth
* Better mother infant interaction
* Improved neonatal outcomes
* Increased breastfeeding success
Here’s just 4 reasons doulas are awesome!
- They can help you write an intelligent birthing plan.
- They help untangle labor and delivery myths, stress, and unfortunates.
- They help moms & family mentally prepare for birth/ a new addition.
- They can connect you with a very well stock list of local resources, service providers, and new mom goodies.
I’d say they are worth their weight in gold! To all of my Birthing Support Partners, THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!!!!
Check out a few more things you’ll need to know.
Other benfits to having a doula
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
QC Supermom 