The first time I heard about doulas I knew I wanted to be one. The idea of spending time with a mother while she gives birth was immensely appealing to me. Helping a woman have an empowering birth is a worthy goal.
When I had my first baby I was completely alone and it scared me. The pain was worse than I thought it would be. My husband and Mother were in a waiting room. They were not allowed to be with me. There was one nurse who stayed with me for a while holding my hand and telling me everything was OK. But then her shift ended and I was alone again. Having a person with you while you are in labor makes it so much easier. Back in 1962 hospitals thought that family or partners did not have a place at birth. They were so wrong.
Doulas have evolved since then. It is acknowledged that women do better, have shorter, less painful labors if they have someone with them. Being alone during birth is a bit sad. Finally hospitals began to see the value in this. And families are allowed to be with the mother, now, as well. Birth is a more “friendly” event than it used to be. Doulas are an integral part of this.
A doula can help in so many ways. She can give comfort and a feeling of safety to the mother. Just knowing she will not leave you is amazingly reassuring. Emotional support is one of the best benefits of having a doula. There are many, many others, too.
In the article below you will find a great list of comfort measures that a doula can provide. Not all doulas do all of these things, but you can pick one who is equipped to give you the support that appeals to you. Read this wonderful description:
TUESDAY, MAY 03, 2011
What Doulas Do
By Katie Henderson © 2011
Right after, “What is a doula?” the question I am next asked most often is, “What does a doula do?”
In larger cities doulas are much more common and in-demand. But living in a small town and trying to develop a practice has presented unique challenges. Too few people have actually ever heard the word doula so it’s difficult to convince people that they really need something they’ve never heard of and know nothing about.
A doula’s role is unique to each mother she works for, as each mother has different needs for each pregnancy.
Much of a doula’s job is to offer education and guidance. Pregnancy and labor often present a mother with many different decisions. Making a decision with the confidence that it’s right for you and your baby can be difficult if you don’t understand all the nuances of each option. A doula is well educated and can explain every option and help a mother make the decision that falls best in line with the mother’s own birth plan.
Most often, doulas are called on to act as comforters. Doulas are trained in many different methods of drug-free pain management. You may be surprised to know how small things, like patterned breathing and guided visualization, can help manage pain. But so much of the comfort a doula offers is emotional. Birth is such a personal and transcendent experience for a woman. It can take her through the complete range of human emotions in a very short amount of time. Having continual support from an experienced woman is priceless! It offers the freedom to scream if you need to scream, laugh if you need to laugh, or cry if you need to cry. A doula is not there to hamper your emotions. She is there to allow you to experience them fully with love and understanding.
