A Birth Doula is a person trained and experienced
in childbirth
who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to
the mother before, during and just after childbirth.
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek, meaning "Woman's Servant".
Throughout history and in much of the world today, a cadre a women support
a woman through labor and birth, giving back rubs and providing continuous
emotional support. Like their historical counterparts, DONA International
birth doulas know how to help a woman in labor feel better. However,
today's doulas are much more diverse than their predecessors. DONA International
membership includes men and women from a wide range of ages and cultural
backgrounds.
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula's presence at birth:
tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
reduces negative feelings about one's chidbirth experience
reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps and
vacuum extraction
reduces the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as
the incidence of cesareans.
We suggest that you interview several doulas to find the woman best
suited to your needs.