DONA Doula
DONA BIRTH DOULAS, THE LAST PIECE TO YOUR LABOR TEAM
WHAT IS A BIRTH DOULA?
· Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
· Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
· Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
· Stays with the woman throughout the labor
· Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
· Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
· Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
· Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth
- Reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
- Reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
- Reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals
- Tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
Research shows parents who receive support can:
- Feel more secure and cared for
- Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
- Have greater success with breastfeeding
- Have greater self-confidence
- Have less postpartum depression
- Have lower incidence of abuse
To schedule a free personal consultation contact Carol Anne at carolanne@healthymomsfitness.com
For more information on DONA please visit their website
