Many studies have verified the benefits of having continual care from a doula during labor and childbirth. Some of these quantifiable benefits among women who used a doula include decreased epidural use, shorter labor times, and decreased rates of cesarean section, vacuum extractor, and forceps deliveries.
A doula provides physical, psychological, and educational support to a birthing mother and any other person she has chosen to be at her side. The word “doula,” from Greek, means “woman’s servant.” A doula is another woman present during labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum to give continual encouragement and reassurance to another woman. This woman-centered model enables a mother to have the support that she needs to give her all for the well-being of her baby.
Many single women and couples choose to have a doula present at the birth of their baby for various reasons. One simple reason is that labor can be an endurance challenge, and the presence of a doula can take unnecessary pressure off of another partner who is present by allowing him/her time to rest, eat, and recuperate. In this way, a doula enhances the function of the father or partner. A doula can offer suggestions for how a mother can cope with the endurance and intensity of labor. Also, a woman may simply prefer to have another woman present, grounding her with attention and care. This may be true especially if she anticipates giving birth in a hospital setting, where it is less likely that the staff tending to her will be consistent over the course of labor and delivery. The presence of an assistant during this time empowers, supports, and informs a mother and her partner so that they might fully experience the process of birth.
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“How a doula can make your birth experience easier, healthier, and more empowering.” [online] www.doula.com. Accessed 2009 September 10. READ THIS ARTICLE