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What is a Doula?
The word
"doula" comes from a Greek word
meaning " the most important female slave or servant in an
ancient Greek household", the woman who probably helped the lady
of
the house through her childbearing. The word has come to refer to
" a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and
informational
support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth."
(Klaus, Kennell, and
Klaus, in Mothering the Mother)
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A Doula.......
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Recognizes
birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her
life.... |
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Understands
the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labour.... |
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Assists
the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out the plans for their
birth.... |
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Stays
by the side of the labouring woman throughout the entire labour.... |
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Provides
emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman in getting the
information
she needs to make informed decisions.... |
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Facilitates
communication between the labouring woman, her partner |
and clinical care providers....
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Perceives
her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience.... |
The
acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition
of their important contribution to the improved physical outcomes
and emotional well-being of mothers and infants.
(from
the DONA website)
Benefits of having a Trained
Doula
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50% reduction in the cesarean
rate |
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25% shorter labour |
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60% reduction in epidural
requests |
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30% reduction in analgesia
use |
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40% reduction in forceps
delivery
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(information obtained from Mothering the Mother,
Klaus, Kennell and Klaus)
It's
your experience, own it!!
Sierra Trading Post
03/30/2004
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