SANDY'S LABOUR OF LOVE

The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves". These days it is used to describe a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before and during childbirth. Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labours are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and breastfeeding is more easily accomplished.

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 labour
Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
Stays with the woman throughout the labour
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 labouring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
Encourages the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level.
A doula, or birth attendant, is a woman offering non-medical support and information to parents in pregnancy, childbirth and the post natal period.
She is a great listener.
She is respectful.
She doesn't impose her own thoughts and beliefs.
She trusts the woman's instincts.
She acknowledges the power of birth.
She believes the birthing woman's partner is the most important team member if that is right for that couple.
She recognizes birth as a non-medical event (most of the time), unless the woman asks for assistance for her or her baby.
She believes that women do not need to be rescued from their labour.
She understands that the fewer people interrupting the woman and the process, the quicker the birth.
She empowers the woman, supporting her and witnesses her journey.
She believes babies know how to be born
She believes parents deserve informed choice as without that, they actually don’t have any choice.

The presence of a Doula has a researched and documented* positive effect on labour, birth and postpartum outcomes:

45% reduction in Cesarean sections
60% reduction in requests for epidurals
30% reduction in use of pain medications
40% reduction in use of oxytocin (Pitocin)
30% reduction in the need for forceps
decreased in postpartum depression
improved breastfeeding rates

(* Kennel, Klaus and Kennel, Mothering the Mother)

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