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Happy Birth, Happy Baby!!!!
Children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
YOU WANT
What is a Doula
"We have a secret in our culture, and it's not that childbirth is painful. It's that women are strong."- Laura Stavoe Harm
A LABOR DOULA
Doula comes from the Ancient Greek word meaning female servant. A woman that helps and takes care of other women during labor and after birth.
- Someone who values the sanctuary of a family and birth
- Supports the mother emotionally, physically, and mentally
- Continuous support through out pregnancy, birth, and after
- Helps women achieve the birth that she wants
- Helps lessen anxiety
- Constant calming presence
- Support for the father --- which lessens their anxiety and stress
- Guides you with breastfeeding and breastfeeding support
I will be on call for you as your doula 24 hours a day when your due date approaches. As a mother of two I know the weeds of anxiety and what it is like having a natural birth, and thinking is today the day. I will be there for emotional support and guidance.
Statistic on having a Doula at your birth:
- 50% reduction in the cesarean rate
- 25% shorter labor
- 60% reduction in epidural requests
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- Less stress and anxiety
- 40% reduction in oxytocin use
- 30% reduction in analgesia use
- 40% reduction in forceps delivery
6 weeks postpartum, mommas that used a doulas were:
- Less anxious and less postpartum
- More confident with baby
- More satisfied with partner
- More likely to be breastfeeding
Read what Penny Simkin has to say about hiring a DOULA in one of her interview Penny Simkin
Priceless
Just how much should you expect to pay for your doula? Well, it depends on your location, but anything between $300 and $1,000 is typical, with the average being around $500 for an experienced, certified doula.
Money should not be an issue when it comes to your health or the birth that will be with you for a lifetime. Doulas are usually willing to work with you to help afford the service, so always ask about payment options, and whether or not they offer a sliding scale fee.
When comparing rates, don't forget to consider the extras that many doulas offer with their doula services. Photographs and video of the birth are sometimes provided. Make sure you find out, and when you sign a contract with your doula.
Question to ask before you hire your Doula
- How long have you been in practice as a doula? How many families have you served?
- What training have you completed to prepare you for this role? Are you certified?
- What is your philosophy about your doula work and its purpose?
- Are you a mother yourself? (This may or may not be important to you. Doulas who are not mothers themselves may have more time to focus on you and your needs, while doulas who are mothers themselves certainly will bring an added dimension of understanding to their care. On the other hand, experienced mothers may be more opinionated about the “right” way to do things, based upon their own beliefs and experiences. Look for someone capable of flexible, non-judgmental support or, if she has an agenda, make sure it’s the same as yours!)
- Do you have experience with other clients whose situations are similar to mine (first-time mothers, natural/medicated birth, same hospital, home births, older mothers, single mothers, VBAC moms, etc.)?
- How much do you charge? Under what circumstances would I receive a refund?
- What is included in your fee (prenatal/postnatal visits, phone support)?
- Do you work with a backup doula? If so, will I be able to meet her?
- Do you have any references from families for whom you have provided services that I can check?
Additional questions for birth doulas
- How certain are you that you will be able to attend my birth? Do you have any other commitments during that time period?
- How do you picture yourself supporting me and my partner during the birth?
- Do you provide labor support in the home for women planning hospital deliveries?
- Do you only work as a birth doula or can we also hire you for postpartum work if needed?
Here are some suggested questions to encourage dialogue and to help you get a sense of your care provider’s approach. It is a good idea to interview at least 2 or 3 providers. It is never too late to change provider if you are not comfortable with the answers you receive.
PRENATAL
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How much time do you allow for each prenatal visit?
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How do you handle routine phone calls between visits?
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Are you part of a high risk practice?
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Under what circumstances do you recommend the following prenatal tests
Is there a limit to the number of people who can accompany me during my birth?
- How do you feel about a labor support professional such as a doula or massage therapist joining my birth team?
Will I be able to eat and drink in labor?
FIRST STAGE OF LABOR (DILATING)
If I were interested in having a natural, unmedicated birth, how would you feel about it?
What non-pharmacological comfort measures do you support?
- Freely changing positions and walking around
- Water therapy (shower/tub)
- A birth ball
- A doula
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- Call and stay home until contractions start
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- Come to office/hospital/birth center to monitor baby and then return home
- Come immediately to hospital/birth center
How long after my water breaks would you recommend induction if my labor doesn’t start on its own?
What are your protocols regarding my due date, i.e. inducing labor?
When you start an induction and the cervix needs to be ripened, which synthetic prostaglandin do you recommend?
- Cytotec (generic name: misoprostol)
- Cervidil
- Other
Do you believe in active management of first stage, i.e. progress less than 1 cm per hour will call for artificial rupture of membranes (AROM) or Pitocin? If everything is fine with me and my baby, will I be able to labor at my own pace and for as long as I need?
What non-medical ways of stimulating labor do you recommend?
- Herbs
- Nipple stimulation
- Castor oil
- Intercourse (before spontaneous rupture of membranes (SROM))
- Enema
- Acupuncture
- None
What is your protocol regarding the following procedures and how often do you perform them?
- IVs
- Continuous versus intermittent fetal monitoring
- Internal fetal monitoring
- Artificial rupturing of the membranes (AROM) at _ cm
- Epidural
- Assisted vaginal delivery (forceps/ vacuum)
- Episiotomy
What is your cesarean rate? What factors do you believe contribute to that rate?
Are you supportive of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)? What is your VBAC rate? What are your standard protocols for VBAC mothers?
SECOND STAGE OF LABOR (PUSHING)
Can my baby remain with me at all times from the moment of birth? Do you support skin to skin contact between me and my baby immediately after birth? Can I delay newborn procedures such as vitamin K shot, eye ointment, until the first feeding is accomplished?
Will you or someone on your staff support me in establishing and maintaining breastfeeding?
What percentage of women under you care are given Pitocin following the birth of the baby? Under what circumstances do you recommend this practice?
How long will I stay in the hospital/birth center after the birth?
(For home birth midwives) How long will you stay with me after my baby is born?
BACK UP
If you are in a group practice:
- Can I meet your partner(s)?
- What is their perspective on routine hospital interventions?
- How likely is it that one of your partners will be the one to attend my birth?
(For home birth midwives) What is your rate of transfer to hospital? Who is your consultant obstetrician? Will I be able to meet or interview them?
For further resources on interviewing care providers, visit our website:www.choicesinchildbirth.org
Copyright . Happy Birth, Happy Baby owner Erin HInze. All rights reserved.
