Doula, Doula, Boboula

Banana Fanana Fofoula Me Mi Momoula

DOULA!

 

Say what now?

You heard me, I said Doula.

 

For any of my pregnant, thinking-about getting-pregnant, might-get-pregnant-one-day friends, this post is for you!

 

Let me ask you a few questions first.

 

1) Does your partner, boyfriend, husband, significant-other know what to do during childbirth? I mean really know what to do when you are in throws of crazy, mind-consuming pain?

 

2) Is your partner skweemish when it comes to blood, bodily fluids and poop?

 

3) Are you worried about getting the crabby, hates-her-life nurse who gets kicks out of stabbing you multiple times with the iv needle?

 

Well, I just might have a solution for you.
 

She's a wonderful, angelic-like creature known as doula who's sole job is to make you feel comfortable, informed and focused during childbirth.

Let me elaborate...

DONA International (the peeps who certify doulas) describe a birth doula as the following:

"A trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.

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"

So why hire a doula? 

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:
 

- tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications

- reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth eperience

- 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

 

But more than the clinical reasons are the emotional reasons.

 

Some women like to have their mothers or other family members present during childbirth. To that I say 'to each their own'.

 I know my mother would have loved to be there but at the same time I think it would have been really hard on her to see me in pain. I know her well enough to know that she would have been stressed and anxious and those feelings would no doubt have passed on to me. Childbirth, especially when its your first rodeo is stressful enough as it is. I just wanted her to see the happy ending and not all the drama in between but at the same time I also wanted someone present who has been there before to comfort and support me.

 

 Enter the doula.

 

Here are my personal reasons for suggesting a doula:

 

1) She's a complete stranger. No need to worry about modesty. Trust me, when you are in the thick of labour you aren't worried about who sees your lady-bits but if your mom and dad are there you might regret it later? I remember I packed my nursing bra and decent full-bum undies to wear during labour but once those contractions hit me I was only comfortable being buck-naked.

 

2) She knows what she's doing. Chances are you and your significant other don't, especially if its your first baby. She can suggest different positions, see the signs of labour progressing and suggest what to do next, and be your advocate when it comes to making hard decisions. Registered doulas have to have been present at a certain number of births to become certified. Those who have been in the field long enough have seen it all. Having someone there who was a calm, supportive and knowledgeable presence made all the difference to me and for Simon.

 

3) She is always there. If you are counting on having a nurse support you through the whole thing, think again. Nurses sometimes have other women on their watch or an emergency comes up and you are left to fend for yourself. I was in labour for over twelve hours and she was there every step of the way. She even stuck around for an hour or two after to help me with breastfeeding.

4) Her sole job is to make you as comfortable as possible! Doctors and nurses are focused on the medical side of things, your partner is focused on the excitement of the baby they are soon to have and you are focused on not dying of pain. The doula is there to make you feel in control when things seem helpless, calm when things are chaotic and loved when you are screaming bloody murder.

So to all my preggo buddies and inquisitive friends I dedicate this one to you.
This may not be the option for everyone but it should definitely be something you should consider. Most of us will only go through childbirth a handful of times so why not try to make the whole experience as comfortable as possible?

To my friends in Ottawa thinking of hiring a doula, I highly suggest Victoria Kellett. I felt comfortable with her the moment I met her and I can't even explain how wonderful she was.
She met with us twice before the birth, stayed with us the entire birthing process, staying a few hours after birth to help me with breastfeeding, checked in on us later in the week to see if we needed help and wrote us a lovely birth story.

xo, Vicky