Pregnancy and Birthing Q&A
Why would I want a doula at my birth?
A doula is a wonderful person to have at your birth in
addition to your birth partner, or alone if you can't find a
good birth partner. A doula is a birth and labor support
professional well trained in the birth process, and will provide
continuous support and advocacy to you while you are in labor.
You will never be left alone when you have a doula.
Doulas cannot
replace the role of your birth partner if you have one, they
cannot provide the personal, loving support that you get from a
loved one. What they do provide is experience in birth, the
process, and how to make it go smoothly.
Numerous clinical studies have found that the presence of
a doula during labor and birth significantly reduces the risk of
complications, interventions, need for medicinal pain relief and
health complications in mothers and infants after birth.
Furthermore, women who have had doulas attend their births
report feeling more positively about their birth experience,
have easier times nursing, and have quicker, easier recovery
periods. To learn more about doulas, visit the Doulas of North
America website at www.dona.org.
Average cost
for a doula varies greatly depending on your location and her
services offered (a doula who is also a massage therapist will
charge more, for example), but often doulas offer special rates
or volunteer their services to those in financial need. Doulas
in the process of certifying also offer services for cheap or
free. You can find them by looking on Craigslist, checking local
pregnancy and parenting forums, checking local doula or midwife
associations, or contacting DONA or CAPPA. The website
DoulaMatch.net can also help you to find and compare doulas in
your local area.
Previous Topic |
Return to Index |
Next
Topic
