
Pregnancy/Baby
Doulas: Providing a Valuable Service
By Tracy Howe
June/July 2003
If you are a mother or mother-to-be imagine what it would feel
like to have continuous emotional and physical support throughout
your labor and delivery. Maybe you think you already have that
in your husband/partner or midwife.
Imagine your husband/partner also feels very supported, in such
a way that he can offer you his best attention, or your favorite
massage, and that he is ready and well rested when you need him
most.
Imagine that you don’t panic when your midwife leaves the
room to assist her other mothers.
Imagine someone available who knows your desire for a drug-free
birth or a painless birth and she helps you make informed decisions
if plans need to change and you are in no condition to think clearly.
Imagine encouragement, praise and reassurance from a woman who
has birthed her own babies and/or been at the births of many, many
more. She doesn’t work for a hospital. She works for you.
She doesn’t do exams. She holds your hand and lets you lean
on her. She might play music for you or fill the room with a relaxing
scent you request. She rubs your back while your husband looks
into your eyes and helps you concentrate on breathing. She keeps
you both informed of every process and/or procedure happening.
She is a constant and continuous friendly presence. She believes
in you and your body’s ability to give birth. She is a doula.
The word doula comes from ancient Greek meaning “a most important
woman servant” who would have helped the woman of the house
in childbearing. It has come to mean a non-medical birth professional
who provides physical, emotional and informational support to both
parents, before, during and just after birth. A doula meets with
parents before their due date to get a good idea of what their
expectations are and to develop a birth plan. She is then available
by phone anytime to answer questions or go over concerns. A labor
and delivery doula goes to the mother’s home when labor starts,
stays with her throughout labor and delivery, offers breastfeeding
support after delivery and helps to get mom and baby settled in
and comfortable. A doula usually offers a follow up home visit
as well.
Today, most doulas are certified through extensive education and
experience. Two of the major certifying organizations are Doulas
of North America, or DONA and Childbirth and Postpartum Professional
Association, or CAPPA. Both organizations have a website and offer
extensive information and referral numbers. When I asked several
doulas, “How do you find a doula?” most said they are
located by word of mouth, through midwife or doctor referrals or
by the Internet. And when asked why they do what they do, most
said it feels like a calling for them, and because they love it.
Cynthia Hardie is a labor doula who lives in Lawrenceville but
works in surrounding counties including Athens. She says she likes
to empower moms in making informed decisions for themselves and
their babies and “it’s such a special experience to
watch couples become a family.” She works with a group of
labor support people doulas under the company name Labor of Love
Doula and Childbirth Services, Inc. (www.alaboroflove.org). They
provide back up for each other and provide clients with a wellspring
of information, experience, and wisdom.
Cynthia was my doula for the birth of my second daughter at Athens
Regional Medical Center. I was a VBAC mom; a woman determined to
have a vaginal delivery after having a scheduled cesarean and I
did it with her invaluable support and encouragement. She helped
me make decisions about pain relief, worked as a team with the
midwives and nurses, encouraged me to walk and move, made requests
for me, fielded questions and phone calls, reminded me to breathe,
encouraged me to nurse my baby skin-to-skin right after birth,
checked on us in our room and checked on us at home. My first birth
experience was amazing. The recovery process, however, was long
and painful. My second birth experience was amazing and gentle
and I was elated to be able to get up and walk so shortly after
giving birth.
Another doula who does work in Athens is Terri Moore. She started
out teaching child birth classes and ended up assisting several
of her students throughout their labor and delivery before she
even knew it was a profession. She likes to build confidence in
her moms by believing in them and helping them to trust their own
bodies.
Sandy Rojales lives in Winder. She said she likes to make sure
her families are very informed and prepared for birth. “Epidurals
don’t always work and a woman needs to be prepared to deal
effectively with pain. If you go in with a positive attitude you
usually get a better outcome.”
Sarah Cosser is a doula living in Athens; she is trained but not
certified yet. She grew up with a healthy respect for moms and
babies because her mother was a certified lactation consultant.
But it wasn’t until she assisted at a birth and saw a newborn
baby that she knew she wanted to be a doula and is working towards
the goal of being a licensed midwife. “I had never seen anything
so beautiful in my entire life...it was sort of holy.” Sarah
said she would work for free right now just to get the experience
and because she believes a woman should get what she wants out
of her birth experience.
Statistics show that women supported by doulas tend to have shorter
labor, a fifty percent reduction in c-section rates, reduced forceps
use, reduced epidural requests, fewer episiotomies, and an over-all
satisfying birthing experience.
Fees for a labor and delivery doula generally run between $400
to $600 and payment plans are worked out per individual doula.
Some insurance does reimburse for the use of a doula. Any questions
regarding fees or anything else can be discussed during the initial
pre-birth meeting. Interviewing several doulas is recommended.
Consumers are encouraged to check references and to verify information
before hiring a doula regardless of where they received the doula’s
contact information.
Another type of doula not previously mentioned is a postpartum
doula. Essentially her role is to “mother the mother.” She
is experienced in caring for mothers and babies and works to help
a woman feel confident in her mothering abilities. She can help
with bathing, feeding, and soothing baby. She might do light housework,
run errands, prepare healthy snacks and meals, and go with mom
and baby on their first outings or to appointments. Postpartum
doulas generally charge anywhere from $15 to $25 per hour and may
require a minimum number of hours to be scheduled.
Following is a short list of doulas available for the Athens and
surrounding area. I know there are more available so ask your friends,
doctors and midwives and help get the word out about these magnificent
assistants. Even if you think you can’t afford it, interview
someone anyway and see what can be worked out together.
•
Cynthia Hardie: 770-722-7745 www.alaboroflove.org, Lawrenceville
•
Teresa Howard: 770-923-6914 www.alaboroflove.org, Lawrenceville
•
Kim Bennett: 678-376-7269 www.alaboroflove.org, Dacula
•
Terri Moore: 770-786-3815 http://babiesbynature.com, Conyers
•
Louise Monteith: 770-922-0302, Conyers
•
Sandy Rojales: 770-586-5230, Athens
•
Kathy Kuntz: 706-552-3494, Athens
•
Sarah Cosser: 706-369-3829, Athens
•
DONA 888-788-3662, www.dona.com
•
CAPPA 1-888-548-3672, www.childbirthprofessional.com
• www.babyuniversity.com
Recommended Reading:
Birthing From Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz
Mothering the Mother: How A Doula Can Help You Have A Shorter,
Easier and Healthier Birth by John H. Kennell, Phyllis H. Klaus,
and Marshall H. Klaus
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