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THE DOULA ADVANTAGE - Sharon Plaskitt
Traditionally, woman experienced childbirth
surrounded by companions. These companions were
usually women from their own family or community.
The presence of companions during childbirth meant
that a woman was never left alone during this
intensely stressful and often frightening time in
her life. She was comforted, reassured and praised
throughout the time of childbirth.
Unfortunately, as medicine and the care of women
during childbirth became more technically
advanced, the role and importance of companions
during childbirth seems to have been sidelined and
forgotten. Now a situation has arisen where many
women endure childbirth alone for long periods,
scared and without comfort or companionship. This
is where having professional birth support in the
form of a Doula can make such a difference.
A
Doula (from ancient Greek meaning “woman servant”)
is a trained, professional support-person who
assists a woman during pregnancy and birth. A
Doula views birth as one of the most important
experiences in a woman’s life, and knows the
importance of creating positive birth memories.
She is trained in the physiology of birth and
understands the emotional needs of a woman in
labour, and assists the woman and her partner in
preparing for and carrying out their plans for
birth.
The Doula stays by the side of the labouring woman
throughout the entire labour, never leaving her.
She provides emotional support, physical comfort
measures, an objective viewpoint, and assistance
to the woman in getting the information she needs
to make good decisions. The Doula facilitates good
communication between the labouring woman, her
partner, and clinical caregivers; and perceives
her role as one who nurtures and protects the
woman's memory of her birth experience.
The
Research says …
The research is based on fourteen trials involving
more than 5000 women, conducted in Belgium,
Botswana, Canada, Finland, France, Greece,
Guatemala, Mexico, South Africa and the United
States. From a professional standpoint the
research on Doulas provides guidance to hospitals
and physicians. Several medical organisations
encourage the use of Doulas, basing their decision
on the research. “In fact,” says world-renowned
Gynaecologist and Obstetrician Dr. Christiane
Northrup “the results are so startling that if a
Doula were a drug, it would be illegal not to
prescribe it.”
Among other findings, the studies found that the
presence of a Doula (regardless of whether there
is another support person there or not):
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reduces
the need for a caesarean section by 50% |
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shortens
the length of labour by 25%
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reduces
the use of labour induction by 40% |
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reduces
the need for epidurals by 60% and the use of pain
medications by 40% |
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reduces
the need for forceps-assisted births by 40% |
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reduces
the likelihood of an Apgar score lower than 7 by
50% |
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increases
the likelihood of woman viewing her birth
experience as positive and empowering 82%
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increases
the likelihood of a woman to be fully
breastfeeding six weeks after the birth to 51%
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decreases
the likelihood of infant health problems (i.e.
vomiting, coughs, colds, poor appetite and diarrhoea) in the first six weeks to 20%,
as opposed to control “no Doula” groups where the
percentage is 45% |
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decreases
the likelihood of post-partum anxiety and
depression at six weeks to 19% as opposed to the
33% incidence in the control group |
Another unexpected finding of the studies
according to Klaus, Kennel and Klaus, was also
observed at six weeks when those mothers who had
had the support of a Doula at their birth “were
more positive on all dimensions involving the
specialness, ease, attractiveness and cleverness
of their babies … and these mothers also perceived
themselves as closer to their babies, found
becoming a mother was easy, and felt that they
could look after their babies better than anyone
else could”.
Through providing one-on-one, continuous
attention, the Doula “mothers the mother”, and
women who feel cared for during labour exhibit
more mothering instinct and greater confidence in
their own ability to mother. What better
beginning could there be for a woman and her new
baby; for the family; and in the long run, for
society as a whole?
For more info about Doulas and where to find one
visit:
http://www.doulas.co.za/findadoula.php.
should you have one?
