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A couple that doesn't watch as much TV as I do
might have other concerns. They might discuss
what kind of environment they would like their
chilu to be born in. Caesarean vs. natural birth,
what procedures they are for and which to avoid,
the hospital and doctors involved, etc. Together,
the doula and the parents can make a birth plan
that maps out their experience.
“I feel that much of my work as a doula is
done prenatally, helping the family to prepare for
birth and parenthood,” says Alexa Scroggin, an
Athens doula. “That way. there are fewer surpris
es in the hospital, and the family is empowered
to ask questions and speak up for themselves."
A doula also works with the couple to un
derstand the emotions surrounding the birth
(excitement, fear, anxiety, impatience), and
helps validate these feelings. For some unfortu
nate reason, it seems typically female to discuss
“validating” emotions. If anything, the validation
of the things we think is one of the best parts of
communication, and it is a loss to anybody who
corners this as Dr. Phil-speak or treacly gal talk.
The idea of having a person to stand by you and
listen with your best interest in mind is a wildly
attractive part of a doula's services.
“A woman has a lot to process and integrate
[with] giving birth and it is very meaningful to
have someone to share intimately and honestly
with," says local doula Madrona Wienges.
Think about it: here you are in one of the
most stressful moments of your life, and there is
this person who will
not judge you, or be
hurt by your utter
ances. even the baby's
daddy might not want
to hear that today you
decided you hate the
baby, even though
you didn't mean it to
sound that way. of
course. Doulas can
provide that rare sup
port of a person not
immediately involved
with her own role in the situation at hand.
Simply put. she is there to help and has no other
investment except in doing so.
When the big moment finally arrives (mom
clutches her stomach, looks to her frazzled part
ner and says, “it's time"), the support continues.
The doula meets the parents at the hospital and
throughout the labor keeps their birth plan in
mind. However, she isn't pushy (because, remem
ber. it's not about her). The doula can help com
fort the mom-to-be with many natural methods,
including backrubs, belly rubs, foot massage,
head scratching, position changes and confirm
ing how awesome the mom is for being present
and working through her labor.
There To Help
Alexa Scroggin mentions that a doula in no
way takes the place of a partner. “If there is a
partner with the mom at birth, I try to remain
as invisible as possible and instead give sug
gestions or provide an example so that they are
the primary support person, not me." In fact,
many fathers who are initially wary of hiring a
doula find that the support provided allows them
to give more attention to their partner and the
birth experience. The doula, familiar with the
medical language and procedures, can take the
time to explain things if the medical staff does
not have the time to do so thoroughly. AL\ the
doula can take care of errands such as picking up
older children from school or calling bosses, so
that the partner doesn't have to miss a crucial
moment of the birth.
But is a doula more than a cheerleader? While
I would probably pay a doula her fees (anywhere
from $400-5800 a pregnancy, though a doula-in-
training may provide her services for free) just to
have a person scratch my head when I'm grumpy,
is there a real benefit to the constant you-can-
do-it? According to several clinical studies, the
answer is a big yes. These studies (including
those published by the World Health Organization
and the Canadian Medical Association Journal)
have shown that when doulas are present at a
birth, there is a lower need for labor-inducing
drugs, forceps and vacuum extraction. Also, labor
tends to be shorter with fewer complications,
while the requests for pain medication, epidur
als and the incidence of Cesareans are reduced.
But wait: it gets even better. Women who ha*'e a
doula report greater satisfaction with their birth
experience and less postpartum depression, and
they have more positive assessments of their
babies. Even the babies are happier when doulas
are around: according to DONA, "babies born
with doulas present tend to have shorter hospi
tal stays with fewer admissions to special care
nurseries, breastfeed more easily and have more
affectionate mothers in the postpartum period.”
In fact, these medical benefits are saving
hospitals enough money that in some states
Medicaid now covers doula services. For example,
the state of North Carolina decided to provide
doula services to low-income mothers, if desired,
after seeing the lowered rate of complications
and early deliveries with women who had a
doula's support. Doulas are able to provide more
education and prenatal assistance to women on
Medicaid, reducing prenatal health issues (which
makes for happier moms, and a richer North
Carolina).
In all. even though I'm not preggers, I want
a doula. Not only do I want the foot rubs, but
I want the continued emotional support. The
problem is. I want it every day of my life. I want
a doula to tell me that a Saturday handed over
to an "America's Next
Top Model" marathon
is okay, and that I am
inspiring and strong
when I procrastinate
cleaning my house
for two months.
Interestingly enough,
the doula field is
expanding beyond
birth. Besides birth
doulas and postpartum
doulas. there is also
the growing service
of death doulas. These arc people who assist and
support the terminally ill as they approach the
end of life. Just like birth doulas, these death
doulas make the client as comfortable as pos
sible, listen to their wishes, and provide valida
tion and genuine support. But back to me and
my Saturdays with Tyra—I want to know where
all the life doulas are.
The kicker in all of this is that we are now
hiring people to be our emotional support in the
big events of our life. Is the reason that I can't
have a life doula the fac* that friends and family
are supposed to step in here and be the continu
ing support that we all need? Instead of paying
them with money, do we pay them by putting up
with what annoys us about them. I hope this is
the answer. A bleaker side of me wants to blame
the fact that we can so easily hire emotional
support because our modern landscape has alien
ated us from the joys of community. It could be
true. Many people live states away from those
they are closest to. Most of us work and then
go directly home to dinner, television and bed.
Meeting new people is often a difficult task,
easier to avoid than manage, and on top of all of
that, everywhere looks the same.
But as I said, that's the bleaker side.
According to the women I met who are doulas,
they aren't doing it for the money. They are dou
las because they deeply care about women's birth
experiences, and because they understand that
they are part of a community. In fact, the doula
community in Athens is growing, as is interest
from parents-to-be. In my meetings with local
doulas. I was constantly impressed with their in
telligence, range of backgrounds and compassion.
So, I am going to take my cue from them and
think that instead of assuming that their services
are filling a void of emotion in society, they jre
in fact promoting what is already here.
Danielle Roderick
For more information: www athensbabysoace com has
info on Athens doulas and upcoming doula training.
For general info, www dona.org and wrw. cappa.net are
excellent resources of all things doula.
“Babie/ born with doula/ pre/ent
tend to have /horter ho/pitol
/toy/ with fewer odmi//ion/ to
/pedal core nur/erie/. brea/tfeed
more ea/ily ond have more
affectionate mother/ in the
po/tpartum period.”
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