DOULA LOVE

12/27/09

Labor support doulas are trained and experienced labor support persons who attend to the emotional and physical comfort needs of laboring women to smooth the labor process. They do not perform clinical tasks such as heart rate checks, or vaginal exams but rather use massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, positioning suggestions, etc., to help labor progress as well as possible. A labor support doula joins a laboring woman either at her home or in hospital or birth center and remains with her until a few hours after the birth. In addition to emotional support, doulas work as advocates of their client’s wishes and may assist in communicating with medical staff to obtain information for the client to make informed decisions regarding medical procedures.

Most importantly a doula helps the family have the most enjoyable birth experience as they define it. This includes a woman desiring a completely natural home birth all the way to a repeat c-section.

Postpartum doulas are trained to offer families evidence-based information and support on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents. They may also help with light housework, fix a meal and help incorporate an older child into this new experience.

Postpartum doulas are great for families who are expecting multiples, adopting a new baby,  or have a baby with special needs.

Antepartum doulas are a newer kind of doula, specializing in supporting women going through a high-risk or difficult pregnancy. They support their clients in a number of ways. If a woman is on bed rest, an antepartum doula can help much like a postpartum doula helps a new mother – cooking meals, light housework, helping the mother organize things for the new baby, and, most importantly, providing emotional and informational support. http://www.doula.com/antepartum_doula.shtml

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia