12/22/08

Madison, Wisconsin February 27, 2006

Are you considering working with Wendy?           

We can't say enough good things about Wendy Scharp, Our Doula! Wendy approached us at our Birthing Preparation class at St. Mary's Hospital and we feel so fortunate that she did. She is big on generosity and love. She showered both upon us as we prepared our first child's labor and delivery.

I was very, very anxious about the birth process. Wendy's experience, combined with her unfailing support, and positive outlook infused me with the confidence I needed to plan and labor through a natural birth. She helped make our baby's birth an immensely positive and joyful event.

She went out of her way to meet with us many times before our due date to answer any questions we had. She reviewed laboring positions, pushing techniques, and things to include in our birth plan. Wendy provided us with resources on topics , such as perineum massage. She prepared a binder full of useful information on these subjects and more. Once we had our baby, we had questions early on about breastfeeding. Wendy lent us a book that answered many of our questions. In those first hazy weeks, that resource was essential.

On our baby's birth day, Wendy met us very early in the morning at the hospital. She kindly carried our many, many bags from the car up to our room. She and my husband coached me through a breathing pattern I do not think I could do right now. Having her there allowed my husband to maintain the level of presence and companionship he wanted to throughout my labor. Wendy kept us all hydrated by making multiple runs to the kitchen to get fluids for everyone and reminded everyone to drink. She repeatedly brought apple juice and popsicles to my lips so that i could sip and keep up my strength. And when the nurse announced that the room was messy and needed to be cleaned up(!). Wendy stepped up to the plate.

When I finally got to hold our baby in my arms, she shared our joy and amazement with us. Wendy took pictures that I will treasure for the rest of my days. If you are fortunate enough to have crossed Wendy's path, Then grab hold and allow her to comfort, coach, counsel, and accompany you through some of the best days of your life.

Anne & Doug

Sebastien's Mommy & Daddy

Thank you very, very much! I do not know what I had done without you! You are a wonderful doula and I am absolutely positive that you will make an excellent mid-wife. Catrin ,April 06' Madison,WI

Best friends at birth

The process of giving birth often can be one of the most difficult and stressful events of a woman's life. Wendy Scharp, a certified calm birth instructor and doula at Ashland Community Hospital, would like women and society at large to remember that child-bearing is an "empowering rite of passage" that can, according to Scharp, define motherhood for many.

The most common type of doula is a labor-support doula, whose job it is to guide women through the birth experience and act as a grandmother-for-hire. Essentially, a labor-support doula provides for the needs, physical or emotional, of the mother in order to create a smoother labor process.

Labor-support doulas will often meet with their clients in advance of the birth in order to get a deeper understanding of the type of person each mother-to-be is, so as to provide more specific support for the mother. In fact, doulas not only enhance the experience of the birthing woman, but her partner and family, as well.

"I've been hired specifically for the dad," Scharp said. "My job was to make sure that the father ate, drank and rested when he needed and that, when he was participating in the breathing patterns with the mother, he didn't hyperventilate."

Because having a doula participate in birthing has shown to reduce Cesarean rates, epidural requests, labor times and rates of post-partum depression, many hospitals in the United States have instituted a doula program. Of all the hospitals in the country that have such a program, ACH is one of the few that pays for their services.

A postpartum doula is another type of doula, one that is trained to offer help and guidance for parents after the child has been born. This type of doula could do anything from laundry and cooking to advice on breastfeeding and calming the infant. Postpartum doulas aid in emotional and physical recovery processes.

Confusing doulas with midwives is a common misunderstanding, according to Scharp.

"A doula does nothing medical," she said. "A midwife provides the same sort of care that an obstetrician or family practice doctor does. A doula focuses more on the informational and physical support. We connect with moms in a different way than their care providers; for example, we learn how a mother normally deals with stress and can assume that it will be similar to the way that she deals with the stress of labor. If a mother holds stress in her shoulders, I'm going to pay attention to that when she goes into labor and perhaps massage her shoulders to help her relax."

In addition to being a lactation specialist, teaching classes on birthing at the hospital and participating in more than 21 births, Scharp helped establish the Southern Oregon Birth Network, a support group for doulas.

She believes that creating a solid network of doulas and, thereby inducing a cultural shift toward a positive birth experience, is important work, not only for the birthing mothers but for the community as a whole.

"Having a child is one of the most amazing things that two people can do together," Scharp said. "When you're completely supported and have a satisfying birth experience, you have an easier time connecting and bonding with the child and, as a result, become better parents."