Doulas are Laboring Angels

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Have you considered hiring a doula for added support during labor? Wouldn?t it be easier for a mother to have someone nurturing, guiding, suggesting and comforting you throughout the entire childbirth process? Doulas have your best interest at heart because they work for you not the hospital.

What are Doulas?

• Specially trained women helping women through childbirth.
• Offer a continual presence vs. the hospital staff coming and going.
• Provide pre-natal visits to go over birth plans and birth desires.
• Give suggestions to help facilitate labor progress.
• Massage, encourage and guide a woman throughout labor.
• They have a bag full of labor aids that help eliminate the discomforts during childbirth.

• Vaginal exams, or medical interventions.
• Deliveries
• Speak up for the woman; rather they encourage her to voice her wishes
• Take over Dad?s role

• The birth partner can participate at his own comfort level.
• When he wants to be the main partner, he has an assistant. He can go to the bathroom, eat or even sleep if he needs to without compromising the woman?s comfort.
• Women love when their partners are nurturing during labor. This is taught by the doula?s example. Bonus points for Dad.
• Doula?s can provide education and knowledge through out the labor, explaining procedures, etc. This can reduce Dad and Mom?s anxiety.

• 50% reduction in cesareans
• 25 % reduction in the length of labor
• 40% reduction in pitocin
• 60% reduction in the need for epidurals
• 30% more likely to be breastfeeding 6 weeks post-partum
• Less incidences of post-partum depression
• More bonding with the baby
• Women experience a more satisfying birth experience