04/22/2022
This is beautiful explanation of when a couple may hire a doula, how a doula can help before, during and after labor.
When considering options for pain relief, donât overlook the important services that a birth doula can provide. Unlike the nursing staff, who must concentrate on completing clinical tasks while providing care, a doula can focus solely on you and your partner, making sure youâre both coping well. She knows all the comfort measures and when to use them. From her meetings with you before the birth, sheâll know your birth plan, your pain medication preferences, your likes and dislikes, and your hopes for birth. Sheâll know what to say and do to comfort and encourage youâand what not to say and do.
Women hire doulas for many reasons. One woman without a partner hired a doula to be her primary support person. Another woman hired a doula because her own mother couldnât attend the birth and she wanted a mother figure with her during laborâsomeone who had given birth and had supported many women through labor. Another wanted someone to help her and her partner with comfort measures so she was less likely to use pain medications.
One had a lot of fear and anxiety, partially because of a history of sexual abuse, and knew she needed more emotional support than the nursing staff could provide.
Some couples hire a doula just as much for the partner as for the laboring woman, especially if the partner isnât completely comfortable with the demands of labor support and needs a guide or helper, or wants someone else to take over the role of primary support person.
A doula can provide backup support if the partner has a medical condition, becomes queasy at the sight of blood, has physical limitations, or simply wants to avoid the pressure of having to learn and remember all the comfort measures.
One woman said, âWe want our doula to be the brain, so my partner can stop thinking and problem-solving and focus on emotional support.â A doula can also do any necessary tasks, allowing the partner to focus on providing primary support. For example, the doula can run errands and fetch food, beverages, and comfort items such as ice packs. She can take photos. She can report progress and developments to the coupleâs friends and family. She can massage the womanâs back while her partner helps her maintain a rhythm. She can continue support so the partner can eat, get some air, or take a much-needed nap.
Doulas might not be available in every area, and not all birthplaces welcome doulas. If a doula isnât available or allowed (or you donât want one), trusted relatives or friends can do many of the things a doula can do, especially if they attend childbirth classes with you and your partner.
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