Come join us at our next Meet the Doulas Night at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14th, at the Neill Public Library storytime room in Pullman. Find out more about what is is like to have a doula, get your questions answered, and get a feel for which doula is the best fit for you. See you there!
What is a doula?
The word "doula" is an ancient Greek word meaning "one who serves" or "servant woman." Today the word represents a professionally trained woman who is experienced in childbirth and provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother and her partner before, during and after childbirth.
A doula:
- Shares her knowledge of the physiology of pregnancy and birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
- Gets to know you prenatally helping you identify what is important to you about your birth.
- Attends your birth, day or night.
- Offers suggestions for coping with labor, and helps labor unfold as quickly and easily as possible.
- Works together with the mother's partner to provide support to the mother while suggesting ways the partner can help.
What are the benefits of having a doula?
Numerouse clinical studies show that doula support during birth can result in:
Research suggests that parents who receive support:
- 50% reduction incesarean section rate
- 25% decrease in the length of labor
- 30% reduction in the use of forceps
- 40% decrease in the use of pitocin
- 60% decrease in the use of epidual anesthesia
- 30% decrease in the use of narcotic pain medication
- Increase positive feelings about one's childbirth experience
Research suggests that parents who receive support:
- Feel more secure and cared for
- Are more successful adapting to new family dynamics
- Have greater success with breastfeeding
- Have greater self-confidence
- Have less postpartum depression
- Have lower incidence of abuse
