6 benefits to hiring a doula for your birth

Recent studies have shown that a doula’s encouragement, reassurance, practical knowledge of comfort measures, and labor enhancing techniques can help with pain and anxiety for the laboring mother. This also can decrease the length of labor. he hormone oxytocin is released in large amounts during labor, causing the uterus to contract regularly, which is why the name was derived from the Greek word for “quick birth.” Oxytocin has also been shown to increase trust and reduce fear, a happy result for fearful mothers-to-be.The secretion of oxytocin, however, is repressed by catecholamines, or the fight-or-flight hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine. Catecholamine levels can rise when a woman feels frightened, andlabor can be suppressed. When a woman is full of anxiety and fear about her birth, she may be holding back from letting those feelings go, and ultimately birthing her baby. When a doula is present, she can help the laboring mother release those feelings and literally open up her body to deliver.Pitocin is a synthetic form oxytocin. It is used as a labor induction method. Oxytocin is the "love" hormone in the body that is released during sexual activity, but it also causes contractions during labor. When a baby is born, there is a heightened level of oxytocin in both the mother and baby to allow for the very first moments of bonding. When Pitocin is used, contractions are not authentic, causing more painful, sharp contractions than if labor started on its own. When labor is induced, there is a of premature birth, as it's always safest to believe that baby knows when to come, as long as a mother does not go beyond 43 weeks gestation, when risk of still birth is heightened. With a hired doula, an expectant mother can learn about natural ways to augment labor or to educate her to wait until the baby is ready to come and labor begins on its own.Epidurals are a an anesthetic that block all feeling from the abdomen down through the rest of the body. Epidurals significantly interfere with some of the major hormones of labor and birth, which may explain their negative effect on the processes of labor, greatly increasing the length of labor. Long labors tend to lead to cesarean sections. With a doula, however, 60% of women in American hospitals are less likely to ask for and receive an epidural, mainly because doulas offer other pain relieving methods, such as massage, breathing techniques and acupuncture.Epidurals, along with slowing labor, also lower blood pressure, increasing the risk for fetal distress. View the list »
Birth art showing two women (doulas) helping a mother during labor

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The word doula comes from the Greek word meaning “woman of service", and back when the term was created, it was used to identify the favorite female helper in the household.

Throughout time, birth has been attended by sympathetic women, a midwife, friend, or mother, or more commonly, all of the above.

In modern times, a doula is the term used to describe a labor support woman who helps a mother during labor with relaxation and pain relief, and also helps coach her partner in how to help during contractions. Birth doulas help educate and support women and their partners throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

The many benefits of hiring a certified doula are recognized by the World Health Organization and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

A certified doula’s skills include birth plan preparation, pain relief techniques, labor massage, relaxation techniques, effective positioning for labor and birth, acupressure points, optimal fetal positioning, visualization techniques, hydrotherapy, hospital advocacy, breastfeeding support, and much more.

Research conducted by Klaus, Kennell, & Klaus (1993, 2002) shows that a doula’s presence during labor and birth results in the following positive outcomes:

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  • Epidurals are a an anesthetic that block all feeling from the abdomen down through the rest of the body. Epidurals significantly interfere with some of the major hormones of labor and birth, which may explain their negative effect on the processes of labor, greatly increasing the length of labor. Long labors tend to lead to cesarean sections. With a doula, however, 60% of women in American hospitals are less likely to ask for and receive an epidural, mainly because doulas offer other pain relieving methods, such as massage, breathing techniques and acupuncture.Epidurals, along with slowing labor, also lower blood pressure, increasing the risk for fetal distress. 
  • Pitocin is a synthetic form oxytocin. It is used as a labor induction method. Oxytocin is the "love" hormone in the body that is released during sexual activity, but it also causes contractions during labor. When a baby is born, there is a heightened level of oxytocin in both the mother and baby to allow for the very first moments of bonding. When Pitocin is used, contractions are not authentic, causing more painful, sharp contractions than if labor started on its own. When labor is induced, there is a of premature birth, as it's always safest to believe that baby knows when to come, as long as a mother does not go beyond 43 weeks gestation, when risk of still birth is heightened. With a hired doula, an expectant mother can learn about natural ways to augment labor or to educate her to wait until the baby is ready to come and labor begins on its own.
  • Recent studies have shown that a doula’s encouragement, reassurance, practical knowledge of comfort measures, and labor enhancing techniques can help with pain and anxiety for the laboring mother. This also can decrease the length of labor. he hormone oxytocin is released in large amounts during labor, causing the uterus to contract regularly, which is why the name was derived from the Greek word for “quick birth.” Oxytocin has also been shown to increase trust and reduce fear, a happy result for fearful mothers-to-be.The secretion of oxytocin, however, is repressed by catecholamines, or the fight-or-flight hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine. Catecholamine levels can rise when a woman feels frightened, andlabor can be suppressed. When a woman is full of anxiety and fear about her birth, she may be holding back from letting those feelings go, and ultimately birthing her baby. When a doula is present, she can help the laboring mother release those feelings and literally open up her body to deliver.
  • Although epidural has already been mentioned, other pain relief options can be offered to women during labor, including morphine and nubaine. These drugs all have negative side effects to both mother and baby, including low blood pressure, a drop in heart rate, and distress. These all risk other interventions coming into play, such as assisted birth with forceps, vacuum or cesarean section.In 2003 the prestigious international Cochrane Collaboration review of 15 randomized studies that met their research criteria stated: "Given the clear benefits and no known risks associated with support, every effort should be made to ensure that all laboring women receive continuous support. This support should include continuous presence, the provision of hands on comfort and encouragement."Doulas offer different forms of pain relief that do not include medicine. If labor is getting tiresome, she may offer an oxygen mask to help you with energy and breathing. Birth balls, acupressure and massage are all part of a doulas job to keep a woman comfortable during labor.
  • In a forceps delivery, a health care provider applies forceps — an instrument shaped like a pair of large spoons or salad tongs — to the baby's head to help guide the baby out of the birth canal. This is typically done during a contraction while the mother pushes.A forceps delivery poses a risk of injury for both mother and baby. If a forceps delivery fails, a cesarean delivery (C-section) might be needed.However, a doula can provide different ways to position the mother so the baby can easily move in the direction it need to come out of the birth canal safely. 
  • Although doulas are trained in support during a c-section, they are a hidden gem for helping to reduce the risk of a cesarean delivery. No one will argue that c-sections can be lifesaving under certain circumstances.  Placental separation, placenta previa, cord prolapse, and certain abnormal presentations of the baby might cause injury or death to mother and child if it were not for the ability to deliver a baby by cesarean.  I am thankful we have the ability to perform this surgery in a very safe manner.  However, the majority of c-sections are not done for emergent, life-saving reasons. However, doulas can help you prevent unnecessary cesareans by laboring at home with you and providing support as long as possible before its time to head to the hospital. A general rule of thumb is to head to the hospital after contractions come every 5 minutes for an hour, and continue to longer and stronger.A woman who is familiar with the process of a normal birth will be invaluable to you in helping you know when it is time to got to the hospital.  She can reassure you that what you are feeling is normal, that you can do it, and that you are stronger than you think. 
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, Pregnancy Examiner

Emily Sutherlin is a childbirth educator, birth and postpartum doula and lactation consult. Her passion in life to empower women and parents-to-be with the encouragement they need to have the best birth experience possible and the information to raise their children based on their personal...

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