Why every laboring mother needs a birth doula

It is well known that a natural birth is healthiest for mothers and babies.  Instead of having faith in this normal and healthy process, we live in a culture of fear surrounding childbirth.  A first time mom will watch birth stories on TV with screaming mothers tearing their hair out and yelling at their husbands.  Every woman who has the baby bump will hear unsolicited stories from strangers at the supermarket explaining how awful the pain was for them. Hollywood doesn't help much as most labors are depicted with busy nurses, hyperventilating moms and frantic doctors all just waiting for something bad to happen.

However, despite the fear of imminent catastrophe and the easy availability of pain medication in birth, there are still pockets of women who trust their bodies' ability to birth rather than fear the pain it involves.  These are the natural parenting women that want the unmedicated, normal experience for themselves, their partner and their child. 

Labor pain is useful and necessary in the natural birthing process, but it can easily make a mother disoriented, unfocused and frightened.  It can also make them lose confidence in the process.  In those vulnerable moments when a mom needs support and encouragement only to find someone offering pain medication, she is likely to give up on her goal of a natural birth. 

This is where a doula comes in.  She is a trained professional and she recognizes those vulnerable moments.  She is there to help fill the gap of support and reassurance so the mother can fulfill her dream of having a natural birth.  She will offer encouragement, massage, pain relief techniques, possibly aromatherapy, hot compresses, a hand to squeeze and suggestions on different laboring positions to aid in comfort.  If the woman needs to be left alone, the doula will recognize that and respect it, patiently waiting for when she is needed again.  She will follow the woman's birth plan (if the mother has one) and respect her wishes.     

Where does a husband fit into all of this?  It is not the doula's job or desire to take over the husband's critical role as coach.  The doula and husband often work as a team to assist the laboring mother.  A doula can also provide a more active role in labor for the father that is a little squeamish of the process and unsure of his abilities.  When the father to be needs a break but mom needs continuous support, the doula can remain with the woman so dad can have a break.  The doula will take some of the pressure off dad so he can save some of his energy or relax. 

What about the hospital staff?  New mothers who choose to have a hospital birth are usually disappointed to learn that the nurses they see in labor only make occasional visits to check for progress.  Labor and delivery nurses are not able to assist mothers through each contraction, read their emotional signs, or continuously offer support at the right moment when mom needs it.  They are busy with several mothers to monitor at any given time. 

A doula provides continuous support for the laboring woman and her partner all the way through labor and birth.  Research shows that continuous support for the woman in labor results in: shorter labors, greater satisfaction surrounding the birth experience, reduced need for obstetric interventions (pitocin, forceps, episiotomy, vacuum extraction, etc) and less incidence of epidural or other pain relief.  Women who have continuous support also have less incidence of post pardum depression, greater success breastfeeding and a greater self confidence.  The services for a doula range anywhere from $250-$550.

To find a doula in Colorado Springs, you can visit Colorado Doulas.  For more information on the doula practice, certification process doulas go through, research and testimonials, visit DONA International.

Having a baby is a life changing experience.  Doulas know the empowerment that comes to women who choose a natural birth, and they genuinely want that for all mothers.  They will help insure that the mother and her partner have a powerfully positive birth experience that they will treasure for their entire life.