Doulas - your perfect labour companion?One of the maddening things about birth is its unpredictability. In
the face of such uncertainty more and more women are turning to doulas,
a sort of private birth coach. Steph Neuman takes a look at this
growing army of women, mums themselves, who can bring comfort, reassurance
and a sense of security to your labour and delivery. The end result, say
many studies, will be a quicker, less painful and more natural birth.
What is a doula?According to the International Childbirth Education Association, a doula's job is to accompany a women in labour and assist her in having a safe and satisfying birth , you can also hire her to be there during the early weeks with your new baby. She is usually a mother herself, can be any age as Jean Birtles, Director of the British Doula Association, says 'We have women on our books in their early 20s up to those in their 60s or 70s'. While any woman can act as a doula, Birtles believes that you should not hire one unless she is trained, she says 'doulas are dealing with vulnerable mothers and newborn babies and you should always ask if they are qualified'. So, should I hire one?With the controversy over caesareans raging and the belief that mums-to-be need more support and information to deliver naturally, perhaps more of us should be employing doulas. Studies show these labour coaches are responsible for better birth outcomes. One American study (published in the Journal of Birth in 1999) found that they:
As the demands on a midwifery unit and the staff often mean it's extremely unlikely a midwife can be totally and continuously available to any one mum throughout her labour, a doula begins to sound like a very good idea. Irene Hand certainly puts her 'fantastic' birth down to her doulas who were inadvertently present at the birth of her son when her husband was unable to return from abroad. She was so struck by her experience that she has gone on to train as a doula herself. Dads and doulasWhy hire a doula when your partner can be there for free? As the authors of The Doula Book point out, no matter how much experience of birth a father may have, he cannot remain emotionally distanced enough to meet both his own and your needs. She is not meant to diminish the father's role but to enhance it. Having a doula can take the pressure off your partner allowing him to relax and enjoy the experience. She is often able to guide him in helping with pain management techniques. For those dads who'd rather not witness the birth, hiring a doula is the perfect way to get him off the hook! Hiring a doulaFor a mother-doula relationship to be successful you need to feel comfortable and happy in her company then ensure your compatibility by asking her views on childbirth and looking after babies. The British Doula association recommends you ask the following questions: 1. What did you learn from your own experience of giving birth? What
advice would you give me to help with it? Doulas can work full or part time depending on your needs. Some mothers only want one for the birth itself whilst others want one for months. Doulas typically earn around £10-£12 an hour with a flat fee of £250-£400 for attending a birth. To find a trained doula ask your midwife or contact an agency (see below). Where to next?
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