Especially if you are having a medical birth, hiring a doula can be the easiest thing you can do to positively affect your labour and birth.  Many women don't know what doulas do, so here's an excerpt from Getting Ready for Baby to help get you started...

Doulas are women (angels, really) who are comfortable with birth and physically comfort both the labouring woman and her partner during this time of intense emotional stress and physical strength. Doulas are there for you throughout your entire labour and birth. They come to your home early in your labour (or later, if that is your preference) and they help you decide when is the best time to go to the hospital, if you are planning to have a medical birth. If you are having a midwifery birth at a hospital, your midwife will come to your home when you are in active labour and will know when is the best time to leave.

The presence of a doula at your birth is proven to make a significant difference in your birthing experience.  Hiring a birth doula is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help you achieve:

• A shorter labour and birth.
• Reduced need for pain medication.
• Fewer Caesarean births.
• Less frequent use of oxytocin (a drug used to speed up labour).
• Less frequent use of forceps.
• Fewer complications.
• Greater success with breastfeeding and breastfeeding for a longer time after birth.
• Greater satisfaction with your birth.

Without doubt, your birth experience will be better because of a doula. Doulas provide physical and emotional reassurance as you labour along and they include your partner and help him (or her) to help you. Doulas provide comfort measures such as touch, gentle massage, movement, warm showers, baths and much more. Many doulas will take pictures for you and write a birth story, if you’d like them to.

For more complete information about the positive effects of doulas on labour and birth, The Doula Advantage by Rachel Gurevich or The Doula Book by Marshall Klaus, John Kennell and Phyllis Klaus are absolute must reads. To find a doula in your area, please refer to www.dona.org. You may need to interview many to find the one who will be your best fit.

Getting Ready for Baby is Dr. Melanie's latest book, designed to help pregnant moms organize theirselves and their homes for life with baby.  For more information click here.

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