Showing posts with label DONA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DONA. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The Birth Doula's Contribution to Maternity Care
During World Doula Week, we are looking at ways a doula can make an impact in your birth. Did you know doulas provide individualized care based on YOUR situation and preferences?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Guest blog - what's a doula?
Wondering what a doula is? Check out this guest post Crysta did for the Natural Pregnancy Mentor...
“You’re a … what now?”
The massage therapist smiled sweetly.
“A birth doula. Basically we provide informational, emotional, and physical support to pregnant moms.”
She nodded.
Later when she walked me to the door after my massage and saw the magnet advertising my business on the side of my car, she asked again.
“So, you’re a … what was it again?”
I get this all the time. At a birth last spring, the father thought my business partner’s name was Doula. I am fairly certain my daughter’s fifth grade teacher thinks I am a midwife. And more than once I have been asked how my “doona thing” is going.
...read more on the blog.
“You’re a … what now?”
The massage therapist smiled sweetly.
“A birth doula. Basically we provide informational, emotional, and physical support to pregnant moms.”
She nodded.
Later when she walked me to the door after my massage and saw the magnet advertising my business on the side of my car, she asked again.
“So, you’re a … what was it again?”
I get this all the time. At a birth last spring, the father thought my business partner’s name was Doula. I am fairly certain my daughter’s fifth grade teacher thinks I am a midwife. And more than once I have been asked how my “doona thing” is going.
...read more on the blog.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
What is a doula?
What is a DOULA?
The Greek word doula means woman caregiver. We now use the word to describe a trained and experienced labor companion who provides the woman and her husband or partner continuous emotional support, physical comfort, and assistance in obtaining information before, during, and just after childbirth.
A postpartum doula provides care to a family with a newborn baby.
A birth doula…
…recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life…
…understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor…
…assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth…
…stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor…
…provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint, and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions…
…facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and clinical care providers…
…perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman’s memory of her birth experience.
The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition of their important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers and infants.
Source: DONA Birth Doula Workshop Manual/Introduction to Labor Support/What is a Doula/2008This is one of the handouts we like to give out at our first visit with new doula clients.
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