| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1240.1 | Inquiring minds want to know | MPGS::WOOLNER | Your dinner is in the supermarket | Fri Jan 24 1997 11:27 | 4 |
| What is a Doula? (Not in my 230,000-entry dictionary)
Thanks,
Leslie
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| 1240.2 | Definition of a Doula | STOWOA::NAHABEDIAN | | Fri Jan 24 1997 11:55 | 12 |
| The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek and is now used to refer
to "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical,
emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and
just after childbirth".
Research studies have found that when doulas attend births, labors are
shorter, there are fewer complications, and there is less need for:
oxytocin to speed labor, for forceps and vacuum extractor deliveries,
or for pain medication, epidurals, or cesarian deliveries. Babies also
breastfeed more easily.
- Lauri
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| 1240.3 | | CSC32::M_EVANS | be the village | Fri Jan 24 1997 12:32 | 9 |
| good definition. My short answer would have been a doula is a super
coach and support person. they can take over on back rubs when your
partner is tired or absent, run interference, and help you remain calm
as they have been through this as well. My midwife does doula work, or
"labor sitting" as she calls it when people ask her to, as well as
homebirths for those who request it. However, she wouldn't do anyone
in NH much good being in CO.
meg
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| 1240.4 | Why not use a midwife? | BUSY::CSMITH | | Mon Feb 03 1997 13:12 | 25 |
| Although most midwives won't come to your house during labor, they will be with you
during the entire labor at the hospital as will the labor nurses. If you have a
supportive husband/significant other, you'll find this to be enough. You'll be
familiar with the person as well as trusting.
I'm about to have my 2nd child with the same midwives, and I can't tell you what a
wonderful experience it is. They really take the time to prepare you for the birth
and assist you through the delivery. Had I not had a midwife for my 1st, I'm sure
I would have ended up with a C-section or at least an episiotomy (sp?). I think the
advantage of a midwife is that she is medically trained to deliver the baby
and will recognize potential risk that warrants a doctors back-up.
A Doula would be great afterward if you don't have anyone else to help out, otherwise
I would save my money and rely on family and friends.
I used the certified midwives affiliated with Worcester Memorial, but I believe both
Framingham and Newton Wellsley also have Mid-wives. Call the hospital and the
physician referral service or even the child birth class instructors will know who they are!
Most HMO's will cover 100% of a midwife's fee but double check. Sometimes, the affiliated
Dr. is who the referral needs to go to.
Good luck
Send me mail if you have any questions about the Midwives!
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| 1240.5 | Next time midwife | STOWOA::NAHABEDIAN | | Tue Feb 04 1997 09:53 | 11 |
| Well, I'm 2.5 weeks away from my due date and early on had decided to
go with an OB (lots of complications for the first 17 weeks) and silly
me didn't know much about midwives then.
If I had to do it over again I would definitely have gone with a midwife.
Live and learn. So, in lieu of that I've decided to have a doula
attend.
Next time I will definitely go the midwife route.
- Lauri
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