According to DONA International:
“The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period”
http://www.dona.org/mothers/index.php
I tell my mother’s on the big day, “I’m your servant today. Your wish is my command!”
But really, what does all that mean?
It means I will be with you during the process of labor and delivery, through the fun parts, the hard parts, and the beautiful moments of becoming a mother. If you need help with back labor, I can apply pressure to various areas to help relieve the pain. If you just want someone to hold your hand, I will hold your hand. If you want someone to tell everyone to get out of the room and never come back, I will tell them you need some time to yourself and politely ask them to leave for a while. If you are thirsty, I will get ice chips for you. If you are dad and are not sure what is happening and are not sure what is going on, I will reassure you and help you understand as much as I can. If you are scared, I will answer your questions to the best of my ability and encourage you to relax. If you know there are certain things you do not want to have happen during your birth, I will do my best to remind you of your plan and the reasons you chose to make the decisions. And if you decide you want to alter your birth plan, I will support you and the new decisions you have made.
Does this make a difference? Does having someone who is on your side and working for you make any difference at all?
A woman who has a Doula with her tends to have a shorter labor and more success with breast feeding according to DONA and other research available.
I did not have the luxury of having a Doula when I gave birth. I wish I had known about them when I was pregnant. When I gave birth to my second child there was a nurse who did function almost as a doula and she was the biggest help to me. She did not make my husband feel useless, but helped him understand better what was going on with the situation since things were not going at all like my first birth. This in turn helped me.
Being a Doula has given me such a different outlook on life and has really changed my perspective. When I attend a birth I am witnessing the creation of a family. I love the expressions on the faces of mom’s and dad’s when they meet their baby for the first time. It is a glorious and wonderful thing. I am granted such a privilege when they allow me to assist them in any way possible.
