Posts Tagged ‘Doula’
Belly Casting
August 13th, 2010 | 
Author: SHOP LINK: an Earth Babies product
This makes a lovely baby shower gift.
♥ this one from www.creative-baby-nursery-rooms.com
What is a belly cast?
A belly cast is a plaster of paris moulding of your pregnant belly. A 3d memory of how it was.
What comes in the kit:
Plaster of paris bandages, tub of Vaseline, Disposable gloves, Tealight candles and relaxing organic Tea (for the ambience) and instructions
How is it made:
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Doula – the labour companion FAQ’s
My role is not central to the birth but more as a background support to the key players so that they can each focus their energies where they are most needed at any given time.
1. What is a doula?
A doula is a trained, non-medical, birth support person (labour companion). Her function is to provide emotional and informed-choice support to the parents before, during and after the birth. The focus of the doula falls on the mother’s emotional and physical needs, wants and best interests. Her aim is to help the mother (as far as possible) achieve her ‘ideal birth’ as opposed to the ideas held by those present (doula included).
The doula’s support complements the medical care-giver and assists a birth partner in participating with confidence.
2. Why would you need a midwife/doctor and a doula?
says gail J Dahl. “Many women think their doctor will be there for them throughout labor only to discover it’s just them and their partner in the room for most of the time.”
Though a midwife’s approach is holistic care, their main function at a birth is as your medical caregiver and as such there is always a stage in a birth where their focus out of necessity becomes clinical in nature and the emotional needs of the mother become secondary. The doula’s function does not change – her focus remains the mother’s needs and through assisting the birth partner in how best to support the mother, allows the mother to focus on birthing her baby.
3. Does it really help having a doula?
It has been observed that the support of a doula has a positive impact on a woman’s ability to cope in labour as well as her feelings about the birth experience afterwards. Mothers with doula support are less inclined to feel overwhelmed and panicked. This reduces the requests for medicated pain relief, epidurals and the number of caesareans.
Results from 6 different studies of doula assisted births have been observed that due to better birthing positions and less stress hormones produced by calmer women in labour, there is a:
• 50% reduction in the caesarean rate
• 25% shorter labour (due to better birthing positions and less stress hormones produced by calmer women in labour)
• 60% reduction in epidural requests
• 40% reduction in oxytocin use
• 30% reduction in analgesia use
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery
Information was obtained from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993).
4. How do doulas practice?
In South Africa doulas practice privately and are hired by the birth parents.
Depending on how they structure their package and what extras are provided their costs range from R1500 to R3000 (this will invariably cover 1-2 visits prior to the birth, the birth itself, the settling period after the birth and 1-2 post natal visit).
5. Does a doula replace nursing staff?
No. As indicated the doula’s function is non-medical, though they do assist the staff in terms of taking care of the mothers needs as the doula’s presence at the birth is consistent throughout the birth and they only have one person to care for -whereas medical staff are not present the entire duration, their attention is shared by others on the ward and staff is subject to shift changes.
6. Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?
No – she purely carries out your wishes.
7. Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary?
No, as said she assists your birth partner in being actively and effectively involved, so on the contrary most birth partners feel that the doula made them feel more comfortable and attending the birth.
8. What do Doula’s do?
• A doula is the only carer who is with the mother consistently for the duration of labour, the birth and till everyone is settled and resting after the birth
• Gives both emotional and physical support and comfort in coping with each contraction through various means such as: words of encouragement, keeping those present quiet through the contractions, touch, massage, aromatherapy, counterpressure, movement, praise and reassurance.
• She guides on position changes, how to relax, prepares and guides the mother through the different phases of labour by keeping her informed of what is happening.
• The doula can assist and guide in the writing of a birth plan, explain procedures and help parents to make informed decisions and assist in realising the birth plan as far as possible – with this as a guide she acts as the voice for the parents with the medical staff and advocates their birth requirements.
• Doulas are informed on all phases of labour and birth and are able to prepare parents through explaining what to expect.
• Doulas assists the birth partner in how to be supportive to the mother and by taking care of more trivial things can free the partner up to concentrate on the birth mother (or by being there to support the mother can give the partner a breather).
• She is able to take pictures at the labour and birth (though it is not practical for the doula to be both the carer and the official photographer).
• The doula is trained to assist with post natal care for the mother and child and provide basic support in the successful initiation of breastfeeding.
9. What is most important to consider when choosing a doula?
Regardless of whether you’re choosing a doctor or midwife, you need to look at personality. “If you feel you’re not being respected by your caregiver, then that is not the caregiver for you,” says Gail L Dahl. “And you can switch to someone new right up to the time you give birth.”
You need to feel that she respects your wants and needs for the birth and does not try to instil her own on you. She is not your medical caregiver (you have chosen that person in the role of your obstetrician or midwife) and will not be attending the birth on her own or making medical decisions on your behalf– above all else you need to feel able to rely on her for support, so connecting with her as a person is important.
10. How can I find a doula in my area?
There are various listing services on the net.
DOSA www.doula.org.za
The Village www.doulas.co.za
Sacred Space www.doulatraining.co.za
WOMBS www.wombs.org.za
other posts on this topic
Birth Story Friday – Gabriel’s Birth – doula perspective
Women who birth
Birth Story Friday – Gabriel’s Birth – doula perspective
Was such an unbelievable experience, I had thought that as a doula I did not want to do births and only post-natal care but I think I may have found an addiction. WOW
Mom has been in pre-labour for over a week, I had been to see her in last week where she was convinced baby would come that night but I could see she was not actually in labour. Shame they did not know when she conceived so according to what they thought she went 17 days overdue but since baby, placenta etc was all strong and healthy they gave the benefit of the doubt to them being wrong about the dates. I could totally understand where she was in that you so desperately want the baby to be born that you are convinced labour has started even when it has not.
On Sunday early morning she gave me a call at about 2 am to say she was definitely in labour contractions being 4 minutes apart but she would let me know when I should come. The midwife had also let me know that if nothing happened they would have to induce Sunday 8.30am as the mom was getting very tired and worn down in the wait. So I headed over at about 7, she was very focused on having baby that day. Labour was still not really established, contractions had eased off again. Midwife did an internal and to the poor moms disappointment she had only dilated 1cm the whole week – she was now 4cm dilated and baby was not engaged against the cervix. She had thought she would be closer to 8 by then. She did not want to induce as she very much wanted a natural labour so the midwife agreed to allow till that afternoon. We stayed with her a while, encouraged her moving about, walking stairs etc to try get baby down ad advance the labour. I left at about 11 to give them (mom & dad) a chance to nap as they were both so tired after being up half the night (and many more before).
I headed back at 2 as the midwife was again going to consider applying gel to cervix. mom said her contractions were strong and regular.
We got her moving and walking again contractions were strong and regular so we didn’t think any intervention at the time was necessary. By 4 there was still no progress in terms of dilation but Mom though still strong was starting to physically tire so midwife gave her the options of gel on the cervix to help soften it or breaking her water which would mean baby would put more direct pressure on the cervix and the contractions would come on stronger – she opted for breaking of water. They did this at 4.30pm – she was by this time only 6cm .
She is such a strong woman her active labour lasted 4 long hours of really intense contractions we helped her through each one by applying counter pressure on her lower back. Her husband was fantastic, he was by her side the whole way encouraging her, applying pressure and helping soothe her.
She had only wanted to get into the water in the pushing stage but she started tiring and becoming overwhelmed by the contractions so we encouraged her in to labour there a while which gave immediate visible relief. At 8 the midwife again checked at moms request if baby was descending and was worried to see she was only 8cm dilated, her cervix had thinned on one side but the upper side was still thick – turned out baby had his head tilted slightly up – not tucked in chin to chest.
Midwives were starting to worry that they would need to transfer mom to the hospital so they decided to give it a last try to get baby to move so he could come out. Dad sent out an sms to their ‘prayer warriors’ to pray babies head down, midwives got mom to put one foot up on a low stool and do lunges which worked like a dream immediately mom could feel baby moving down she did this a few times and then we moved her back to the pool she had a few very intense contractions, midwife helped the lip of the cervix over babies head so he could move properly into the birthing canal, we encouraged mom to push with every contractions. She worked so hard to get her baby born, it was unbelievable witnessing her strength and faith at work in getting baby out.
At 8.50 after lots of hard, tiring and forceful pushing little Gabriel emerged. Beautiful, still with some vernix and quite tired. He lay quietly in mommy’s arms and mommy who just seconds before had looked exhausted and totally drained suddenly looked beautiful, totally illuminated, excited and full of energy. They stayed together for a short while but midwife could not leave baby too long as he was tired and they needed to check he was okay and get him warmed up (I don’t think mom minded so much as she was tired too and just wanted to finish up so she could climb in bed with her baby). Baby was wrapped up tight and given to Dad while mom birthed the placenta. They then went off to the room for the midwife to check on Mom and I got busy, tidying up their space to try return it to ‘pre birth’ state leaving them to spend their time together as a family without interruptions.
I made sure they were settled, had something to drink and then headed home at 10.30 – was a very long day but an unbelievable one.
don’t know baby’s details except that he weighed 3.88kg’s as I kept to the background once I was no longer needed. Name is Gabriel meaning God’s strength (which was her mantra through the labour). We knew ahead of time he was a little baby boy.
Personally the experience was empowering, it was like reliving Rafe’s birth and to actually witness that I DID that – I have new respect for myself.
Women who birth
“Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers…strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.” -Barbara Katz Rothman
The week-end past I attended a birth as a Doula and was once again in awe of women and nature and new life. I love having the opportunity to be present and help in the beauty of birth – not only the birth of a baby and new life but more so the birth of a mother and new love.
“We have a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful; it’s that women are strong.” -Laura Stavoe Harm
At a wedding, have you ever when the bride walks down the isle turned to look at the groom (it is the best part of a wedding, to see his sharp intake of breath, the wonder and love in his eyes). Well at a birth I do the same, my favourite part at a birth is not seeing that baby being birthed but looking up and watching the fathers wonder, respect, amazement and love for his wife at that very moment that their child enters the world … makes me cry every time.
The whole point of woman-centered birth is the knowledge that a woman is the birth power source. She may need, and deserve, help, but in essence, she always had, currently has, and will have the power. -Heather McCue
It does not matter how a woman looks after a birth they have a glow of achievement, self-respect and pride around them that they alone carried that beautiful child for 9 months and then brought them into the world safely and perfectly. Even exhausted and sore a new mother glows with that inner excitement at what they have achieved – they have done what no-one could do for them – birthed their child. Watching it I always get this warm self-wonder and think “I did THAT!”.
300,000 women will be giving birth with you today. Relax and breathe and do nothing else. Labor is hard work, it hurts and you can do it. – Unknown
When i decided to become a Doula my plan was to do post-natal assisting but not to attend births (I had not wanted to be at my own birth so could not imagine wanting to be at someone elses). To become a Doula though irrespective of how you want to focus your services, you have to attend 3 births – after my first birth my whole focus changed. I am meant to be a Doula, I love it and I am good at it.
Benefits of having a Doula at your Birth
beautifully explained by Mayan Healers Daughters of Ix Chel
* 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…
* A doula perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman’s memory of her birth experience.
