Doula
What is a Doula?
If you are pregnant or thinking about having a baby then you have probably heard the term doula. Maybe you have been wondering, “what exactly is a doula?” Well the medical defination of a doula is: a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and after childbirth. Although the medical defination of a doula summarizes it pretty well there are many other things to consider when thinking about a doula. A doula typically is someone you hire or if necessary you can use a close friend or family in place of a doula. Studies have shown that by having a doula a pregnant woman’s labor time and need for pain medication can be decreased.
As with midwives, interview a vareity of doulas to find the right match for you. In the process you will find that doulas may offer specialized services such as massage, yoga, acupunture, aromatherapy or photography. The best part is that you can personally tailor your birth to fit your vision. I encourage you to visualize your birth. How you see yourself progressing, where you will labor, who will be around you. Each birth is very different and you may not get to do all or even some of the visualization items, however, your body and brain will appreciate the practice!