Prenatally:
In Labor:
After birth:
 | determine what options are available to her and what the right choices are for this mom | |
| explain any tests or procedures being suggested by the doctor, and explore alternatives | |
| if the mom wants to | ||
| determine the type of care the mom is looking for and help her decide if she has a | |
| caregiver appropriate for her needs | ||
| discuss any fears or concerns about birth and parenting | |
| explain hospital procedures, what is "optional" and what is deemed to be "policy" | |
| help the mom identify what sort of support she wants | |
| prepare a birth plan together | |
| help the mom to formulate questions to ask her caregiver if she wants to discuss any | |
| issues | ||
| help the mom understand where she needs to consider options e.g.what happens if her | |
| doctor is not on call? | ||
| look at ways that she can improve her health if she has any issues with illness or diet | |
| and help support her through that | ||
| provide her with a sense of normality and faith that her body is growing her baby | |
| beautifully | ||
| answer questions and provide reassurance to partners | |
| if this is a second or subsequent baby, debrief through previous births to better | |
| understand what happened during them and which aspects mom and dad want to have the same and which they want to have different, then identify what steps they can take to change them this birth | ||
| explain the potential risks with an epidural and how to minimize these as much as | |
| possible (same with any other intervention such as induction, cesarean etc) |
In Labor:
| come to the mom's home and support her in early labor | |
| answer any questions about what is happening at different stages of labor | |
| accompany her to the hospital and help her through the registration process | |
| provide company for the mom so her partner can leave if he needs a break or rest | |
| run for drinks and snacks for the mother and the partner | |
| take notes of the labor and birth, providing the mother with a written record/memory | |
| support her through labor until she reaches active labor, as it reduces the risks to mom | |
| and baby if she has the epidural after 4cm dilated | ||
| support her and help her manage her labor while she is waiting for the anesthetist in | |
| case she has to wait e.g.he is not in the hospital or is busy in surgery. | ||
| support her if the epidural does not work e.g.only works on one side or is patchy, or | |
| needs to be reinserted | ||
| support her if she wants to have the epidural turned down for second stage to reduce | |
| the risks to her and the baby and provide comfort measures as feeling begins to come back again | ||
| physically support her if she wants to be able to move around | |
| massage her, particularly her feet and legs, if she has uncontrollable shaking (common | |
| with an epidural) | ||
| comfort, reassure, and support if mother's blood pressure drops (common with an | |
| epidural) and she needs oxygen | ||
| take photographs of the labor and birth | |
| discuss alternatives if her labor slows (common with an epidural) and the staff are | |
| suggesting intervention to speed it up |
After birth:
| help with breastfeeding | |
| make sure the mother and partner get something to eat | |
| help mother shower and get settled into a clean bed | |
| talk through the birth together and answer any questions mom has about how it went | |
| provide emotional support if mom is finding it difficult to cope or is overwhelmed by | |
| having a new baby |
Interventions may be chosen because a woman wants them, or because medical needs show that they are warranted. Having interventions does not make a woman less of a mother or a weak person. Having a drug free birth does not show that a woman is stronger or braver. Whether a woman chooses an epidural, or she chooses a drug free birth, it is paramount that the choices she makes be hers alone. This is her birth, and the choices belongs to her. She needs information, understanding and support. There is no place for coercion by family, friends or other caregivers. To impose a set of random protocols on her that limit her choices, prevent her from being fully informed, do not benefit her and her baby, and remove the control of her determining her own birth, is unjustifiable in a world where we value the right to autonomy and freedom of choice. |
I'm considering an epidural, should I have a doula?
| A doula does so much more than just help with pain relief. If you choose an epidural, your doula's role only changes slightly. Examples of how a doula supports the mother who chooses pain medication. |
Disclaimer
The information contained on this website is of a general nature and is designed for educational
purposes only. The information is not meant to replace the recommendations or advice of your
midwife or doctor. Please consult your midwife or doctor regarding your health care.
The information contained on this website is of a general nature and is designed for educational
purposes only. The information is not meant to replace the recommendations or advice of your
midwife or doctor. Please consult your midwife or doctor regarding your health care.
| I deem every woman's birth experience invaluable; therefore I feel services should be obtainable by all women desiring a doula's support. If you are concerned about affording my services, adjustments are available to lower income families based on a sliding scale. |
Mother's Advocate Doula Services
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Mary E. Smits, CD, CBE, (CBI)
Certified Doula and Childbirth Educator, Childbirth International
Certified Doula and Childbirth Educator, Childbirth International
