| The word doula comes from ancient Greek and is now used to refer to a woman
who helps other women.
It has been applied to childbirth 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."
(Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth ) by Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus) |
Having a Doula at your birth means:
- lowering your chance of a c-section
- lowering your need for pain medication
- shortening labor by a couple of hours
- lessening the use of forceps/vacuum extraction
- more successful breastfeeding
- providing assurance that you will have a constant person by your side throughout your entire labor
WomenCare BirthCenter has a doula on staff, Debi Ellis, who also teaches our
childbirth classes. She is the longest practicing doula in the state of West Virginia and comes to you with over 1000 birth experiences.
A Doula:
- recognizes birth as a key life experience and understands both the
physiology of birth and the emotional needs of the woman in labor.
- assists you and your birth partner to prepare for and carry out your birth plans.
- stays beside you throughout your entire labor.
- provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, and an objective
view point and assistance to you in getting the information you need to make
good decisions during labor and birth.
- facilitates communication between you, your partner and your health care providers.
- perceives her role as one who nurtures the woman's memory of her birth
experience.
The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the
recognition of their important contribution to the improved physical
outcomes and emotional well being of mothers and infants.
If you would like to speak to Debi Ellis regarding her services, please contact her at:
(304) 757-4845 or Debi.Ellis@familycarewv.org
|
