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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 women experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth." (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus, in Mothering the Mother) |
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
WomenCare BirthCenter has a doula on staff, Debi Ellis, who also teaches our childbirth classes. In addition, WomenCare has sponsored and coordinated regular local CAPPA approved doula training workshops for aspiring doulas.
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.
Preventative Care for Women | Gynecologic Care | Obstetric Care | Midwifery Care | Birth Center
Doula Program | Childbirth Classes | Newest Arrivals
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FamilyCare HealthCenter
1701 Fifth Avenue, Box 5, Charleston, WV 25312
830 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 402, Charleston, WV 25302
4408 MacCorkle Avenue, SE, Charleston, WV 25304
116 Hills Plaza, Charleston, WV 25312
515 Main Street, Madison, WV 25130
301-6 Great Teays Boulevard, Scott Depot, WV 25560
phone: (304) 757-6999 FAX: (304) 757-3252
phone: (304) 414-4499 FAX: (304) 414-4498
phone: (304) 343-4177 FAX: (304) 343-5271
phone: (304) 925-1218 FAX: (304) 925-6230
phone: (304) 720-4466 FAX: (304) 720-4810
phone: (304) 369-0393 FAX: (304) 369-0371