Dr. Shoshana C. Kesner PhD, DHM, BSN, Doula (Israel & America)

Throughout human history, women have attended and assisted other women during childbirth. Drawings, paintings, and sculptures from different cultures and different historical periods show women in labor supported by other women. While doulas are considered a new addition to the maternity care team, doulas are actually recreating an ancient practice in a modern context.

A birth Doula is a woman who provides emotional support, suggests comfort measures, and facilitates communication for women in childbirth. Birth doulas are trained and experienced in recognizing the special emotional, psychological and physical needs of women during childbearing. Mounting evidence suggests that having a woman present whose sole function is to provide emotional support and reassurance to the laboring woman has benefits for mothers, babies, and families.

Controlled studies have demonstrated that having a Doula present reduces the rate of interventions during labor, improves outcomes for the newborn, improves the bonding of mother and baby, and helps partners participate more fully in the labor and birth experience. For example, different studies have shown that having a trained Doula present can reduce the need for an epidural (49.5%, Kennell ’91), lower the rate of Cesarean birth by 9.8% (Kennell’93 & ’94), reduce newborn stays in NICU (9%, Kennell ’93 & ’94), and improve mother’s satisfaction with the birth experience as well as her self image (Gordon ’98).*

Women in labor have special emotional needs that, until recently, were not recognized by the medical establishment. In today’s obstetric practices, these needs are not usually met by doctors, midwives, or nurses, who, because of their commitments to the health of both mother and baby, have other important duties during labor and birth. A birth Doula helps meet a mother’s emotional and psychological needs by providing her with reassurance, comfort measures, and information. The Doula also helps the mother’s partner to meet these needs. Our culture does not provide many opportunities to understand and appreciate the awesome power of childbirth, having a Doula present during labor and birth can help parents appreciate the experience and give them the confidence to face the challenges of parenthood. A doula’s support can help the mother have a safe and healthy birth experience that is meaningful and satisfying to her and her partner.

The doula’s role often begins before labor starts by providing the mother with information about the process of labor and birth, comfort measures and techniques for coping with each of the stages of labor, and information about her options based on her preferences and what is available in the community. The Doula can also help the woman (and her partner, if applicable) to create a birth plan that fits her needs.

During labor, the Doula provides continuous support in the form of encouragement; reassurance, physical comfort measures, and information to help the woman (and her partner, if applicable) make decisions about her care. A Doula does not provide any clinical care (such as vaginal exams), make any diagnoses (such as interpreting fetal heart tones) or speak to the clinical staff on the woman’s behalf.

After the birth, a Doula will stay with the woman and newborn to help establish breastfeeding (if that is desired) and to ensure the new family is comfortably resting. During the first few weeks after the birth, the Doula will meet with the family to process the birth, answer any questions about the birth and/or the newborn, and to give the mother (and her partner, if applicable) an opportunity to evaluate the doula’s services.

The word Doula is a new to modern obstetric practice, however the concept is ancient. Given the numerous benefits of having a Doula, every effort should be made to ensure that doulas become standard care for all laboring women.

Call to Make an Appointment  at :  054-234-2367 Or e-mail Me at :  shoshana@drskesner.com

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