Need a Doula in San Antonio?

What is a doula’s role?

1.    A doula’s main role is to help her client have (as much as possible) the kind of birth she desires.
2.    A doula does not take over the role of the birth partner (usually the husband), but supports them both in whatever ways they need.
3.    A doula can give the partner a break if necessary.
4.    A doula helps the couple to apply what they have learned in childbirth classes.
5.    A doula helps with suggesting many different comfort measures during labor.
6.    A doula will advocate between the client and caregiver to help her to have the kind of birth she desires.  A doula will NOT make decisions for the client, but rather make sure they are informed of their options.
7.    A doula will encourage the client to help her reach her goals of a natural birth (if that is the goal).
8.    A doula will explain the stages of labor, help the client understand the various options she has in a difficult situation, and support her completely in whatever she ultimately chooses.
9.    A doula will be constantly present for support, not coming and going like many other caregivers do.

Author: Brenda Minica, CD (CBI) – All Rights Reserved

*Printed with permission from Birthing with Guinever. This is an awesome site with several great articles about pregnancy and birth.

So you’re pregnant, and you think you might want to have a natural birth. Having had 5 natural births myself, I’d like to offer what I feel are a few of the most important things to do in order to achieve a drug-free birth.

1. Going natural is a mindset. Make the commitment during pregnancy that drugs are not an option for labor. Believe that you can do it, and you will. If you have the feeling that you’d like to try it to see how it goes, but you’re open to getting an epidural, I guarantee you that you will have the epidural. Labor is hard work and to get through it, you can’t be wishy washy going into it. One medical intervention leads to another.

2. Surround yourself with friends and family who believe that you can have a natural birth, who assume that you can do it. Tune out the negative birth stories that some girlfriends might tell you about how awful labor was until the epidural took effect. Instead, seek out labor stories from women who have had natural birth and you’ll hear how awesome the birth was, how the baby latched on right away, how the nurses kept making comments that the baby was so alert. You’ll hear how proud her husband was, what a great help to her he was during labor, and that the birth was an empowering, amazing experience.

3. Take a private, independent childbirth class. (in other words, don’t take the birthing classes offered by the hospital.) If this isn’t possible, prepare yourself by reading several pregnancy books and learning labor coping techniques. Consider my list of recommended books.

4. Choose your doctor or midwife carefully. If you don’t know where to start looking for a care provider, ask your local childbirth educators and doulas for ideas. Ask lots of questions in your first few pre-natal visits so there aren’t any surprises later on. Be wary when the answer is always, “I only do that when its medically necessary.” You need to ask them, “How often do you feel its medically necessary?” (to do inductions, planned cesareans, episiotomies, etc) You want to find someone with a low induction, low cesarean, low episiotomy (and low tear) rate. Don’t be afraid to switch doctors or hospitals no matter how late it is in your pregnancy. Remember, it is your birth, and you are hiring them to work for you. There should be a mutual respect.

5. During labor, just take one contraction at a time. Don’t worry about the length of labor–how long it has been or how much longer it might be. Women talk about their long labors, but remember, its not as if they were in constant pain for 18 hours. Contractions only last for about a minute (longer during later labor) and you get breaks in between. Don’t let anyone tell you that your body isn’t working if your labor slows down. That is just the body’s way of giving you a rest. Be thankful for the break because labor will pick up soon enough.

*To read points #6-10,  visit Birthing with Guinever’s website here. You can also read many other articles including several positive and encouraging birth stories. Click here to read the small but growing collection of birth stories on this website.

The best ways to take advantage of everything your doula has to offer.

During Pregnancy:
During your pregnancy you may have a lot of non-medical questions that you may not necessarily remember to ask your health care providers. This is when you can consult your doula. Your doula is like pregnancy Google. If she doesn’t know the answer, she’ll find it or give you the resources to do it yourself.
During prenatal visit’s, your doula gets to know you and your hopes for birth. What makes your doula special, is that she takes on the same amount of enthusiasm about your birth plan as you and your partner. Your birth is taken as seriously as her own.

During Labor:
During your labor, you should consider your doula an extension of yourself. Chances are, if your thinking it, she should know it. Fears and inhibitions can hinder labor progress. This is the reason it is important to choose the right doula for you. You should feel like you can tell her anything. A doula is a professional and she does not judge.

Postpartum:
After your baby is born, your doula can help you in a number of ways. She helps with basic breastfeeding issues. She can entertain older siblings. Your doula is a calming presence in your home while you make the transition with your new baby. To best use your doula, you cannot be shy about telling her what you need or don’t need. She is there to help. How she helps is custom to YOUR needs.
Your doula is aware of all of your local resources. Whether it’s breastfeeding support, local mom groups, or government assistance. She wants to make sure you have everything you need to mother with confidence.

Author: Kim Stewart, Just Yours Birth Service

Used with permission.

I guess it all starts with Henry arriving at 39 weeks. Even though I KNEW that I could go past 40 weeks (Keith was born at 42 weeks), I didn’t really believe it. Boy, was I wrong. So 39 weeks came and went. So did 40 weeks. And 41. AND 42. It was a long month, to say the least. A couple of days after my car accident I saw the midwife to check in. I was 6-7cm dilated, so we tried some homeopathics to get labor going. No go. They gave me some contractions, but those contractions didn’t end up in a baby. So the weekend came… and went… Monday night I had contractions all night, but the didn’t get any stronger or closer together. Tuesday around 10am I called the midwife, and we decided she’d come down and we’d evict this baby. If you know me you know that I’m not a fan of inductions, but sometimes the risks of staying pregnant outweigh the risks of the induction. I was pretty much at that point. Postdates, baby wasn’t moving as much as I’d like, the car accident… time to have a baby. I’d probably still be pregnant if we just waited for Miss Caroline to get her act together. So I called Ed (who was working at the Jersey shore – way to stay in the area in case your wife has a baby Ed!) and my doula and told them that the midwife would be over in an hour or two and we’d be having a baby. I called my mom to get Henry, and the midwife showed up around noon. She broke my water and gave me a dose of cohosh tincture, then my mom came to get the kids. We convinced Keith to go with her to lunch and then come back, because babies take a little while to show up. He’d be fine – get some lunch, come back and see a baby be born! So the boys left around 12:30 or so, and the midwife gave me another dose of cohoshes. Two contractions later, I changed my mind about the whole having a baby thing. I called Ed and told him to hurry up and come home, and called my doula. Contractions were 2 minutes apart, lasting about a minute. The second midwife showed up around 1 and got me into the shower so I’d cope better. At 1:30 I started pushing. I only pushed a couple of times with Henry, and for 20 minutes with Keith, so after a few pushes I was done. Unfortunately baby had different ideas! I ended up pushing for about an hour. Ed and the doula showed up a little bit after I started pushing, and were HUGE helps! I hate pushing with a passion. Finally, she was born at 2:28pm – two and a half hours after the midwife showed up at my house, and less than two hours after I felt the first contraction. She was a bit slow to adjust to outside life (is THAT a surprise? Why do I think my Caroline is going to be consistently late in life?!?), but after a bit of oxygen she was fine. My doula told me it was a girl, and I didn’t believe it until I saw her. I still don’t really believe it! Ed called Keith to apologize for him missing the birth, but it was all made better when he was told that he had a baby sister. He dropped the phone and Ed heard him say “I finally got what I wanted!” Mom and dad brought the boys right over to meet their sister, and they’ve been over the moon with her since.

Click here to visit this family’s blog.

My Commitments as Your Doula

· Two to three prenatal visits in your home or other location of your choice. These visits may include birth plan options and assistance, how I can help you as your doula, physiology of labor, breathing and relaxtion, breastfeeding preparation, etc. Each visit will be tailored to your specific needs and will include time to answer any questions you have.

 · I am the person that you first contact when you are in labor. If for any reason you are unable to contact me or due to an emergency, I will provide contact details for a backup doula. I will be on call for you 24 hours a day beginning two weeks before your estimated due date up until labor begins. This mean that I will carry my cell phone with me at all times, and will not leave town without advising you unless it is an emergency or an event not known about at the time of the contract signing.

· I will provide early labor support as requested, including in your home. I will remain with you once active labor has begun until one to two hours after your baby is born. I may take short breaks for meals and rest if time allows – this will be discussed with you at the time and I will not leave you if it is inappropriate.

· I will draw on my knowledge and experience to provide emotional support, physical comfort (relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for comfort), and communicate with the medical staff to make sure you have the information you need to make informed decisions during labor.

·  The presence of a doula lifts the sole responsibility of the labor off the shoulders of your partner, allowing him to enjoy the whole birth process. I can help your partner to feel calm and informed, giving him ideas to continue support from beginning to end. At no time will I “take over” or deliberately exclude your partner. I am there to provide support to both of you at all times. Sometimes a partner likes to stay by the mother’s side during the whole of labor, while others prefer to take a break. This is your birth experience and it is important that you feel free to decide on what you want at the time.

· As a doula, I can advocate for you at a time when it is sometimes difficult for you to advocate for yourself. However, I will not and can not make decisions for you. In a situation where medical decisions must be made, my role is to quietly remind you what your wishes are, assist you in asking questions and gaining information about other options, and then look to you and your partner for the final decision.

· I will assist in providing information and supplying emotional support by telephone on postpartum care, breastfeeding, and newborn care after the birth, as requested. Please contact me if you have any concerns. If I cannot help, I will be able to find the appropriate person who can. I will help to initiate the breastfeeding process, if that is what you choose to do. If you wish to bottle feed your baby, I will help you with the first feeding.

 · Within the first 5 days after the birth of your baby, I will visit you at home or in the hospital. I will answer any questions or give you a referral to the appropriate professional that can meet your needs. I will meet with you for at least two postpartum visits, and more depending on your needs.

Have questions? Please feel free to contact me at any time, I am happy to talk with you about my services and any questions you may have. Click here to send me an e-mail or call me at (210)635-8728 and leave a message.

What would you do if you were told that scientific studies have uncovered a way to have a shorter labor with less pain — and that method is completely natural? Would you get excited? Many women hope for a shorter, natural birth. And studies have proven there is a way for women to have this. This amazing way to help laboring women is called the doula.

A doula is another woman who stays with a mother throughout labor and birth. The word “doula” comes from a Greek word that means “servant” or “women’s servant.” A doula is a traditional role that women have been filling for centuries. Careful scientific studies in this century have proven what birthing women have always known — doulas help women to have better birth outcomes.

Proven Around the World

International studies have shown the benefit of doulas to birthing women. Women who have continuous doula support during labor have a lower cesarean section rate and a lower rate of assisted vaginal delivery (forceps and vacuum extraction). These results are consistent no matter what country the woman is giving birth in.

One to one care has been shown to shorten labor by two hours or more. A hospital in Dublin, Ireland gives all birthing women one-to-one, continuous support. At this hospital almost all mothers have labors of twelve hours or less. Studies in the United States have also shown that women who use doula support have shorter labors.

Doulas even help women choosing epidural pain relief to have better birth outcomes. A woman who chooses and epidural and doula support is less likely to have a cesarean section and is more likely to have an unassisted vaginal delivery.

Minimizing Interventions

A birthing woman who chooses to have a doula support her throughout labor is less likely to need synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin). Synthetic oxytocin results in stronger, harder contractions that many women have a hard time dealing with. The doula is full of wisdom to help a woman progress through labor, which lessens the likelihood of needing a synthetic hormone boost.

If a woman is induced or has synthetic oxytocin given to her during labor, her doula is able to help her cope with the strong contractions. Doulas are able to assist birthing women in a multitude of ways.

Helping Fathers Too

Even fathers find that doulas benefit them. Births where a father and doula are present usually result in happy parents. The fathers feel like they were given the support that they needed. A doula is able to help the father help the mother as much as possible. Doulas are also able to give continous care to each mother, allowing the father to take a break or freeing him to be there emotionally for the mother.

A True Asset

Doulas help mothers of all ages. Studies have shown that when young mothers are given doula support they have better birth outcomes and a higher breastfeeding rate. Older mothers are also assisted by a confident doula who has many ideas to help the mother through labor.

A doula is truly an asset to any birthing team. If you are looking for a shorter labor with less pain, find a doula in your community. Your doula is in infinite source of wisdom and support — no matter where you give birth, how you give birth, or who else you want with you. Allow yourself the luxury of someone focused completely on your success — have a doula on your team.

Author: Kristen Burgess

Kristen Burgess is the owner of http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com She is passionate and committed to helping women have healthy pregnancies and happy, natural births. Learn more about doulas, pregnancy, and natural birth at http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristen_Burgess

I highly recommend this DVD to help educate yourself about birth in the USA today and what your options are. For those women who choose to give birth in the hospital, education is extremely important to help you make informed decisions about your care. Having good support from your doula has been shown to dramatically decrease the rate of major interventions during labor and birth. Your doula will be an information source in helping you navigate through the many decisions that you will be asked to make during your labor, and she will also be able to help advocate for you at a time when it is commonly very difficult for you to advocate for yourself.

Why Are Women Choosing Natural Childbirth

Many women choose natural childbirth in order to participate fully in the birth of their baby and to have control over the birthing experience. By choosing natural childbirth, she will be using a minimum of routine interventions during labor and is expecting to be unmedicated throughout the birth.

Natural childbirth means that the birthing mother accepts that she will probably feel pain and discomfort as part of labor and birth. Positive aspects of natural childbirth include no loss of sensation. She will also remain alert during labor and birth.

 By choosing natural childbirth, you can move around freely and use whatever positions you find comfortable throughout labor. Many women feel a sense of empowerment or accomplishment after giving birth unmedicated. Even though they had pain, many choose to remain unmedicated for future births.

Most techniques advocated with natural childbirth are non-invasive. Partners and other family members will feel more involved as they help the mother cope and work through her contractions.

Childbirth classes teach techniques to help the mother attain a natural childbirth. These techniques may be practiced before labor begins. By practicing and understanding these techniques, some of the fear and anxiety she may be experiencing is lessened.

Unlike an epidural, these techniques do not remove the pain. They give you means to cope with it. If you still find that you cannot deal with the pain, an epidural or other pain relief can be given in the hospital if you are not too close to delivery.

Getting ready for natural childbirth helps a family prepare for their new baby. First, you develop your birth plan. This is a written plan for you and your caregivers that give them an idea of your wishes during labor and birth.

You can have a natural childbirth without drugs in a hospital, a birthing center or at home. Birthing centers are an option that is family-centered and is a compromise between a hospital and birthing at home. Hospitals are moving towards this design by calling their maternity wards birthing centers, and creating a more home-like environment. Relaxed visitation hours are often employed.

Achieving a natural childbirth can be easier when you use a midwife, a doula or other birth attendant. Midwives are familiar with comfort measures to help you cope with labor pain without resorting to drugs, and can provide a more personalized prenatal care routine than you can get from an obstetrician.

If you have an obstetrician, your labor care will be provided by the hospital nurses. Some nurses have studied natural techniques, but they are only available until their shift is over. You may get assigned a nurse on the next shift whose preferred method of labor management is to repeatedly offer an epidural.

Even if your heart is set on a natural childbirth, it is important to remain flexible. No one can predict how labor will flow, and sometimes interventions are truly needed.

Studies have proven that if a woman has continuous support, they are less likely to need pain medication for labor and delivery than if they are alone or feel unsupported. Partners can learn to do this in childbirth classes, and doulas can be hired to help. Unlike nurses, doulas don’t work by shifts… they are there for the duration of the birth.

Studies have also proven that mothers who prepare with certain types of pain management methods before labor are more likely to succeed in having the birth they want. Breathing, positioning, relaxation, hypnosis, acupuncture, massage and hydrotherapy are a few choices a woman may look at when deciding how to prepare for birth.

By: Carol Stack

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Get more information about natural childbirth and other health issues at healthanswerssite.com, including tips about diabetes, asthma treatments and high blood pressure.

When a couple first learns about the possibility of having a doula present at their birth, questions often arise about the role of a doula, and the reasons why having a doula would be beneficial to them.

A doula is a trained professional with experience in many types of birth situations. Her role is varied depending on the needs of each mother, and can include prenatal education and preparation for various comfort measures during the labor. She also serves as an information source as the mother is making decisions about what type of birth she wants to have and what interventions she will accept. A doula is with the mother continuously throughout her labor, as opposed to the doctors and nurses who come and go and may be total strangers to her. She will give the mother emotional and physical support as needed, and has many suggestions to help in dealing with labor contractions. A doula’s role is not to replace the father, but to assist him and enable him to be the best supporter of his partner. A doula will also stay with the mother for a few hours after the birth, helping with initiating breastfeeding if needed, and making sure that the mother is comfortable. Postpartum visits are also included, which can include helping out with a few things at home, more informational support, and discussing and working through the details of the birth.

Studies have been done to determine the benefits of having a doula present with a mother throughout her labor. Listed below are some of the statistics from the studies:

• 50% reduction in the cesarean rate
• 25% shorter labor
• 60% reduction in epidural requests
• 40% reduction in oxytocin use
• 30% reduction in analgesia use
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery

These figures are taken from the book “Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth” by Marshall H. Klaus, John H. Kennell, Phyllis H. Klaus.

Having a doula at your birth can be a wonderful experience for the whole family. Mothers report a higher satisfaction level with their births after having a doula, and the statistics show that risks of intervention are lower with a doula’s presence.

About the Author: Brenda Minica, CD (CBI) is a certified birth doula in San Antonio, TX.