• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pregnancy Logo 2018

Pregnancy Magazine

Pregnancy and infancy news, tips, and reviews

“Great
  • Pregnancy
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Baby
  • Breastfeeding
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • mom

Five Reasons You Need a Doula in the Delivery Room

by Pregnancy Editors 2 Comments

 

Considering who you want to support you through labor can be a challenging decision.  The birthing room cast can include relatives, friends, doctors, nurses and midwives.

There is one more person you should consider bringing with you – a doula.  These professional labor assistants use their experience supporting women through labor and birth to aid in your efforts to have the healthiest and safest birth possible.  Here are five ways doulas can help you:

Better Births – Hiring a doula is a simple way to reduce your risk of experiencing complications.  Researchers have found doula-attended births are often shorter with fewer cesarean sections and labor inductions needed.

Communicate Your Preferences – Many moms spend time writing out birth plans, but often they end up sitting untouched and ignored on the big day.  A doula can remind hospital staff of your wishes, whether those are to avoid unnecessary interventions or to move around freely during labor.

Support – Genuine and loving support can have a huge influence on the duration, pain management and enjoyment of birth.  Many moms-to-be expect to get that support from nurses, but they often care for multiple patients at the same time.  Having a doula will ensure you receive consistent support through every single contraction.

Experience – It is often assumed that birth partners will provide labor support, when in reality most are nervous and unsure of themselves in this important role.  Doulas have assisted many women through birth and can provide support for both the mother and father based on their rich experience.

Breastfeeding Assistance – Research has shown babies breastfeed more easily when a doula is present during delivery.  Some doulas also offer breastfeeding support and other postpartum services to nurture you and your birth partner in your new roles.

Many Lamaze Instructors are also doulas and may be able to provide more information on doula services in your area. Moms-to-be who want to know more about how a doula can help them get off to the best start can find more information at www.Lamaze.org.

 

Marilyn Curl, CNM, MSN, LCCE, FACCE, is the president of Lamaze International (www.lamaze.org), which promotes a natural, healthy and safe approach to pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting practices based on the best and most current medical evidence available.  Knowing that pregnancy and childbirth can be demanding on a woman’s body and mind, Lamaze serves as a resource for information about what to expect and what choices are available during the childbearing years.

 

Filed Under: The Big Day

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Peaceful Discipline by Sarah Moore

More to See

parent coaching

Parent Coaching: 3 Ways to Create a More Joyful Home

By Sarah Moore

The perfect workout for pregnant women (sponsored)

By Isa Herrera, MSPT CSCS

how to be a good mother

How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect

By Sarah Moore

Aligned Parents webinar

By Paul Banas

Footer

Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group

Emails powered by Wishpond: PregnancyWishpond

Dedicated WordPress hosting: PregnancyFlywheel

WordPress Theme: PregnancyTheme

This website provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for an examination by your healthcare provider. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

 

Recent

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Gentle Parenting: 5 Ways to Lead with Love
  • How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect
  • Best Parenting Books: 28 Books That Will Change Your Life for the Better
  • Aligned Parents webinar
  • How to make sure your home is ready for the new addition to your family

Search

© Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT