"Cynthya was our doula for the birth of our third child in April 2016. As this was my third birth, and I had been attended to by a doula at the first two, I knew that finding the right doula was crucial to a successful and satisfying birth." - Winter Wheeler-Young
6 Points For Birth Partners to Consider When Hiring a Labor Doula
Sometimes, one partner REALLY wants to hire a doula and the other can't justify the expense or won't face the realities of the upcoming birthday. Here are my suggestions of talking points for reserving doula service and private instruction for an optimal birth experience.
"HELP! My partner doesn't think we need to hire a doula."
Yikes! I've heard this before from clients and students of my classes. Sometimes, one partner REALLY wants to hire a birth doula and the other can't justify the expense or face the realities of the upcoming birthday. Evidence shows continuous support can significantly decrease the risk of cesareans, NICU admissions, Pitocin, and medications for pain relief, as well as increase satisfaction with the birth experience altogether.
Here are my suggested talking points for reserving the services of a doula and private childbirth classes:
Ask your partner how they plan to support your labor. Do they want to rub your back or squeeze your hips for 18 hours all by themself? Prior to labor, do they want to memorize optimal labor positions to facilitate progress and avoid a stall that can lead to medical interventions?
Have they prepared to be your SOLE source of emotional and physical comfort? Will they be able to provide you with informational support and advocate for alternatives to proposed medical interventions? Here is an article I wrote for preparing labor partners for the big event. It's generic but what everyone should know in the LEAST.
Who do they plan to have present on birthday to help THEM? Most partners want us to be present for them too, especially upon realizing the nurses won't be in the room but for an average of 10 minutes per hour prior to the second stage.
Yes, preparing for childbirth with a comprehensive prenatal class is VERY helpful, but on birthday, recalling pertinent info on little sleep while watching your partner run a marathon is stressful. Doulas remove the burden from the birth partner's shoulders, relieves their stress and helps them enjoy the birthday/night/weekend. Birthday can be a wonderful bonding experience for you two!
Is their hesitation due to financial reasons? Think about the cost of a c-section and an extended hospital stay. Since doula support is a PROVEN way to reduce the risk of c-section, hiring an experienced doula WILL SAVE YOU MONEY. Many of our clients use their HSA/FSA debit cards to pay for childbirth services such as classes and doula support. Our agency includes our NPI number and taxonomy code on our order confirmations so you may attempt reimbursement from your insurance company or HSA/FSA accounts.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say doula support is NECESSARY in the prevention of the primary c-section! Here's an excerpt from my blog post with links to the research:
"Today, approximately 60% of all cesarean births are primary cesareans. Although cesarean birth can be life-saving for the baby and/or the mother, the rapid increase in cesarean birth rates raises significant concern that cesarean delivery is overused without clear evidence of improved maternal or newborn outcomes. Published data indicate that one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula. A Cochrane meta-analysis of 12 trials and more than 15,000 women demonstrated that the presence of continuous one-on-one support during labor and delivery was associated with improved patient satisfaction and a statistically significant reduction in the rate of cesarean delivery (111). Given that there are no associated measurable harms, this resource is probably underutilized."
The most important thing a woman needs during labor is continuous support.
Read (and share!) this article by Evidence Based Birth. Here's an excerpt: "Labor support also increases satisfaction and the chance of a spontaneous vaginal birth. Although continuous support can also be offered by birth partners, midwives, nurses, or even some physicians, research has shown that, with some outcomes, doulas have a stronger effect than other types of support persons. As such, doulas should be viewed by both parents and providers as a valuable, evidence-based member of the birth care team."
Prepare for the biggest day of your life!
You will most definitely need to be prepared for your baby's birthday if you plan to go without the professional assistance of a labor doula. Attend a prenatal birthing class. Our intensive prep - the 3 Hour Labor Lesson - helps your partner gain skills to help you on birthday effectively.
Related posts:
5 Reasons to Hire a Doula
Epidural, Please!
5 Reasons to Hire a Birth Doula
It may be your first, it may be your fourth, but when you’re pregnant and considering your baby’s birth and delivery, having the proper support team is critical in ensuring you and your baby get off to the right start. Did you know a doula can help with that?
by Megan Ciampa, Birth Boot Camp Childbirth Instructor
It may be your first or your fourth, but when you’re pregnant and considering your baby’s birth and delivery, having the proper support team is critical in ensuring you and your baby get off to the right start. Did you know a birth doula can help with that?
When I was pregnant with my first child in 2009, I heard this new-to-me term thrown around, “doula.” I learned it was Greek for “mothering the mother” and it’s a professional birth worker trained in childbirth and labor who provides emotional, educational, and physical support to the pregnant woman before, during, and after labor. Generally that means she is not one of your friends or family members, or a part of the medical staff. While I thought that sounded nice, I couldn’t imagine anyone else in my birth environment other than my husband and our midwife/medical team. However, I was then exposed to the statistics of labor and birth for when a laboring mom has a doula present, and I was shocked. Doula? Hired.
Here’s why you want to hire a birth doula:
With birth doulas, the rate of cesarean section decreases 28%. I didn’t know much when I was pregnant with my first baby, but I knew that if I could avoid a c-section, that would be ideal! A labor doula’s continuous support throughout childbirth help a mom feel more at ease, reduce discomfort, and help her find different positions to move into to help baby down and out the birth canal. A c-section, while it can be a life-saving surgery, is major abdominal surgery and can put mom and baby at risk during and after birth. (Statistics from Cochrane Review)
With a labor doula, the use of Pitocin decreases 31%. Have you ever watched A Baby Story on TLC, or any other reality birth TV? If you have, then you may have seen what happens when a mom who is laboring naturally, on her own, is given Pitocin (which is a synthetic version of Oxytocin, a hormone our body naturally produces during labor, breastfeeding, and lovemaking, which assists in making the uterus contract). When a woman is given pitocin, the intensity and strength of her contractions increase significantly. And because it’s a synthetic hormone, the body cannot respond with its own stress release mechanisms the same way, and it’s extremely uncomfortable for the laboring mom. While labor can be done without an epidural, many a woman opts for an epidural after pitocin is administered to help cope with this incredible intensity. (Statistics from Cochrane Review)
With doulas, the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth increases 12%. Spontaneous vaginal birth is the simplest kind of delivery process. It just means vaginal delivery happens on its own, without doctors or midwives using any tools like forceps or a vacuum, to help pull the baby out. This is a good thing because while any of these tools may occasionally be used for emergency purposes, they also come at a risk to the mom and baby. Doulas can help the mom get into a better birthing position that applies the right amount of pressure to her cervix to allow baby to come out safely. (Statistics from Cochrane Review)
With doulas, the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience decreases 34%! With a labor doula present, you can know you have probably tried every option and resource possible to ensure you have as good a birth experience as possible. Because they have knowledge, tools and other resources available to them to assist you, it relieves pressure and anxiety on your partner or spouse, who may also be needing some emotional support during labor, and helps equip them to help you. All of this in turn? Drives higher satisfaction for you during your birth experience. (Statistics from Cochrane Review)
With birth doulas, the length of labor can decrease by 25%! I don’t know about you, but when I watched A Baby Story and saw the clock ticking and how long those moms were laboring to bring their babies to the world, my empathetic heart hurt for them. Those can be some long, hard hours. So, with a doula present, who helps you feel more safe, secure, and emotionally present, often labors are shorter. With my first birth, my highly experienced doula had me try several positions: squatting, walking, rocking, sitting on the toilet (it relaxes you in an unexpected way--trust me!) to help me get the baby further down the birth canal. I’m convinced that without her efforts, my approximately 12 hour labor, which is pretty great for a first-time mom, would’ve lasted hours longer! (Statistics from americanpregnancy.org)
Experts agree that Cesarean Sections or c-sections, particularly among low-risk, first-time mothers, may not be necessary and can be actually be risky for mother and baby. Various evidence-based strategies aimed at hospitals and health care providers can help reduce c-sections in low-risk women. Evidence shows that doula support improves birth outcomes, including a vaginal delivery with lowered risk of episiotomy and other interventions.
A doula is a pretty great person to have around when you’re pregnant and giving birth, as well as afterwards in the postpartum period. While doulas weren’t so common about 10 years ago, they are sought after more than ever. Won’t you hire a birth doula today?
References:
https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/
http://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/having-a-doula/
Prenatal Exercises and Birthing Positions for Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction
Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) can make walking or sitting difficult, and sometimes extremely painful, affecting approximately one out of four pregnant women.
A condition called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) occurs when the ligaments that keep your pelvis aligned during pregnancy become too relaxed (due to the hormone relaxin) and causes excessive movement of the pubis symphysis. This can make walking or sitting difficult, and sometimes extremely painful, affecting approximately 1 of 4 pregnant women.
It is recommended that women with Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction give birth in an upright position with knees slightly apart. Another option is the all-fours position, keeping the knees close together. A waterbirth may be preferable as water allows buoyancy that can support the joints. And soaking in a warm tub is divine during labor!
Pelvic Floor Squeezes, Stability Exercises, Inner Thigh Stretches, Pelvic Tilts, Back and Side Stretches
Symphysis Pubis Disorder is not harmful, but it is painful. There are exercises to relieve SPD. If any exercise seems to cause you more pain, stop immediately. If your pain lasts or seems to get worse, talk to your obstetrician. For info about rehabilitation, prevention, and reoccurrence management of SPD in subsequent pregnancies, read this article which includes stability exercises.
Watch the below video for how to give birth more comfortably with SPD. Additionally, strengthening the pelvic floor muscles will help to stabilize the spine, support the pelvic organs, and prevent incontinence.
How To Avoid a C-section Without Changing Hospitals For Less Than The Cost of a Latte A Day
Get dependable support for less than $5 per day of your pregnancy. Think about that. Then think about the cost of a c-section and an extended hospital stay. Hiring an experienced doula who works well with your care providers WILL SAVE YOU MONEY.
Do you know how to avoid the primary c-section? Hire a doula.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) backs this claim. An excerpt from their website:
"Today, approximately 60% of all cesarean births are primary cesareans. Although cesarean birth can be life-saving for the baby and/or the mother, the rapid increase in cesarean birth rates raises significant concern that cesarean delivery is overused without clear evidence of improved maternal or newborn outcomes."
Read ACOG's full article published March 2014: Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery, which discusses ways to decrease cesarean deliveries, including:
Allowing prolonged latent (early) phase labor.
Considering cervical dilation of 6 cm (instead of 4 cm) as the start of active phase labor.
Allowing more time for labor to progress in the active phase.
Allowing women to push for at least two hours if they have delivered before, three hours if it’s their first delivery, and even longer in some situations, for example, with an epidural.
Using techniques to assist with vaginal delivery, which is the preferred method when possible. This may include the use of forceps, for example.
Encouraging patients to avoid excessive weight gain during pregnancy.
One of the main points is to use continuous labor and delivery support:
"Published data indicate that one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes is the continuous presence of support personnel, such as a doula. A Cochrane meta-analysis of 12 trials and more than 15,000 women demonstrated that the presence of continuous one-on-one support during labor and delivery was associated with improved patient satisfaction and a statistically significant reduction in the rate of cesarean delivery (111). Given that there are no associated measurable harms, this resource is probably underutilized."
“Approximately 60% of all cesarean births are primary cesareans.”
At the hospital, laboring families aren't truly supported during childbirth unless they have a doula present. Care providers are quite busy and frequently enter and exit the room leaving you unattended while they are busy with other patients. Our birth doulas stay by your side and provide support when you need it most!
Still wonder if doula support is necessary? Research your hospital's c-section rate - many metro hospitals are WELL ABOVE the national average of 32.2%. Afterwards, watch The Business of Being Born, a documentary "eye-opener" about birth in America.
Simply put, our team helps you obtain your true childbirth options so you can have a great labor and birth experience.
For less money than you'd spend on a latte a day, you can hire an experienced labor doula.
Get dependable support for less than $5 per day of your pregnancy. Think about that. Then think about the cost of a c-section and an extended hospital stay. Hiring an experienced doula who works well with your care providers WILL SAVE YOU MONEY.
Many of our clients use their HSA/FSA debit cards to pay for childbirth services such as classes and doula support. Our agency includes our NPI number and taxonomy code on our order confirmations so you may attempt reimbursement from your insurance company or HSA/FSA accounts.
You should also note that we offer eGiftCards. If you receive a gift card after to you after you've paid, you'll be refunded the amount to the credit card used to reserve services through our website.
“For less money than you’d spend on a latte a day, you can hire help from an experienced labor doula.”
You'll remember your birthing experience forever. I wish you and your family a healthy and happy birthday.
Be well,
Cynthya
Click to visit http://www.lamaze.org/p/cm/ld/fid=160
Reference: Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery http://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Obstetric-Care-Consensus-Series/Safe-Prevention-of-the-Primary-Cesarean-Delivery
How Does a Braxton-Hicks Contraction Feel?
What does a Braxton-Hicks contraction feel like?
