The Benefits Of A Doula San Diego

By Donna Williams


The word doula is Greek and means servant of a woman. The support offered by a woman to another comes with lots of positive impact. Doulas are trained professionals in childbirth and help with physical, emotional and educational support to mothers. It could be to a mother that is expectant, expecting labor or one who has given birth recently. The purpose is to help women have safe and memorable birth experiences. When considering the services of a doula San Diego residents need to be versed with their services.

In majority of the cases when the term doula is used, it is supposed to mean labor support doulas or birth doulas. There are also antepartum and postpartum doulas. Most client-doula relationships tend to start months before delivery of a baby. In the course of that period, there is a relationship that develops between them such that the mother will be free to ask questions or raise their concerns. Doulas actively help in planning for childbirth.

Doulas are usually available to be contacted by the mother on phone so that they can respond to any questions mothers have. It should be noted that they do not provide any medical care. Nevertheless, they have lots of knowledge on medical aspects related to both deliver and labor. It therefore means they will ensure the mother has good understanding of procedures that are involved in childbirth and as well as complications that can be expected.

During delivery, doulas will be in constant and very close proximity to mothers. They help in provision of comfort through the use of pain relief techniques. They will include relaxation and breathing techniques, massage and labor positions. In addition to that, they encourage partners to participate in assisting the mother. A doula will constantly offer assurance that all is well. They are technically an advocate for the mother in that they help her to fulfill childbirth desires they might have had. After the birth of a child, they give breastfeeding tips and encourage mother-child bonds.

There are a number if advantages of hiring doulas. Research shows that with the support that they provide, a woman will be less likely to require pain-relievers administrated. Other than that, there will be reduced probability of having a cesarean birth. Women that hire them tend to have more positive experiences at birth.

The presence of doulas will be beneficial irrespective of the type of birth that a mother is planning. A woman will have fewer interventions when they have the services. It should be noted that the role of doulas is to help the woman have a safe and pleasant birth and not really to help in the selection of type of birth.

When a woman has decided to have medicated birth, the doula provides informational, emotional and physical support all through labor and administration of medications. Most importantly, they will work alongside medicated mothers to assist them in dealing with all potential side effects. They will help with all other needs where medications might be inadequate because even with the use of medications, there will still be some degree of discomfort.

When choosing a doula, it should be someone that the mother is comfortable with. Their initial consultations are usually free. It would help to interview a number of doulas to choose the most suitable.




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