Birthing Support by Doulas in Los Angeles

Doulas provide non-medical supportive care before, during and after childbirth. This is distinctly different from midwives who are licensed health care providers.

Los Angeles, CA (prHWY.com) January 23, 2013 - Doulas provide non-medical supportive care before, during and after childbirth. This is distinctly different from midwives who are licensed health care providers. Midwives offer a wide range of care including prenatal and postpartum health services. The distinctive feature of a doula is the continuous presence of an experienced woman who has no clinical responsibilities and focuses on the family's personal needs through the childbirth experience. Doulas support women with those who choose to forgo drugs, as well as expectant mothers who choose epidural procedures.

Studies have shown that the presence of a doula can lead to shorter labor, less medical intervention and a more positive experience during childbirth. A doula is also known as a non- medical labor coach who assists women before, during, or after childbirth well as her partner and/or family by providing information, physical assistance, and emotional support. The goal of a doula is to provide comfort and the feeling of safety for the mother and to provide support. This may include physical assistance, massage, maintaining a supporting posture or providing water. Emotional support, providing company, encouragement, information, and acting as an advocate for the expectant mother and family.

According to Jennifer Nunn, president of Doulas of North America one of the largest doula training, certification as well as membership organizations within the country the organization had fewer than 100 doula members when it started 10 years ago; now there are more than 4,000. The demand for doulas has been increasing, thanks to clinical studies showing that women together with doulas have 50 percent fewer cesarean sections, a 25 percent reduction in length of labor, 40 percent less use of the labor inducing medication Pitocin in addition to 60 percent fewer requests for epidurals. Fewer medical interventions also mean lower expenses, which is driving the creation of in house doula programs at hospitals.

It is important to be comfortable and confident in the choice of a doula. Questions one might consider are: does your birth doula's services include pre labor visits, labor and postpartum. And are prenatal yoga, breath work, pre/postnatal nutrition, pregnancy massage, hypnobirthing and lactation education of interest to the expectant family. Your doula's training is important but the way you feel with a doula is more important than the number of births that they have assisted.
Melanie Wachsman is a doula in Los Angeles, California and is the owner of Doula Mellie.

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Tag Words: doulas in los angeles, birthing support

Categories: Health

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