Ever wondered what to ask a doula?

•  Choosing a doula isn't a decision to be made lightly, but once you've decided that having labor support is what you want, now you need to choose a doula that is a perfect fit for you and your partner. Here are a few questions that may be beneficial to ask. This is by no means an inclusive list, just a jumpstart to dialogue.
• What is your training? Are you certified? If so, by what organization? And what was required in order to receive this certification?
• How many births have you attended?
• Are you familiar with my doctor/midwife/hospital/birth center? Do you get along well with my caregiver?
• When would you join me during labor?
• Which labor-coping techniques do you think tend to be the most helpful? (If you have a specific technique or method in mind that you plan to try, ask about her experience with it.)
• How would you work with and involve my partner?
• How do you feel about the use of pain medication during labor?
• Why did you become a doula?
• Tell us about some of your birthing experiences.
• What's your fee?
• What does your fee cover? How many visits or hours?
• What's your refund policy?
• Do you have anyone else due near the time I'm due? (Most doulas limit the number of clients they accept to two to four per month.)
  
• Do you have a backup arrangement with another doula or group of doulas in case you're not free when I go into labor? Can I meet them?
• Can I talk to a few of your recent clients?
  
• Will we meet again to address any concerns or questions I have and to review our birth plan?
  
  
• How do we get in touch with you when labor begins? 
• After the interview, try to imagine the doula at the birth with you and see if you feel good about it. Ask yourself:
• Do I feel comfortable around this person?
• Is she warm, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable?
• Does she communicate and listen well?
• Will she support my choices or does she have her own agenda?

Cesarean Awareness

St. Louis, MO was so lucky to host an awesome conference over the weekend from the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN).  I was not able to attend the whole thing, but I met a ton of great ladies and was able to pick up some wonderful resources and a few personal touching stories.  The ICAN motto of prevetion, recovery, advocacy, and the stories that I heard to go along with it were very inspiring.  In 2009, the number of cesareans reached an all time high nationwide.

32.9% of Births Resulting In Major Abdominal Surgery
Record-high

Many of these cesarean sections could be prevented with proper education, preparation, having a support system, and trust your instincts. 

I learned more in the past few days than I did while I was pregnant with my son.  Why?  I wanted to believe that "it wouldn't happen to me."  I was lucky and able to deliver my son vaginally, but I should have educated myself more... Just incase.  Now I can take this new knowledge and passion and pass it along to my new birthy family!  I am so excited.  If you want to look for yourself, check out ICAN's website.

http://www.ican-online.org/

I hope to have videos from the conference posted soon!  Thank you!

~Krista Wampler
Labor Doula and Childbirth Educator in Training

Research Supports Doulas

Most women already know that doulas can be beneficial during labor.  They provide emotional support, empower mothers, and help ensure that a woman's birth plan is carried out.  Doulas make sure that women are given the tools they need to make informed decisions about their pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum experiences.

An article in the The Cochrane Library provides some evidence based research supporting the use of doulas during birth.  They found that, compared with women who had no continuous support, women with companions [doulas or labor assistants] who were neither on the hospital staff nor in the woman's social network were:

• 28% less likely to have a cesarean section
• 31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin to speed labor
• 9% less likely to use any pain medication
• 34% less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively.

Read the entire article here.  Continuous-Labor-Support-Reduces-Risk-Cesarean-Section-Other-Adverse-Outcomes-Women-1397061.htm

Do You Doula?

Do you wonder what role a doula has during labor?  This video is a collection of personal stories about women and how they have used doulas to support their birth choices.