My career of choice

Okay. YES, I am an aspiring midwife. I have not begun my midwifery studies yet, because I am currently focusing on "Phase 1" of my journey. This involves becoming a certified doula and childbirth educator. Someday, I'll happily be able to add the credentials "ICCE, CD(DONA)" after my name! (And, YES, I am actually serious about this. This isn't a "hobby" or a way to make extra cash, like selling Tupperware. This is a career, and I'm serious about it.) Anyway, so, I've told everyone I know, I've talked about it on my MySpace and blog a few times, and I have posted links to DONA International and ICEA, but a lot of people (on and offline) still ask me, "What is a Doula?" or "What is a Childbirth Educator?"

I WILL TELL YOU!!! (Now you have NO EXCUSE for ignorance! bwaaaahahahahahaaa!)

ALL BOUT DOULAS
"Giving birth to a baby is so much more than a physical phenomenon; it engages parents-to-be in a transformational experience, a key life event full of emotion and meaning. A doula who accompanies a woman in labor mothers the mother, taking care of her emotional needs throughout childbirth. A doula also provides support and suggestions for partners that can enhance their experiences of birth.
"Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow. In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences."

DONA International doulas make the difference
"Our doulas are educated and knowledgeable about childbirth and the postpartum experience. They are advocates and a listening ear for birthing mothers, as well as facilitators to her partner.
"DONA International doulas are educated to work within evidence-based standards of practice. The skills that they develop are medically proven to make a true difference in the experience of birth. A DONA International doula's presence at birth improves outcomes for mother and baby. In the postpartum period, a doula's guidance can empower and encourage new parents, inspiring self-confidence in parenting."

1. What is a birth doula? A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth.

2. Where does the word "doula" come from? The word "doula" comes from ancient Greek, meaning "Woman's servant." Throughout history and in much of the world today, a cadre of women support a woman through labor and birth, giving back rubs and providing continuous emotional support. Like their historical counterparts, DONA International birth doulas know how to help a woman in labor feel better. However, today's doulas are much more diverse than their predecessors. DONA International membership includes men and women from a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds.

3. What effects does the presence of a doula have on birth outcomes? Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula's presence at birth:

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one's childbirth experience
• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction
• reduces the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as the incidence of cesareans

Research shows parents who receive support can:

• Feel more secure and cared for
• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
• Have greater success with breastfeeding
• Have greater self-confidence
• Have less postpartum depression
• Have lower incidence of abuse

4. What effects does the presence of a doula have on the mother? When a doula is present during and after childbirth, women report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, have fewer cesareans and requests for medical intervention, and less postpartum depression.

5. What effects do the presence of doulas have on babies? Studies have shown that babies born with doulas present tend to have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries, breastfeed more easily and have more affectionate mothers in the postpartum period.
6. How do doulas practice?Doulas practice in three ways: privately hired directly by clients, as hospital employees, and as volunteers in community or hospital programs.

7. Is a doula the same as a midwife? No. Doulas do not "catch" (or "deliver") babies. (See Question #8)

8. Does a doula replace nursing staff? No. They do not replace nurses or other medical staff. Doulas do not perform clinical or medical tasks such as taking blood pressure or temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or providing postpartum clinical care. They are there to comfort and support the mother and to enhance communication between the mother and medical professionals.

9. Does a doula make decisions on the mother's behalf? A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical care. She provides informational and emotional support, while respecting a woman's decisions.

10. Will a doula make the mother's partner feel unnecessary at the child's birth? No, a doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and plays a crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to the extent he/she feels comfortable.

p.s. I am also a CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR! This, of course, means that I EDUCATE people about CHILDBIRTH. (who knew?) Apparently, this simple explanation is not definitive enough, so, again, I WILL TELL YOU:

"Courses taught by ICEA certified educators reflect ICEA philosophy by covering, at a minimum, the following topics:

• Normal physiological and emotional patterns of pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum
• Common variations on these usual patterns
• Labor coping skills and methods
• Maternal and infant nutrition, including breastfeeding
• Common medical interventions and procedures during labor and birth, and their alternatives

"Also, throughout the certified educator's course, advocacy of the following concepts should be evident:

• The pregnant patient's right and responsibilities for making informed choices
• Legal rights and informed consent
• Effective communication and negotiation with other members of the health care circle
• Breastfeeding as the preferred means of promoting infant nutrition
• Promotion of pregnancy and birth as a significant and life-changing event
• Parent-infant bonding
• Avoidance of routine medical intervention, with the use of evidence-based medical treatment should complications arise."

"Certification by the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) indicates that the person certified by ICEA has completed a rigorous set of requirements including face-to-face classroom instruction, observing several labors and births, successful completion of evaluated teaching, and successful testing of knowledge and competency in a closed multi-text, timed and supervised examination. ICEA certification does not indicate that the person certified is employed by ICEA and ICEA does not monitor nor is it responsible for the content of any classes, seminars or other presentations led or conducted by such persons or services provided by them. Rather, ICEA expects its certified members to honor ICEA philosophy and training and invites consumers to notify us if they feel a certified member has not upheld their responsibilities."