HOME

BOOKMARK

NEWSLETTER

Join our newsletter to receive news of offers and discounts

Search

AS FEATURED IN...


Lucy Siegle On Eithical Living: Sunday March 5, 2006 The Observer

Weight Watchers®.co.uk. Now with an online plan.

Navigation


Parening Books

Search Now:
Amazon Logo


Doulas Are Laboring Angels


Have you considered hiring a doula for added support during labor? Wouldn't it be easier for a mother to have someone nurturing, guiding, suggesting and comforting throughout the entire childbirth process? Doulas have your best interest at heart because they work for you not the hospital.

WHAT ARE DOULAS?

? Specially trained women helping women through childbirth.

? Offer a continual presence vs. the hospital staff coming and going.

? Provide pre-natal visits to go over birth plans and birth desires.

? Give suggestions to help facilitate labor progress.

? Massage, encourage and guide a woman throughout labor.

? They have a bag full of labor aids that help eliminate the discomforts during childbirth.

WHAT DOULAS DON'T DO:

? Vaginal exams, or medical interventions.

? Deliveries

? Speak up for the woman; rather encourage her to voice her wishes

? Take over Dad's role

WHAT'S IN IT FOR BIRTH PARTNER?

? The birth partner can participate at his own comfort level.

? When he wants to be the main partner, he has an assistant. He can go to the bathroom, eat or even sleep if he needs to without compromising the woman's comfort.

? Women love when their partners are nurturing during labor. This is taught by the doula's example. Bonus points for Dad.

? Doula's can provide education and knowledge through out the labor, explaining procedures, etc. This can reduce Dad and Mom's anxiety.

THE BONUSES FOR HAVING A DOULA

? 50% reduction in cesareans

? 25 % reduction in the length of labor

? 40% reduction in pitocin

? 60% reduction in the need for epidurals

? 30% more likely to be breastfeeding 6 weeks post-partum

? Less incidences of post-partum depression

? More bonding with the baby

? Women experience a more satisfying birth experience

You may find a doula in your area by the internet, or by talking to your childbirth educator.

Julie L. Johnson is a wife and mother of three who has experienced every pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and breastfeeding situation there is and has lived to tell about. She is a Certified Lamaze Childbirth Educator, Certified Doula and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant practicing in Southern California. Her website http://www.birth-angel.com provides services and products to help ease the transition into motherhood.


MORE RESOURCES:

Nursing beats sugar water for easing baby's pain
Reuters UK, UK - 6 hours ago
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Newborns who breastfeed while doctors obtain a blood sample from a heel experience much less discomfort than babies given sugar ...
Women At Calif. Hospitals ;With Mostly Low-Income Patients Less ... Medical News Today (press release)
all 7 news articles


Entertainment Tonight News

What special needs does a special-needs baby really have?
Slate - 2 hours ago
Babies with Down syndrome have all the same needs as babies without, but since they're slower to develop, they need them for a longer time. ...
Sarah Palin Talks About Her Family Struggles People Magazine
Sarah Palin's Speech ProLife Blogs
Sarah Palin Opens Up about Youngest Son Entertainment Tonight News
all 7 news articles


Someone has to speak up for the babies
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 8 hours ago
THE aim of my recent raw-nerve comment on child care was not to distress parents, it was merely to speak up for all the babies. In most debates about child ...


Where babies are concerned a man just cannot win
Irish Times, Ireland - 21 hours ago
At the sentencing hearing, Black tried to persuade the judge that she should receive a light sentence for the sake of her baby, but Judge Paul Carney, ...
Is Sarah Palin really a woman? American Thinker
all 2 news articles


NYC Reports Largest Decline In Infant Deaths
eMaxHealth.com, NC - 9 hours ago
Of the 128961 babies born in New York City in 2007, 697 died before the age of one year, 43 fewer than in 2006. The city’s infant mortality rate remained ...
1107 babies died before first birthday, NC data for 2007 show News & Observer
NC Infant Death Rate, Number Of Births Increase Dunn Daily Record
North Carolina births peak in '07 Durham Herald Sun
Winston-Salem Journal
all 8 news articles


Babies having babies is a bad thing, Pt. 2
Feministe - 4 hours ago
As a candidate, of course, any discussion of putting the baby up for adoption (a reasonable and intelligent choice, but one I knew my daughter would never ...


Non-Hospital Baby Abductions on the Rise
U.S. News & World Report, DC - Sep 4, 2008
4 (HealthDay News) -- Apparently foiled by increased security at hospitals, strangers who abduct babies are finding opportunities for kidnapping at other ...
Worst nightmare: Babies stolen from their beds MSNBC
all 11 news articles


TheMedGuru

Mothers bond better with babies after natural births
Independent, UK - Sep 3, 2008
By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor Women who have a natural birth form stronger bonds with their babies than those who deliver by Caesarean section, ...
Caesarians 'may affect bonding' The Press Association
Normal Delivery = Better Mother Child Bonding TheMedGuru
Natural births 'create a closer bond with the baby' Daily Mail
New Scientist (subscription) - Telegraph.co.uk
all 52 news articles


NEWS.com.au

Hurricane technology predicts premature baby blow-ins
The Age, Australia - Sep 4, 2008
About 17000 babies are born prematurely each year in Australia but doctors have little way of know- ing which women will be affected. ...
World first computer program picks premature births ABC Online
World-first To Predict Premature Births Science Daily (press release)
Pregnant women to know if at risk of premature birth NEWS.com.au
MedIndia - The Age
all 46 news articles


MyParkMag

Pop Tarts: Jessica Simpson Talks About Abuse, Wants to Make Babies
FOXNews - Sep 4, 2008
"I would love to be making records and making babies and hopefully I'm married in 10 years," Simpson added. "I have the dreams of every normal person. ...
Jessica Simpson wants to be great aunt Oneindia
Jessica Simpson's marriage wish China Daily
Jessica Simpson 'all about Music,' contemplates family International Business Times
Entertainment Tonight News
all 26 news articles

babies - Google News