A doula is a non-medical professional who helps the birth to be a pleasant and productive event.

What Does Doula Mean?

Doula is a Greek word meaning woman servant.

Is a Doula a Midwife?

No, a doula is not a midwife. Doulas do receive formal training to assist in shortening and easing the labor.

Why Should I Hire a Doula?

Studies show that a doula can work to make your labor shorter by several hours, reduce the need for medication, and reduce the chances of needing a c-section! A doula is typically trained to assist with breastfeeding after the birth if you wish to explore this route. The doula also works to ease the stress and anxiety for the husband (or significant other) during the birthing process.
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The last few weeks of your pregnancy can certainly drag by, especially if you feel uncomfortable or are lacking in sleep!  You’ll be excited to meet your new baby and anxious to induce labor and delivery.  So what can you do naturally to help bring labor on? 

Natural Ways to Induce Labor - Walking:

Walking helps regulate your contractions and the natural movement of your hips helps to bring the baby into proper alignment.  By being upright you are also using gravity to bring your baby downward.  Just don’t exhaust yourself TOO early!

Natural Ways to Induce Labor - Sex:

A birth plan is a non-confrontational way for you to make your labor and birth plans known to anyone involved with you on your special day.  You can hand a copy to your mother, your doctor or midwife, the nurses on call, your doula, and even your husband if he wasn’t involved in writing it!  Birth plans also help you to think of all possible labor and birth scenarios up front, so that you are not forced to make an important decision in the middle of a contraction or when you are unable to completely focus. 

You’ll want to take your birth plan to one of your appointments in the third trimester and get your doctor/midwife to sign off on it.  Have them make a copy of it and place it in your file so that if they do not end up delivering you, the doctor on call knows that your doctor signed off on it and is ok with it.  (It also helps in case you forgot your copy at home!)

Do keep in mind that you cannot predict everything and just because you want an ideal birth, does not mean you’ll get it!  You’ll want to remain flexible in case an emergency situation comes up or your labor is not progressing as planned.

Questions to be Addressed in Your Birth Plan:
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Why a Birth Center?

If you do not want to give birth in a hospital, but you’re too afraid to try a homebirth, giving birth in a birth center might be the solution for you. A birth center can provide you with the environment and surroundings you are looking for, but still offer medical support if needed. Birth centers can be in an independent location, or within a hospital. A certified nurse-midwife will assist you with the majority of your care at the birth center, although a physician is usually on call in case of an emergency.

Benefits of a Birth Center

A birth center offers you a comfortable, relaxed location to have your baby. They are usually more open to allowing you to try various positions and labor techniques, and will not intervene or suggest pain medication unless requested. You will typically labor, deliver, and recover in the same room. You will receive support for your labor, birth, and breastfeeding at a birth center.

Drawbacks of a Birth Center

The drawbacks of a birth center arise if there are any complications during labor or delivery or if your newborn needs any medical attention - you might need to be transfered to a medical facility or to the labor and delivery floor within your hospital (this happened to me during the birth of my first daughter!)

Make sure to contact your insurance about whether or not a birth center is covered under your plan. You may need to make other arrangements for prenatal care and then switch to a birth center for the delivery if the birth center is not covered.

There are many signs that you are about to enter labor.  Keep in mind though that you may experience NONE of these signs, or you may experience them and labor may not set in for days!

Signs of Labor - False Labor

False labor (sometimes called Braxton Hicks) consist of irregular contractions that can cause discomfort and tightening.  The interval between Broxton Hicks contractions is irregular and contractions are shorter.  In most cases, walking, drinking some fluids, or lying down on the left side can ease the pain.  If the contractions go away, you are not in active labor.

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Why a Homebirth?

Giving birth at home is a safe option for women who have had a great pregnancy, have not previously had a c-section, and have low risk for complications during birth. You should definitely consider finding a certified nurse-midwife or a qualified physician to assist you during the delivery process and help you with prenatal care.

Studies done comparing hospital and homebirths indicate fewer deaths,

injuries and infections for homebirths supervised by a trained attendant than for hospital births.

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