Using a Doula for a natural birth
Most women, thanks to our media saturated culture, think of birth as a painful scary experience. In the countries where the C-section rate is high, many women have doubts about their ability to even physically give birth, let alone have a natural drug free intervention free experience. Natural birth is growing in popularity these days as more and more women are experiencing it and sharing their experiences. Yet many women who want to have such an experience are accused of “trying to be heroic”, as though the only benefit of birthing naturally was to be able to say you did it.
Birth is unpredictable, so some would argue, there really is nothing you can do to prevent certain things from happening. They would say it’s best to not get your hopes up for it to be a positive experience. Yet this “ignorance is bliss” attitude essentially leaves mothers in the dark. The real key to having a positive birth experience, no matter what happens, is being informed. So even if things don’t go to plan, you know enough to feel in control are able to understand what is happening. Many couples enjoy alternative antenatal classes, while other mothers simply devour books and online articles. Information is power regardless of how you get it.
A wonderful way to learn about birth is to simply read other mother’s stories and watch their online birth videos. The more births you read about, the more rounded your exposure will become. In ages past, girls would have grown up witnessing births and even helping out at them. Nowadays, our birth is most likely the first birth we’ve participated in. Women willing to share their experiences on video are offering today’s women a real gift. Some people don’t agree with sharing such detail, but it helps many mothers as they prepare for their own birth.
Study after study has shown that women who receive continuous female support during their labour are more likely to have shorter labours, and birth spontaneously and naturally without the need for medical intervention. This continuous support can be offered by a professional known in the birthing world as a Doula. A doula is a woman who has usually given birth herself, and her main job is to simply be with you and offer you reassurance and comfort throughout your birth. She does not replace the partner, but instead she supports both the mother and father throughout the process.
Post natal depression and difficulties of breastfeeding are more and more common these days, and studies have also shown that using a Doula lessens the probability of this happening to a mother. Most people emphasise the importance of having a healthy baby at the end of things, however other aspects of the birth are often disregarded as less important regardless of the impact they may have had on the mother. When a mother is supported with information and reassurance, she often finds that having a baby naturally is by far the easier option.
Want to find out more about Graceful Birth, then visit April Hunter’s site.