Why I chose to be a doula

SOOOO I'm going to become a CBI certified Doula this year! I am so so excited! This may seem random to some of you so I'm going to explain why I want to become a Doula and what it is exactly. :)

The moment I was being rolled down the hall to the OR for my C-Section I was praying and crying and promised God that I would do things HIS way next time. No inductions, no scare tactics, just a firm and calm belief that my body really can do what it was created to. So my VBAC journey began. A VBAC is a vaginal birth after cesarean. I began to look into it mostly because my doctor told me that our family could be medically limited to 2-3 babies if things did not go absolutely perfect each time. That terrified me. How can someone else decide that for us?! So I knew that I needed to do things differently. I cannot have a VBAC in Cottonwood, so I have to travel to Phx in order to do this. As I looked further and further I found that I have about a 75-80% chance of success at Phoenix Baptist in Phx!! I also found that studies have overwhelmingly proved that having a doula present decreases your need for c-sections, pain medication, an episiotomy, vacuum/forcep extraction, etc. That sounded fantastic to me! I also LOVE that if I want an epidural, that's totally OK! My doula is there as I will be there for others to support them in whatever decision they make!!

So what is a doula?? * this information is from the DONA international web page*
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.

Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.

A Birth Doula

* Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
* Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
* Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
* Stays with the woman throughout the labor
* Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
* Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
* Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
* Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level

Research evidence shows that the quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve parental satisfaction and reduce the risk of mood disorders.

I am so passionate now about empowering women to make informed decisions about their births and help them avoid any intervention that they are not open or welcoming to. I cannot wait to get started! I have 2 births lined up currently and hope to have many many more!! :)