When I adopted a pair of twins, one of the first things that struck me was how many doctor's appointments they needed to go to. As we took them to all of their baby well-checks, I realised that these appointments were designed to find and address issues early before they caused other problems. Fortunately, our family paediatrician found a few critical problems that we were able to resolve head-on, and it was immensely helpful. Check out this blog for information about health care, preventative care, and helping your child to enjoy a better life. I know that some of these tips helped me, and I know that they can help you too.
If you are planning on having a child soon, you may want to develop a birth plan. A birth plan is an outline of your preferences during your labor and delivery. You can find templates of birth plans online, or the hospital you're going to may have form or booklet that you can complete with your preferences.
A birth plan can reduce some anxiety because it tells the medical staff things like how much medication you'd like for pain relief, who you'd like in the delivery room, if you'd like to use hydrotherapy, etc. Some mothers develop a birth plan that includes a doula program service. Read on to see what a doula does and how one can help you.
What Is a Doula?
A doula is a person who focuses on the needs of the mother during and after labor. Although doulas do not have medical training like midwives or OB/GYNs, there are doula program services that offer certification and training so that doulas are equipped to help you during labor.
If you enjoy the benefits that a doula brings to the table, you may even want to become one yourself since you'll be able to relate to what other mothers are going through. These programs teach people the history of birthing and hands-on techniques to help mothers relax.
What Are the Benefits of a Having Doula?
When you are exhausted from laboring, a doula can act as a mediator between you and the medical staff. They can be your advocate if you aren't comfortable with something or if the doctors are trying to deviate from your birth plan. Doulas can provide massage, emotional support, and guidance to help you get in the best position for birth. Some doulas even offer postpartum services, like
If you are worried about postpartum depression or anxiety, a doula can be a lifesaver since she can take the burden of care for a while when you need to recover and rest.
According to some studies, mothers who've used doulas during labor were usually more satisfied with the overall birthing experiences and had fewer hours in labor. Studies have also shown that low-risk pregnancies have fewer incidences of medical interventions—like C-sections and instrumental vaginal delivery—when doulas are present.
Contact a doula program service in your area if you want to add an advocate to your birth plan or if you want to learn more about training and certification yourself.
Share12 November 2019
