You need to think about a lot when you plan for a new baby, from the name to the nursery and many more. The biggest choice that any laboring mother would have to make is whom she would want to have in the delivery room. It is common for laboring mothers to choose their partner or family members beside them in their delivery room. But some women take the service of a doula.

What Is Doula

A doula is a trained person who can support women throughout their labor. They help the women and their families achieve the experience of childbirth that they envision. The continuous emotional, information, and physical support delivered by the doula to the mother throughout the process of childbirth offers the best experience of childbirth.

The profession of a doula has a long-standing history. Before the obstetrics field emerged, the doulas offered continuous support to the women during their labor period. They assisted the new mother after delivery to try and recover from the delivery and bond with her baby. Let us see how doulas help a laboring mother with the care that she needs.

Work Of A Doulas

Doulas would perform different roles depending on the need. During the birth or labor period, they provide continuous care to the mother. However, the antepartum doulas support women who stay on bed rest to prevent preterm labor. They also help with various household tasks and child care. The postpartum doulas help support the new mother during the first five weeks after giving birth to the child. They help with household tasks and feed and take care of the baby.

Therefore you must meet those before the childbirth as they would help you with the following things:

● Teach you different breathing skills and relaxation

● Answers questions about the process of birthing

● Help you to understand the procedures of labor and delivery

● Develops your birth plan

During the labor period, the doulas would:

● Stay constantly with the mother to provide constant support and comfort

● Use touch and massage to help you rest and relax

● Help you to get into comfortable positions

● Help you with adequate fluids and nutrient

● Help to communicate your preferences to the required medical staff

After the delivery period, you can take the service of doulas in Los Angeles. They would help to:

● Provide encouragement and support to both you and the would-be father

● Teach both of them to take care of the new baby

● Assist the mother with breastfeeding education

● Ensure that the mother receives plenty of rest and eats regularly while being comfortable.

Benefits Of Using A Doula

If you do not have any family members, friends, or a willing partner who can support you during the labor, you can choose to take the service of a doula.

Doulas offer continuous labor support to the mother and the baby. According to the World Health Organization, continuous support during the delivery can help decrease the duration of the delivery while decreasing the amount of pain medication used by the mother during delivery. It also leads to few births that require an operation. It, in turn, involves a more satisfying birth experience.

How Can You Involve A Doula In Your Birth Plan

As your delivery date comes closer, you can invite your doulas in Los Angeles to come and take the prenatal care visits. As it would be awkward to meet your doula and physician to meet for the first time in your delivery room.

If you introduce your doula to your physician, they would be able to discuss with each other the details of your birth plan. The physician would be clear about their role and the same goes for the doula. However, it is common for physicians to provide all the medical decisions. The decision-making process would not include any doula. However, the role of a doula would be to provide medical advice.

Every mother wants to experience the process of childbirth as they have imagined. With the help of a doula, one can get the much-needed comfort. Hence including a doula in your birth plan can provide you with various benefits.