Why I’m Glad I Hired A Doula
The following italicized information comes directly from the DONA website: 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.
Interviewing Health Care Providers
At my first ICAN meeting the topic was interviewing health care providers. I personally had never interviewed a health care provider, or knew anyone who had, and so it made me a little nervous. Me asking the wise and all knowing doctors questions before I hire them? Do they even let you do that?
Some of your questions/discussions might include:
Why Choose a Midwife?
The Midwives Model of Care
The Midwives Model of Care is based on the fact that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes.
The Midwives Model of Care includes:
•Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle
•Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support
•Minimizing technological interventions
•Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention
The application of this woman-centered model of care has been proven to reduce the incidence of birth injury, trauma, and cesarean section.
With this birth, I feel that it would be best for me to have a health care provider that:
Here is a great video from YouTube that talks about some of the benefits of choosing a midwife.