What is a Labour and Birth Professional? A Perinatal Support Worker (PNSW) or Doula is someone who offers emotional and physical support for the mother and partner, from before birth until breastfeeding is established. Birth/labour professionals are advocates, labour coaches and support partners for moms and their partners throughout the pregnancy and birth process.
Why Use a Labour & birth professional? Studies indicate that when a PNSW or Doula is present, labours tend to be shorter with less need for technical aid, and there is greater maternal satisfaction. Labor professionals help foster a more relaxed postpartum environment as well, and enhance early mother-infant relationships, breastfeeding and family adjustments.
In addition to the added confidence and peace of mind your professional will provide, studies show that they positively impact the birth process by decreasing: overall caesarean rate by 50% length of labour by 25% oxytocin use by 40% pain medication use by 30% the need for forceps for 40% requests for epidurals by 60%
What do Labour and Birth professionals do?
*They understand the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labour and assist the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
*They provide continuity of care, emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint
*They help the woman and her partner obtain information they need to make good decisions
The quality of emotional care received by the mother during labour, birth and immediately afterwards is a vital factor that can strengthen the emotional ties between the mother and child. The importance of this relationship cannot be over emphasized, since these early relationships largely determine the future of each family, and also society as a whole.
It is important to note that a birth professiona does not replace the woman’s partner or care providers, nor make decisions for (or speak instead of) her client. In addition, at no time will a birth professional perform clinical or medical tasks, such as taking blood pressure or temperature, fetal heart tones, vaginal exams or postpartum clinical care.
Our Labour and Birth support package includes: · Phone/email support · One to two prenatal visits, in your home, to discuss your hopes and expectations of your birthing experience · On-call labour and birth support · Comfort and relaxation labour techniques · Continuous informational, emotional, and physical support from the time your labour begins until your baby is born · Ongoing support for the first one - two hours after your baby is born to assist with the initial transition and breastfeeding · A post-partum followup phone call · Our team approach: When meeting the professionals please keep in mind that we offer a team approach and ask that you select a PRIMARY and a BACKUP professional. Although we pride ourselves on having our primary doulas attend your birth we are also aware that, at times, there are situations that arise in everyone's life and in these cases we have a backup to attend your birth.
For more information or to book labor support please email our Labor Support Director by clicking HERE
