Melinda Delisle-Clark
childbirth educator
labor doula

This page will help you to decide if having the extra support of a labor doula is right for you. If you live in Metro Atlanta, GA, read on, then contact Melinda to see if she can meet your needs for labor support.

We are sorry, but Melinda is not currently attending births. To find a doula in your area, please visit one of the following websites:

www.gabirthnetwork.com
www.cappa.net 
www.dona.org
www.alace.org

We are sorry for any inconvenience and wish you well in finding a doula suited to your desires and personality.

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A labor doula is a woman who provides support to a mother through the birth process. The word doula comes from the Greek meaning "with woman." Doulas do not catch babies. In fact, a doula is not a labor professional at all, but an expert in helping women through labor and birth. Doulas are trained in relaxation techniques, coping with hospital procedures, maintaining mom's energy, and helping avoid unnecessary delays in labor. Most labor doulas will remain with a mother continuously from the time they arrive in labor until after the baby is born. (They might need a short nap, though, if labor goes long!) This is something that most labor and delivery nurses, midwives and doctors just don't have time to do, even though many would like to.

Though doulas have been around for centuries, they have only recently become popular in the United States. Years ago, birthing women were surrounded by family members and other close women of the community while they labored. These women lent their support, encouragement, and experience to the laboring mother. Today, doulas fill much of that role.

A doula is not a replacement for a woman's partner. We strongly encourage all women to have a labor coach who is emotionally close to them. Usually this is the baby's father, but it can also be a mother, sister, or friend. Many coaches find that, even after intense birth preparation classes, that they feel more comfortable with a "birth expert" present and hire a doula.

In order to have a positive birth experience, most women need continuous labor support. Although Obstetrical Nurses are experienced in dealing with a laboring woman's emotional and physical needs, they can seldom guarantee the support they provide will last throughout the labor - especially in hospital settings where shift changes, coffee breaks, heavy paperwork and busy nights regularly occur. Some OB nurses handle up to six laboring couples at a time. Midwives may be able to offer more labor support, but they too have clinical duties to which they must attend.

Continuous Support

According to the organization, DONA (Doulas of North America), doulas are women who are trained and experienced in childbirth, whether or not they have actually given birth themselves. The doula provides physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth. She offers help and advice on such measures as breathing, relaxation, movement, and positioning. She also helps the mom-to-be (and her partner, if one is there) gather information about the course of her labor and options during labor and delivery. And perhaps most important, she provides continuous emotional reassurance and comfort.

It's that word -- continuous -- that is such a vital part of a doula's role. "My doula met me at the hospital at noon, and was still there the following day at 4:30 when I finally saw my son for the first time," says Lawton.

 "That continuous presence is extremely important," says Lesser. "It's a great asset. The doula never leaves the mom's side. That's her job."

 Barnes-Jewish Hospital thinks so much of the value of doulas that in 1998, the hospital established its own doula program. Today, there are approximately 50 doulas on staff, so that any woman who would like to have a doula during her labor and delivery can request one. The service is provided free of charge. Approximately 25% of the women delivering at Barnes-Jewish ask for a doula, says Lesser.

 Fewer Complications

Research findings seem to back up the value of having a doula during childbirth. In the late 1970s, Drs. John Kennell and Marshall Klaus looked into ways to enhance the emotional bonding between mother and newborn. They found that having a doula in the labor room not only improved that bond, but also seemed to decrease the incidence of complications.

 "Studies have shown that doulas can lead to fewer Cesarean sections, a shorter labor, fewer requests for pain medication or epidurals, less need for oxytocin, and fewer instances of forceps delivery," says Lesser. "The role of the doula has increasingly been adapted as part of a positive birthing experience."

 Sarah Pinkner is a doula at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. While many doulas are hired privately by expectant parents, Pinkner enjoys being part of the hospital's staff. "Women of so many different cultures come into Barnes-Jewish," she explains. "This is an opportunity for them to take advantage of a service they may not have known about, or perhaps could not afford on their own." The cost of a doula varies throughout the country, but generally ranges from $200-$800.

As a doula, Melinda provides:

• explanations of medical procedures

• emotional support

• advice during pregnancy

• suggestions to make pregnancy more comfortable

• help with preparation of a birth plan

• massage and other non-drug pain relief measures

• positioning suggestions during labor and birth

• helps support the partner so that they can love and encourage the laboring woman

• help in avoiding unnecessary interventions

• help with breastfeeding preparation and beginnings

• written record of the birth

The father or partner, may be better able to provide continuous support but has little actual experience in dealing with the forces of labor. Even fathers who have had intensive preparation are often surprised at the amount of work involved (more than enough for two people). Even more important, many fathers experience the birth as an emotional journey of their own and find it hard to be objective in such a situation.

Will the Doula replace the father?

Some fathers or partners are concerned they may be sidelined or replaced by the Doula during labor. Although individual situations vary, and one should question a prospective doula about her philosophy, generally the answer to this question is no - she will not replace him. Studies have shown that fathers usually participate more actively during labor in the presence of a Doula than without one. A responsible Doula supports and encourages the father and enhances his support style rather than replaces him.
 

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According to Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth, by Kennell, Klaus, and Kennell (1993), having a doula can give you a:

50% reduction in cesarean rates
25% shorter labor
60% reduction in epidural requests
40% reduction in oxytocin (pitocin) use
30% reduction in analgesia use
40% reduction in forceps delivery

To learn more about my labor support services or to schedule a meeting to see if we would be a good fit, you can contact me (Melinda) at 770-794-6861 or classinfo@birthofafamily.com