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Doula - Be Relaxed Calm and Confident
10th September, 2010
The word doula means in greek "hand maiden". In the modern world this means a birth attendant, who will support the woman through her labour. Giving encouragement and care that will help her to find her inner strength. Find her own ability to birth her baby.
Research has shown that having a doula present at births, can lower the amount of interventions and instrumental deliveries.
Women often feel more relaxed calm and confident, when labouring with the support of an experienced doula. The trust that has been built through previous contact, and continuity of care, helps the woman deal with the ebs and flow of the labour. She is free to be anything she wants in the labour. She is able to let go.
I have been a doula for 17 years, and have attend many births, at home and various hospitals in and around London. Especially East London and North East Greater London. (The hospitals I have attended are UCL, St Thomas's, Lewisham Hospital Birth Centre in Central London, King Georges's in Essex, and the new Queens Hospital in Romford, Homerton, Whipps Cross, Chase Farm - Princess Alexander and Newham General in Newham General in East London. I have also been present at many home births. I have actively support woman who wanted VBACs and have helped on woman to achieve 2 VBACs after two c-sections. I have also supported a number of couples achieve vaginal delivery of twins and more senarios besides.
My goal as a doula is to help the woman and her partner find their birth dance. The labour becomes a dance, and the energy between the three of us is powerful, intense, personal and funny at times.
This often is the first time the womans' partner has seen her in pain, or more importantly out of control. For him this may be stressful and frightening. Men often feel the pressure of needing to know everything that is happening, at any given time. This creates a state of anxiety and can be stressful for him and the labouring woman. With a doula present their anxiety is reduced and the couple will then be able to drop into an inner stillness, and be with what is happening in the here and now. The space and time has to be respected, and I encourage both of them to drop into this twilight space to find their own birthing dance.
For me I feel honoured to be invited to support the couple at their birth. Because I get so personally involved I tend to book women well in advance, and will not take more that two women in a month. I am on call for two weeks before the due date and two weeks after the due date. I will do a post natal visit after the birth, and under revised arrangments this time can be extended if need be. Especially when supporting breastfeeding or a woman that has had a c-section.
I am whats know as a birth doula, meaning I only support woman in labour, but we do have some connection before the labour with phone calls, emails and text. I am also happy to work through a previous birth trauma with a counselling session, (I am a trained counsellor and M.S.H.P) and help fine tune the couples birth plan.
There are post natal doulas available you would need to check out the doula.org.uk website to find them.
I am a member of Doula UK and a recognised doula.
If you need further details of pricing and conditions go to the www.doula.org.uk/about/arlenedunkley-wood
or contact Arlene on info@yoga4birth.co.uk or phone 02089236452.
www.doula.org.uk/about/arlenedunkley-wood
Advance notice is required before booking. Fees are expected in full 4 weeks before the birth.
I am now available to take bookings for September, October, November and early December 2010.
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