My husband and I are expecting for the first time (due in January) and are waffling on whether or not to employ the skills of a birth attendant. For the record, our offspring will be downloaded in the labor and delivery ward of modern hospital, and will be delivered by a fully competent and evidence-based obstetrician.
But studies show that the presence of a birth attendant (i.e., a doula) reduces both the duration of labor and the perceived discomfort of labor. That sounds good to me!
But how does one find an evidence-based doula?
I don't want a birth attendant that is staunchly anti-intervention (although obviously I'd like to avoid unnecessary interventions, and I recognize that what is necessary might be hard to determine in a tense situation-- but that's why I have an obstetrician that I trust). I don't want a birth attendant that chides me if I decide to get an epidural.
I'd like a birth attendant that can give helpful suggestions during labor ("Hey, you're obviously mighty uncomfortable in that position. Try this instead."), as long as those suggestions are reasonable and evidence-based. I'd like a birth attendant that (unlike myself or my husband) has seen enough births to know what's normal ("Yeah, it's supposed to hurt like that") and what isn't ("Hmm, that seems unusual and/or unnecessarily painful, let's page a nurse"). Recognizing that my doctor (and his nursing staff) can't be by my side through the whole process, having an "expert" in the room seems reasonable and beneficial-- and the data support it.
But the word "doula" often* seems to mean granola-eating** hippie with no medical training who thinks they know better than medical professionals, discourages any interventions or pain relief, and will encourage the use of incense and chanting to relief labor pains.
So how do I find a doula, or any sort of trained birth attendant, that is evidence-based? Are there specific key words I should be seeking, or secret phrases that can separate the woo from the non-woo? I plan to ask my OB at my next appointment, but thought I'd see if any folks here had ideas of how to begin.
* Note I say "often," not "always"
** I enjoy granola-- but I often eat it while reading Science Based Medicine.
But studies show that the presence of a birth attendant (i.e., a doula) reduces both the duration of labor and the perceived discomfort of labor. That sounds good to me!
But how does one find an evidence-based doula?
I don't want a birth attendant that is staunchly anti-intervention (although obviously I'd like to avoid unnecessary interventions, and I recognize that what is necessary might be hard to determine in a tense situation-- but that's why I have an obstetrician that I trust). I don't want a birth attendant that chides me if I decide to get an epidural.
I'd like a birth attendant that can give helpful suggestions during labor ("Hey, you're obviously mighty uncomfortable in that position. Try this instead."), as long as those suggestions are reasonable and evidence-based. I'd like a birth attendant that (unlike myself or my husband) has seen enough births to know what's normal ("Yeah, it's supposed to hurt like that") and what isn't ("Hmm, that seems unusual and/or unnecessarily painful, let's page a nurse"). Recognizing that my doctor (and his nursing staff) can't be by my side through the whole process, having an "expert" in the room seems reasonable and beneficial-- and the data support it.
But the word "doula" often* seems to mean granola-eating** hippie with no medical training who thinks they know better than medical professionals, discourages any interventions or pain relief, and will encourage the use of incense and chanting to relief labor pains.
So how do I find a doula, or any sort of trained birth attendant, that is evidence-based? Are there specific key words I should be seeking, or secret phrases that can separate the woo from the non-woo? I plan to ask my OB at my next appointment, but thought I'd see if any folks here had ideas of how to begin.
* Note I say "often," not "always"
** I enjoy granola-- but I often eat it while reading Science Based Medicine.
via JREF Forum http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=264888&goto=newpost
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