By THERESA HOGUE
Gazette-Times reporter | Posted: Monday, April 21, 2008 12:00 am
Not too many decades ago, birth was a sort of communal affair, with the mother often surrounded by women of several generations providing support, advice and comfort before, during and after the baby was born.
Doulas hope to bring that kind of experience, understanding and support back in the birthing room, whether it takes place at a hospital or in a home. Doulas are trained women who are hired by the birthing mother or couple to provide emotional support and give parents the information they need to make informed choices about their birth.
"It's not just about advice," said Corvallis doula Irma Kapsenberg, who has been practicing for three years. "It's about their presence."
Doulas are not hired to deliver babies. That is the job of the obstetrician or midwife. Instead, they do everything from helping the mother find more comfortable positions that might encourage birth, to reminding fathers or partners to stay hydrated and well fed, to simply holding a woman's hand while she's in labor.
Unlike nurses and doctors, who are often coming in and out of a room during birth, doulas are there constantly, and are focused not just on the mother, but on the other family members or friends who are participating in the birthing experience.
"The biggest part of our job is supporting them in making their decisions," said Megan McKenzie, who has been a doula for two years. "We help get them the information they need."
"We help them to make educated decisions," Kapsenberg said, but they do not interfere with the advice of the attending physician or midwife.
"We can help make sure the clients know what's going on," McKenzie said. "If we see a breach in communication, or see that part of the birth plan is overlooked, we can slow things down. We remind clients that they have a voice."
They also completely support whatever kind of birth the mother requests, whether it's a natural birth, a birth aided by medication, or an elective Cesarean. They also don't get in the way of the interaction between parents.
"We support both parents in feeling comfortable," McKenzie said.
"We don't take away the role of the birth partner," Kapsenberg said.
Fathers and partners often enjoy the presence of a doula because their presence puts them at ease, McKenzie and Kapsenberg said, especially for first-time parents who aren't prepared for the intensity of labor.
"Fathers have told me, if you're calm, we know it's OK and that nothing's wrong," Kapsenberg said.
Doulas prefer to establish a relationship with the parents long before labor takes place, but they are also available at the last minute, or even to simply answer questions from expectant mothers. Most doulas offer postpartum care, and some doulas have a strictly postpartum role.
When doulas are present at birth, recent studies show that women typically have shorter labors, less need for medication, and have fewer Cesareans. There are about 15 doulas working in the area, and they serve clients giving birth at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis and Samaritan Albany General Hospital, as well as in Salem, Eugene, Portland, Newport, and at home births.
For doulas, it's not the location that matters, it's the birth itself.
"It's an honor to be invited to such an intimate affair," Kapsenberg said.
Beginning this Tuesday, the Corvallis Doula Network will hold informational meetings every fourth Tuesday of the month at the Corvallis Clinic. Participants can learn more about the role of doulas, as well as gain access to other birth resources.
Meet the Doulas Night takes place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, at the Corvallis Clinic Asbury Building dining room. For more information, go to www.corvallisdoulas.net.