The Value of Labour Support During Caesarean Birth
The use of trained labour assistants or doulas has become popular in the UK and US during the past twenty years.
These specially trained lay persons can provide vital assistance during labour, birth and the early post-partum period.
There have been several scientific studies that document the benefits of doula support during labour, including:
Yet caesarean mums are more likely to experience difficulty breastfeeding.
Resulting in a significantly lower breastfeeding rate at six-week post-partum as compared to vaginal birth mums.
Caesarean mums are also at significant risk of birth trauma or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Trained labour assistants or doulas have skills and experience that allow them to directly intervene in these eventualities offering better long-term outcomes for mums and babies.
Why then are more caesarean mums not utilising the services of doulas? Many women when they find out that their baby will need to be born by caesarean may feel as if the doctor will control their births.
But a doula can help these mums to be more active participants in their births which will increase the opportunity for bonding and enhance their chance of breastfeeding successfully.
Types of support that a doula can provide to a caesarean birth family include:
As mentioned earlier, doulas have an impressive documented history of working with mothers in natural births, but not all doulas have experience with caesarean birth.
When interviewing a doula for a caesarean birth, it is important to find a doula that is comfortable and experienced with this.
You may want to ask her a few specific questions such as:
Because she will remain by your side from the moment you go to the hospital until after you are in your room, it is important that you are completely comfortable with this person.
The role of your doula is to educate and empower you to make your surgical birth as personal as possible.
These specially trained lay persons can provide vital assistance during labour, birth and the early post-partum period.
There have been several scientific studies that document the benefits of doula support during labour, including:
- Shorter labours
- Lower the use of pain medication
- Reduced caesarean rates
- Enhanced bonding and breastfeeding.
Yet caesarean mums are more likely to experience difficulty breastfeeding.
Resulting in a significantly lower breastfeeding rate at six-week post-partum as compared to vaginal birth mums.
Caesarean mums are also at significant risk of birth trauma or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Trained labour assistants or doulas have skills and experience that allow them to directly intervene in these eventualities offering better long-term outcomes for mums and babies.
Why then are more caesarean mums not utilising the services of doulas? Many women when they find out that their baby will need to be born by caesarean may feel as if the doctor will control their births.
But a doula can help these mums to be more active participants in their births which will increase the opportunity for bonding and enhance their chance of breastfeeding successfully.
Types of support that a doula can provide to a caesarean birth family include:
- Educational information on family-centred caesarean births
- Assistance writing their birth plan
- Relaxation and massage techniques for surgery and recovery
- Emotional support of mum and partner before, during and after the birth
- An extra set of hands for taking pictures and other things so that your partner can enjoy time with you and the new baby
- Breastfeeding expertise during the early post-partum period
- Debriefing of the birth experience and
- Referral to other resources if necessary.
As mentioned earlier, doulas have an impressive documented history of working with mothers in natural births, but not all doulas have experience with caesarean birth.
When interviewing a doula for a caesarean birth, it is important to find a doula that is comfortable and experienced with this.
You may want to ask her a few specific questions such as:
- What is her personal experience with caesarean birth? Did she or someone she care about have a caesarean birth?
- How many of her clients have had caesarean births? How many were planned caesareans?
- What is her view of the caesarean birth experience?
- What breastfeeding training has she received? Any special training for breastfeeding following a caesarean?
Because she will remain by your side from the moment you go to the hospital until after you are in your room, it is important that you are completely comfortable with this person.
The role of your doula is to educate and empower you to make your surgical birth as personal as possible.