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Date: | Fri, 5 Jan 1996 22:47:00 PST |
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This is in response to Judy Holtzer Knopf and the post about Doulas.
I am a trained doula, DONA trained by Penny Simpkin, and currently
working on my certification. A doula is a non medical person who provides
emotional and physical support to women in the last trimester of pregnancy
,while in labor and in the immediate postpartum period. A montrice is some
one with medical training who can monitor the labor while providing
emotional and physical support to the woman. I could see student nurses
fitting in very nicely in that role but not as a doula. I would have
concerns that the role as a non medical person would get cloudly to a
student nurse.
I also have some hesitation about doulas being hired by the hospital
it would be difficult to advocate for the client when necessary. The doula
never makes decisions for the woman but some time has to advocate for the
woman so her birth plan is respected. As for the woman who chooses an
epidural she still needs the emotional support of a doula.
The first thing that a doula learns is to keep her own agenda to herself and
respect the choices that the woman has made. Part of the role of the doula
in the last trimester is to help the woman make good informed decisions.
Labor is much different when you have someone to support and guide a woman .
Sometime the constant presence of a supportive
person allows the woman to go through labor feeling safe and confident
that she is capable of laboring and birthing her baby and the idea of using
drugs during labor is often rejected by the woman. Often this is by a
woman who was certain they would need the drugs.
As a doula I believe that every woman who wants a doula should have a
doula. In my area I am welcomed a t the local hospitals and work well
with the nurses while I am there. Thier response is that they can do thier
jobs better when a doula is providing constant emotional and physical
suppoert to the laboring woman.
Judy, if you have anymore questions or a response let me know.
Pat Gorman CLE and Trained Doula
Sublimity, Oregon USA
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