Published: March 9, 2008



 To the Editor: 

Re ''And the Doula Makes Four,'' by Pamela Paul (Sunday Styles, March 2): 

I
recently gave birth to my son with the assistance of an experienced
doula, without an epidural and other interventions that I had hoped to
avoid. 

Your article, in emphasizing negative experiences with
doulas who seem to be acting inappropriately and outside their scope,
does a disservice to parents. 

Medical literature has
demonstrated that with a qualified doula, a mother is likely to have a
shorter labor with fewer complications, including a lower chance of
Caesarean section. 

Diana Graham, M.D. 

Raleigh, N.C. 

To the Editor: 

Your
article reported that ''44 percent of women described the relationship
between their hospital nurses and doulas as hostile, resentful and
confrontational.'' 

In fact, this study -- which surveyed a
total of nine women from a single hospital in north-central Alabama --
found that four women described their nurses as behaving that way. 

The
doulas, on the other hand, were described as ''calm,'' ''respectful''
and ''the best investment I have ever made in my life.'' 

In my
experience as a doula, the vast majority of nurses welcome doulas'
respectful support and nonmedical role. I can only hope doulas will
become more widely available so every woman who wants one can have this
kind of support during childbirth. 

Dorian Solot 

Albany 

The
writer is a birth doula certified by DONA International, a professional
organization that provides training and certification as well as
information for prospective clients. 

To the Editor: 

It
seems Americans do more research on car purchases than on medical
providers and hospitals. I did my research and had an amazing doula for
the birth of my first child. 

When my second son was born, we
had trouble with breast-feeding. A certified lactation consultant saved
our breast-feeding relationship. 

While I am sure there are bad
doulas and lactation consultants, I believe the majority are excellent
and much needed in our over-medicalized birth environment and
pro-formula society. 

Corinne Griswold 

North Granby, Conn. 











 

 


Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA
Intuitive Parenting Network LLC

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