The Birth Centre for homebirth, waterbirth and natural birth

"Doula" is a Greek word meaning "a woman who helps other woman".
The term has come to mean a caregiver that provides continuos physical, emotional and educational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth.
A Doula is a trained person, most often a woman who understands the biological and medical processes involved in labour and obstetrics.
Her training also involves knowledge of obstetrical intervention, so she can explain to the mother and partner in the event that they are needed.

A Doula's function is to care, create and support. By caring the Doula offers emotional, physical and spiritual support to the birthing woman and those who will be with her during her labour. Emotional support by way of verbally encouraging and bringing awareness to the birthing woman that by bringing forth alife, she is going through a natural process that is the most powerful force on this earth. Massage and touch in general give the woman the physical support she needs and may also include supporting her to squat while she births her child.
The Doula gives spiritual support by encouraging the mother to use whatever gives her inspiration to assist her with her labour and birth.

By assisting the midwife to create a birthing atmosphere that enhances the birth and empowers the mother, the Doula helps to make the birth a whole and fulfilling experience for all.
Part of the Doula's duty's lies in assisting the midwife with the practicalities of birth, such as setting up of necessary equipment. By working with the medical profession the Doula's function is to ensure that the needs and requests of the mother are not compromised while being a constant and reassuring source to the birthing family.

The studies that have been conducted have showen that a doula reduces the length of labour by 25 % and reduces the caeserean section rate by 50%. Not only do they help reduce intervention such as forcepts and the use of inductions but the mother tends to breast feed. Postnatal depression is reduced when doula's are used.

It's a good idea to employ a doula to assist you with one of the most special times of your life.
The average doula charges R600.00 a birth which includes a antenatal consult and a postnatal check.

This extract was written by Cyrenna Sorour - Pioneer Doula and midwife Tracy Roake

The Birth Centre has a Doula Training School that does part-time courses.
This is an amazing course for the lay person who would like to become a birth assistant.
The course is Approx. R3000.00 for the year and includes birth experiences. The student doula's have to write exams and do assignments for more info email TRACY on mwbirth1@mweb.co.za.

Look in the directory for a list of qualified Doula's in your area.
These doula's are recommended by The Active Birth Association and The Doula Society of South Africa as well as The BIRTH Centre.

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