What is a doula? A doula is an ancient greek word meaning "woman who serves." A doula gives families physical, emotional and informational support leading up to and during birth. While a woman is lost in labour, she may not know exactly what is going on around her, but she can still feel everything happening. One of the greatest contributions a doula can make in labour, is for that woman to feel her love and support beside her through her labour journey.
It is actually proven that the presence of a doula at your birth results in shorter labour times, fewer complications (including reduction of forceps, vacuum extraction and c-sections), decreased use of pain management drugs and decreased need of labour inducing drugs like pitocin.
These photos show the true love and service of a doula.
Mother's who've had doula's report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, have fewer cesareans and lower rate of post partum depression. Studies have also shown that babies born with a doula present tend to have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries and breastfeed easier.
Jaydene Freund is a doula and birth photographer located in Vancouver, Fraser Valley.
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