What is a Doula?
The term comes from a Greek word meaning “to serve”. Birth doulas serve and support expectant parents and their families with the emotional and physical aspects of childbirth. Postpartum doulas serve and support after childbirth. Both birth and postpartum doulas can assist birthing parents and their families in getting information to make the very best health care decisions for themselves and their families.
Why should you hire a doula?
Having a doula at your labor and birth can lead to shorter labor with fewer complications. Doula support reduces the need for labor-inducing drugs such as Pitocin, vacuum extraction, and cesarean births. Mothers who work with a doula have a lower percentage of epidural use, and have more positive feelings about their birth. Research shows parents who receive support:
What is a Midwife?
A midwife is a healthcare professional who provides obstetric and gynecological care. What distinguishes midwives from other OB/GYN providers is that the midwifery model of care is highly focused on patient-centered care, empowerment and shared decision making.
What Does a Midwife Do?
Why Might You Want to Choose a Midwife?
You may want to consider working with a midwife if:
The term comes from a Greek word meaning “to serve”. Birth doulas serve and support expectant parents and their families with the emotional and physical aspects of childbirth. Postpartum doulas serve and support after childbirth. Both birth and postpartum doulas can assist birthing parents and their families in getting information to make the very best health care decisions for themselves and their families.
Why should you hire a doula?
Having a doula at your labor and birth can lead to shorter labor with fewer complications. Doula support reduces the need for labor-inducing drugs such as Pitocin, vacuum extraction, and cesarean births. Mothers who work with a doula have a lower percentage of epidural use, and have more positive feelings about their birth. Research shows parents who receive support:
- feel more secure and cared for
- are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
- have greater success with breastfeeding
- have greater self-confidence
- have less postpartum depression
- have lower incidence of abuse
What is a Midwife?
A midwife is a healthcare professional who provides obstetric and gynecological care. What distinguishes midwives from other OB/GYN providers is that the midwifery model of care is highly focused on patient-centered care, empowerment and shared decision making.
What Does a Midwife Do?
- Provide care before, during, or after your pregnancy.
- Provide family planning and preconception care
- Do prenatal exams and order tests
- Watch your physical and psychological health
- Help you make your birth plans
- Advise you about diet, exercise, medications, and staying healthy
- Educate and counsel you about pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care
- Give you emotional and practical support during labor
- Admit and discharge you from the hospital
- Deliver your babies in a safely manner
- Make referrals to doctors when needed
Why Might You Want to Choose a Midwife?
You may want to consider working with a midwife if:
- You want your childbirth to be as natural as possible with little medical intervention, such as an episiotomy, fetal monitoring, labor induction, etc.
- You want the emotional, practical, and social support that midwives provide.
Serving the Greater Houston area including: Alief, Mission Bend, Katy, Bear Creek, Memorial, Spring Branch, Sugar Land, Richmond, Missouri City, Stafford, Sharpstown, Pearland, Kingwood, The Woodlands, Spring, Humble, Cypress
Reference
Welcome to the Madriella Doula Network!. Madriella Doula Network. (2022, December 27). https://madriella.org/
What is a doula. DONA International. (2023, June 23). https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula-2/
professional, C. C. medical. (n.d.). What is a midwife? when to see one & what to expect. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22648-midwife