It is a common miss-conception that doulas are only for women who plan to have a drug free, natural or un-medicated birth. While many women go into labor with a ‘birth plan’ and specific wished to how things will go, Birth is full of surprises. It is important to me that parents know I do not judge their decisions in the labor room and I will continue to support throughout their birth – no matter the outcome. My support is un-conditional. Choosing an epidural is not a decision made lightly. And there are situations in which I feel an epidural is the wisest choice, especially in situations where the labor is very long or un-usually painful due to the use of induction drugs. In fact, having a doula in the room can greatly increase the success rate of an epidural by encouraging massage and movement techniques to keep labor progressing along. One of the risks of an epidural is that is can greatly stall labor but having a doula that understands how to work with an epidural can work wonders. Below are some ways a doula can offer support around the use of an epidural:
· A doula can help you receive accurate and transparent info about epidurals beforehand.
· A doula can help you to wait as long as possible before getting an epidural – epidurals work best when received between 5cm-8cm’s. Even when planning an epidural as soon as possible, it is very unlikely to you will be able to receive an epidural as soon as you arrive to the hospital. Waiting as long as possible can help to minimize some the risks of epidurals such as fetal malpositioning and slow labor progress. A doula’s labor techniques can help you to manage until it is the right time for an epidural.
· A doula can help you change positions as you labor on an epidural – an epidural will limit you mobility greatly but, that doesn’t mean you must lie completely still on your back the entire time! In fact, movement is key in helping the baby navigate through labor and to help the dilation process. Turning from side lying to semi-prone, sitting up, using leg circles to mimicking side lunges will greatly prevent common side effects of epidurals namingly : fetal malposition which can lead to slower labor progress and cesarean section.
· A doula can keep the sacred space in the labor room, keeping the focus of the mother and the laboring process – often when a woman gets an epidural the whole birth team can fall apart. The medical staff begins to concentrate of the monitors more than the psychological process of the laboring woman, the mother can find she is left alone out of not needing as much physical support, and conversation can turn on to subjects not related to the present moment (woman is giving birth and going through a transformation into motherhood). Woman need quite, still inwardly focuses attention and emotional safety in order to go through birth. A doula remains by your side, keeps her quite support, and encourages quite still space around the mother. All of which help her body and her baby to adapt to the intense experience of Birth.
All families and women deserves a doula. Birth is very intense emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. Out of the entire medical staff, no matter what kind of birth you are planning, a doula is the only one who will take the time to know you before labor begins and who will stay with you through the entire birth.