Finding a Doula in Hawai`i

Benefits of having a Doula at your birth

Studies have found that birth companions, of which doulas are one type, offer numerous benefits both to the mother and child. Women with support have a reduction in the duration of labor, less use of pain relief medications, lower rates of operative vaginal delivery, and in many studies a reduction in caesarean deliveries. Newborns in supported births have lower rates of fetal distress and fewer are admitted to neonatal intensive care units. In addition, one study found that 6 weeks after delivery, a greater proportion of doula-supported women, compared to a control group, were breastfeeding, and these women reported greater self-esteem, less depression, and a higher regard for their babies and their ability to care for them.  These results are similar to findings that support from a female relative during childbirth has similar effects.

One study found doula support (without Lamaze classes) to be more helpful than Lamaze classes alone, as measured by levels of emotional distress and self-esteem evaluated at an interview 4 months after birth. In particular, it was noted that women in the doula-supported group reported their infants as less fussy than the Lamaze group.

What is a doula?

A doula is a non-medical assistant who provides physical, emotional and informed choice support in prenatal care, during childbirth and during the postpartum period. A birth doula is a continuous care provider for labor in many settings, also assisting the parturient woman during transport from home to hospital or birth center. A postpartum doula may begin care in the home (nutritious cooking for the mother, breastfeeding support, newborn care assistance, maternal-child bonding support, errands, light housekeeping) the next day after the birth, providing services through the first six weeks postpartum. In some cases, doula care can last several months or even to a year post partum – especially in cases when mothers are suffering from post partum depression, children with special needs require longer care, or there are multiple infants.

Types of Doulas

Labor/birth support doulas are labor support persons who attend to the emotional and physical comfort needs of laboring women to smooth the labor process. They do not perform clinical tasks such as heart rate checks, or vaginal exams but rather use massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, positioning suggestions, etc., to help labor progress as well as possible. A labor/birth support doula joins a laboring woman either at her home or in hospital or birth center and remains with her until a few hours after the birth. Some doulas also offer several prenatal visits, phone support, and one postpartum meeting to ensure the mother is well informed and supported. The terms of a labor/birth doula’s responsibilities are decided between the doula and the family. In addition to emotional, physical and informational support, doulas work as advocates of their client’s wishes and may assist in communicating with medical staff to obtain information for the client to make informed decisions regarding medical procedures.

Postpartum doulas are hired to support the woman after birth, usually in the family’s home. They are skilled in offering families evidence-based information and support on breastfeeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, infant soothing, mother-baby bonding, and coping skills for new parents. They may also help with light housework, coordinate freshly made nutritious meals for the mother, and help incorporate older children. The terms of a postpartum doula’s responsibilities are decided between the doula and the family.

Some hospitals and foundations offer programs for volunteer community doulas. Volunteer doulas play an important role for women at risk for complications, and those facing financial barriers to additional labor support. These doulas will offer continuous encouragement and reassurance to laboring women. In this way, volunteer doulas can encourage mother based birth advocacy, and motivate a woman to feel in control of her pregnancy.

The doula is an ally and occasional mentor for the father or partner. Their respective roles are similar, but the differences are crucial. The father or partner typically has little actual experience in dealing with the often-subtle forces of the labor process, and may receive enormous benefit from the birth-familiar presence of a doula in the vicinity. Even more important, many fathers experience the birth as an emotional journey of their own and find it hard to be objective in such a situation, and a doula facilitates the family process. Studies have shown that fathers usually participate more actively during labor with the presence of a doula than without one.  A responsible doula supports and encourages the father in his support style rather than replaces him.

A labor doula provides:

• Continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during labor and childbirth.
• Support from a professional care provider who understands, and trusts the process of birth, and who helps facilitate the birth experience for the parents, baby, and primary care providers.
• Explanations of medical procedures and interventions;
• Emotional support;
• Advice during pregnancy;
• Exercise and physical suggestions to make pregnancy and childbirth more comfortable;
• Help with preparation of a birth plan;
• Facilitation of communication between members of laboring woman’s birth team;
• Massage and other non-pharmacological pain relief measures, aromatherapy, any other non-medical comfort techniques she may be trained in;
• Positioning suggestions during labor and birth;
• Support the partner so that s/he can provide support and encouragement to the laboring woman;
• Help to avoid unnecessary interventions;
• Help with breastfeeding preparation and beginning;
• Some doulas offer a written record of the birth (birth story);
• Is present during entire labor and afterwards as long as is needed by parent(s).

A postpartum doula provides:

• Assistance with breastfeeding education and offers tips and informational support
• In home support for the mother, baby and family, anywhere from a couple days postpartum to several months.
• Informed and helpful newborn care help and assistance.
• Support for the partner so that s/he can support and nurture the mother, and the newborn baby.
• Evidence-based information with the partner that shows how his or her role in the early weeks will have a dramatic positive effect on the family.
• May also offer help in the following areas: household care, help with childcare/sibling care, meal preparation, errand running, and other tasks that may be requested.

Other resources:

http://www.dona.org/mothers/index.php

http://hawaiibirthsupport.com/

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doula

DONA (Doulas of North America)

Listing here: http://www.dona.org/search/results.php?nav=0

 

Hawai`i island 

Hawai`i Birth Support: http://www.hawaiibirthsupport.com/doulasnetwork.htm

Dr. Spellman: Perinatal Specialist {Monitrice/Doula,CB Educator, Lactation Counselor, Grief Counselor, Perinatal Yoga, Perinatal Massage/Acupressure , Baby Sign Classes.

 

O`ahu

Healthy Hapai: http://www.healthyhapai.com/

Hawai`i Childbirth Education Association/Doula Network of Hawai`i: http://www.hawaiichildbirthprofessionals.com here is a list of some of their doulas:

Kathryn Julia, Licensed massage therapist, Certified Labor doula – (808) 375-3465 or jultouch@yahoo.com

Kaela Ashton, Labor Doula- kaekailua@hotmail.com

Brynne Caleda, Labor Doula- (808) 753-8501 or brynne@brynnecaleda.com

Liko GIll – PikoBaby ‘Ohana Led Birth Services
http://www.pikobaby.com
(808) 724-6003
pikobaby.doula@gmail.com

 

BEST Birth Hawai`i – Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Center

Address: 3410 Campbell Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

Phone: (808) 664-4536

Jaymie Lewis

Labor Doula

Certified Lactation Consultant

sacredhealingarts@gmail.com

808-783-0361

 

Lea Garner
JustTheDoula.com
JustTheDoula@gmail.com
808-674-0780 808-489-7365
Birth & Postpartum Doula services, Childbirth Preparation Classes, Breastfeeding education & Support, Placenta Encapsulation

 

Liko Gill
PikoBaby ‘Ohana Led Birth Services
http://www.pikobaby.com
(808) 724-6003
pikobaby.doula@gmail.com

                                                   

Maui:

Pacific Birth Collective – www.pacificbirthcollective.org

Angelina Lombardo Meyer- http://www.MauiDoulaServices.com, (808) 572-1831 or (808) 268-8426

Monique Paris- (808) 269- 0888

Dr. Tracey Wright- (808) 575-5483

 

Kaua`i:

The Sacred Birthing School – http://www.sacredbirthingschool.com/contact-us.html

Barbara Essman, Labor Doula – 808.286.3602 or barbaraessmandoula@gmail.com

Seven Sisters Doula Collective, Kaua`i doula group.  http://www.KauaiDoulas.com