Article about Birth Partners

(reprinted with permission of Today's Woman magazine)

Birth Partners: Two area 'doulas' offer experience, support and care

by Annette Henderson

Donald and Nikky Hill were driving to St. John's to deliver their second child. Nikky's water had broken, so they only had time to grab their overnight bag, notify their doctor, and call one last person on their cell phone --Nikky's doula.

Marlene Hoke, who had assisted in the stages of Nikky's pregnancy since the second month, met the Hills at the hospital and spent the next three hours offering a range of comfort measures and physical support during labor. Later, in rest and recovery, Marlene also provided help and instruction with breastfeeding. As Nikky remembers, "It was wonderful having someone there as your personal advocate, to have someone help you read the monitors, tell you when you're peaking, help you with the transition from the delivery suite to your room. Marlene explained what was happening throughout my labor, and that personal focus was a huge plus."

Although throughout the 90s doulas received great exposure and praise nationwide, the presence of doulas in the Ozarks is a fairly recent phenomenon. The term "doula" can be translated from it Greek origins to mean "woman's servant," but according to Doulas of North America (DONA), a doula is a "supportive companion (other than a friend or loved one) who is professionally trained to provide physical, emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth."

Additionally, professional doulas provide comfort measures such as breathing, massage and positioning advice during labor and delivery. "The role of a doula is an age-old concept," explains Patty Bodine, a local doula. "The service is being recognized as beneficial to today's laboring women and their families."

Currently, Springfield has approximately fifteen doulas and three doula services. One service, Birth Partners, was formed last year by Patty and Marlene, who have worked together in Labor and Delivery at St. John's for eleven years. Both enjoy the assistance they provide as surgical technicians in deliveries, but both are convinced of the value of doulas during childbirth. "Labor nurses want you to have a positive labor experience, but the reality is they may need to divide their time between two or more patients, and your personal physician may not always be available," explains Patty, discussing how laboring women are commonly cared for by a number of strangers. "With a doula," she adds, "a woman has the comfort and consistency of a professionally trained support person from labor through delivery."

Marlene, a partner in Birth Partners who has over 18 years of clinical experience in Labor and Delivery, agrees. "The clinical aspect of my job is very exciting, but there is so much more to helping someone have a baby. It's giving a hand to squeeze, wiping a brow, telling someone "you CAN do this' when they most want to give up."

When Patty, a mother of three who works full time, first became interested in becoming a doula, she knew she wanted to add to her many years as a surgical tech by going through the full certification process administered by DONA, the national certifiying agency for doulas. In addition to writing reports and essays, Patty had to provide her services to three laboring women and receive positive evaluations from their caregivers, doctors, and nurses. As a result, Patty is currently one of only three certified doulas practicing in the Ozarks. "One of the best things about being a private doula," Patty said, "is that I get to stay with one couple or Mom from the start of labor until the end of the entire birth process."

Naturally, some expectant parents wonder if having a doula will diminish the role of the father or other loved ones that may serve as labor coaches. Local doulas, as well as DONA, quickly insist that, far from being "left out" or replaced, loved ones still play the essential role in providing support during labor. In their pamplet and in initial consultations with couples, Birth Partners stresses that a doula "will always be there in addition to, not instead of, your partner."

"After the delivery I told Nikky that I was so glad Marlene was there," Donald Hill admits after having one child without a doula and his second child with someone he strongly recommends. "She allowed me to relax and not feel so pressured. I was able to concentrate on what was most important to Nikky and me."

The medical community has also been very supportive of the use of doulas and has published further evidence of their value. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, more that 13 scientific studies conducted by the early 90s have shown that the assistance of doulas during labor can reduce the use of forceps by 57 percent, reduce oxytocin augmentation by 71 percent, and even reduce the length of labor by an average of 98 minutes. The DONA website (www.dona.org) also displays findings supported by the World Health Organization, the Coalition for the Imporvement of Maternity Services (CIMS), and other prominent health organizations that report how doulas can decrease anxiety and tension during labor, decrease the incidence of post-partum depression, and can even enhance maternal/fetal bonding.

One Springfield OB/GYN, Dr. David Redfern, has seen the impact doulas can have on the process of childbirth on several occasions. "Services like Birth Partners provide an important benefit during a highly stressful life event, their knowledge and compassion are invaluable during labor," Dr. Redfern observes, also noting that, "Doula support has been shown to lower C-Section rates and lessen the need for pain intervention."

Suzie Payne, the mother of one recent Birth Partners client, agrees. "It was great to know someone was there to take care of things so I could quit worrying and enjoy just being a grandma."

The benfits for doulas aren't simply monetary. "The birth of a child is one of the most important events in your life and a day you will remember forever," Patty and Marlene concur. "Anything we can do to make that day a wonderful experience for a family is a great reward for us."

When choosing a doula, don't be afraid to question her credentials, labor beliefs and experience. "There is a great deal of diversity among doulas," say Patty and Marlene. "Find the one that is right for you."