A midwife in the delivery room has traditionally been seen as the safest way of giving birth. But with a critical
shortage of NHS midwives, many women are turning elsewhere for help. Meet the 'doula', the new must-have accessory
for middle-class mums-to-be. The term comes from Ancient Greek and refers to 'a woman of service'. In the context
of labour, she is a birthing assistant, offering emotional and practical support.
The
practice of having a 'doula' is an ancient one. Historically, women assisted other women as unofficial 'doulas'
when birth took place in the home. After the birth, a woman remained with her doula for a "lying in" period during
which she recuperated and got to know her baby. As birth became more medicalised, the role of the doula was diminished. Women
were admitted to hospital, gave birth and were discharged in a matter of days. The pressure on them was enormous so it is
no surprise that the doula is making a return. In 2004, around 700 women hired a doula. Last year, it was 2500.
Trained doula
and mental health nurse, Marcia Blackstock, runs Doula Consultancy Services (DCS). She founded DCS in 2005 after a traumatic
pregnancy herself. Now Marcia, a team of midwives, and a consultant obstetrician head up a doula training course at Middlesex
University. In its first year, around 50 doulas have been trained.
"Too
often mothers are rushed back into normal day-to-day activities,'' says Ms Blackstock. 'With the help of a doula,
a mother can enjoy some of the benefits of a prolonged 'lying in' period. This helps her bond with her baby and spend
extra time with any older siblings."
No doubt the growing popularity
of doulas owes something to celebrity endorsement. Nicole Kidman had a doula at the birth of her baby, Sunday Rose, last year.
'I'd heard horror stories of 40 hours of labour,'' she said, ''and I was sure that would be me, but
I had a very easy labour".
In 2003 the Cochrane Collaboration, the internationally
respected health care research organisation, published the results of a study involving 13,000 women. It showed that the continuous
support of a doula can reduce first time labour by two hours, decrease the chances of caesarean by up to 50 per cent and even
decrease the need for pain relief.
Hayley Win, 32, from East London, used
a doula during the birth of her second child, Isabel, now aged seven months. This followed a bad experience with her first
child Gabriella, now two. Gabriella was born with a cleft palate making her difficult to feed. "The midwives told me
it was my fault, that I was doing it wrong, and that the baby was lazy. But she wasn't latching on. Had I had a doula
there, she would have been more active in helping me to breastfeed and I would have had emotional support."
Hayley's doula was Aleks Rechtman, a 33 year old complementary therapist nd trained doula. They met four times during Hayley's pregnancy to chat about her concerns, and to talk about the delivery. During the birth itself, Aleks rubbed Hayley's back and held her hand, whilst her husband held her other hand.
"The first time I gave birth I was unsure about a lot of things, and the midwives were all too busy.
This time it was reassuring having my own person with me," says Hayley.
After
returning home, Hayley was visited by Aleks several times in the first week, and then weekly for the first couple of months.
She was a source of advice, helping with childcare and the housework. Aleks believes that with midwives under increasing pressure
- sometimes attending up to six births at a time - the time for doulas has come.
"If a woman gives birth in hospital she is often left to her own devices. Having a doula means you're more likely
to be relaxed so there's less chance something will go wrong."
There is currently
no Government regulation of doulas so the Doula Consultancy is trying to establish a council to have some guidelines. At the
moment doulas are available for women who can afford them, although voluntary doula projects are available at some maternity
units. The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is broadly in support of doulas but insists they should not be a substitute for
midwives or to cover for midwifery staffing shortages'
The Doula Consultancy
www.findadoula.org.uk 0844 25 10 374, charges £599.99 for a birth package, which includes two ante-natal visits,
attendance at the birth and follow-up support.
The Daily Telegragh 12th October 2009