Many mothers-to-be in U.S. stick with age-old tradition

Emily Newman — CUMBERLAND — Despite the rapid advance of technology, many women in the United States have stuck with a tradition thousands of years old. Doulas, or birthing assistants, aid pregnant women by providing continuous support throughout the pregnancy and the birth.

“Obstetricians approach birth as if it is a disease. Midwives and doulas approach all births as normal human functions,” said Melissa Lafferty of Cumberland, a certified doula.

Doulas of North America’s online source says they do not replace the role of the husband partner, but instead work to increase it through emotional, physical and informational support. Although they do not perform clinical tasks, a doula works alongside the obstetrician, physician, midwife and nursing staff to help the woman achieve the birth she desires. By providing information on everything from prenatal health to breast-feeding, a doula is able to support the mother through the labor and even provide less stress for fathers.

“A doula frees the father up to play the role that he wants to,” said Lafferty.

Doulas and midwives stress the importance that birth is up to the woman, not to the obstetricians and hospitals. According to “The Business of Being Born,” a documentary produced by Ricki Lake, the U.S. has one of the highest infant mortality rates of any developed country. Birth advocates, like Lake and Lafferty, are working to let women decide how they want their experience to be.

“Birth has been taken over by patriarchs and economics,” said Lafferty.

According to “The Business of Being Born,” hospitals spend billions of dollars a year on unnecessary Cesarean sections and that the percentage of women who actually need a “C-section” is very small. Both Lafferty and Lake agree that most women can have a natural birth, without epidurals, Cesarean sections or any other labor drugs.

“We are working to reclaim the tradition of birth and to empower women to make their own choices,” said Lafferty.

The word Doula originates from Greek, meaning “woman’s servant.” Labor assistants have been around thousands of years and in almost every culture in history women are assisted by other women during birth.

Research done in 2003 from Hodnett, Gates, Hofmeyer and Sakala has shown using a birth doula results in a 50 percent drop in Cesarean rates, 25 percent shorter labors, a 60 percent reduction in epidural requests, and 40 percent reduction in Oxycotin and forcep use.

Lisa Moreland of Ridgeley W.Va., was trained as a doula in 2005 and has since assisted in 12 hospital births.

“It’s definitely fulfilling. Childbirth is a very important part of a woman’s life,” said Moreland.

In addition to being a DONA-certified birth doula, Moreland is a social worker who specializes in perinatal services.

“The way you feel after you give birth naturally is incomparable. You feel like you can conquer the world,” said Shanti Hicks of Oldtown, a mother of two and a birth advocate.

The certification process is somewhat lengthy. After spending three days training at the nearest DONA center in Pittsburgh, Lafferty and Moreland were required to do a great deal of reading in order to educate their patients on things like breast-feeding, the birth process, postpartum practices and comfort techniques. Upon completing the training and readings, Moreland and Lafferty were certified.

Postpartum and antepartum certifications are slightly different than the birth doula certification.

A postpartum doula assists the mother at home. Whether it’s answering breast-feeding questions or cooking the family’s dinner, the after-birth doula tries to acclimate the mother to life with the new baby.

Antepartum doulas are a newer concept. They help throughout the beginning of the pregnancy. Those mothers assigned to bed rest or with high-risk pregnancies benefit highly from their help. They provide informational and emotional help, as well as cooking, cleaning and whatever else the mother-to-be needs.

“I just want every woman to know that without medical problems, a natural birth is possible,” said Hicks.

To obtain a doula or for more information, contact At Your Cervix Birth Services at (240) 727-6680.