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Questions About Doula Services
What Can a Doula Do For Me?
According to Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a
Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth, by Kennell, Klaus, and Kennell
(1993), having a doula can give you a:
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50% reduction in cesarean rates
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25% shorter labor
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60% reduction in epidural requests
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Reduction in oxytocin (pitocin) use
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30% reduction in analgesia use
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40% reduction in forceps delivery
What Questions Should I Ask My Doula?
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Is she certified?
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Does she provide prenatal and/or postpartum visits?
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What can you expect during these visits, if offered?
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How many births has she attended?
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Can she provide references?
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What form of training has she had?
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What types of births has she witnessed (Cesarean, epidural,
intervention free, VBAC, teen birth, etc.)?
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Her fee? And does she have a sliding scale or other arrangements
available?
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Has she ever worked with your care provider or at your place of
birth?
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Does she has back-up arrangements available?
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What will her role be in early labor?
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Will she provide labor support at your home prior to going to the
place of birth?
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Is she familiar with many methods of childbirth?
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How does she define her role during labor and birth?
The bottom line is, do you and your partner like her?
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