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JOYFUL CHILDBIRTH DOULA |
MIDWIFE |
- Be with a labouring
woman constantly from the start of labour
until baby is in her arms
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- Be with you constantly
in the later stages of labour and until
your baby is in your arms
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- Perform medical procedures
& make diagnoses
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- Support you with comfort
measures
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- Offer professional massage
for over an hour (potentially two or three
hours or more)
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- Restricted by hospital
protocol/ routine
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- Offer you support in
the operating room if you need a caesarean
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(most hospitals won't allow
more than one birth partner to be present) |
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- Offer routine medical
examinations, eg. vaginal exams, positioning
of baby, blood pressure and foetal monitoring
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- Spend more than three
hours with you in a session before the
birth to fill your head with positive
stories, listen to your fears and answer
questions
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- Offer casual meet ups
to build a trusting relationship
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- Travel with you both
to Birth Care (or other maternity hospital)
or back home after your birth
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- Have four or less expectant
mums to attend to each month
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Below
are just some of the differences between our Joyful
Childbirth doulas and your midwife. All births
in New Zealand will be attended by a midwife even
if you are under the care of an obstetrician.
If you have an obstetrician they will be in and
out of the hospital room during your labour and
will be there to support you during the time your
baby is come out into the world. Obstetricians
are obviously specially trained with surgical
and medical interventions and so no comparison
will be made here with doulas and obstetricians.
