Hope + Doula = VBAC
In my quest for a VBAC, I believe having a doula will be one the of key ingredients for success. Doulas are amazing and they significantly improve the labor and delivery process. From Doula Difference, a doula:
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
- Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and clinical providers
The statistics provide further proof…From childbirth.org, by using a doula for labor and delivery support, there is a:
- 50% reduction in the cesarean rate
- 25% shorter labor
- 60% reduction in epidural requests
- 40% reduction in oxytocin use
- 30% reduction in analgesia use
- 40% reduction in forceps delivery
Knowing the statistics, choosing to have a doula seems like a no-brainer; but some just simply cannot afford to have one. The only negative is doulas are not covered by insurance. I find this shocking and sad. I would assume insurance companies save money when when a woman chooses to use a doula for her birth, a win-win, right? I hope that this will change in the near future for the benefit of everyone.
Covered or not, I am making the investment and I look forward sharing yet another success story in the end!
