Doulas Are Becoming Increasingly Popular Participants in Tennessee Births

By Thomas Greer | March 26, 2014

If you are pregnant and you are in the process of planning your birth, you may want to think about whether to have a doula assist you with labor and delivery. You have heard probably heard about doulas, as an increasing number of families are including them as part of their birthing team. A doula is someone who provides support to a mother as she goes through labor and delivery. More and more families are choosing to have a doula join them in their journey through childbirth, and for good reason. Research has shown that families who receive continuous support from a doula during labor and delivery receive fewer medical interventions and experience fewer complications than those who do not.

Some of the medical interventions that are commonly used during labor and delivery increase the risks of certain birth injuries. For example, when Pitocin is used to induce or speed up labor, contractions can sometimes become too rapid. When contractions are too close together, the placenta cannot replenish its oxygen supply and there is a risk that the baby will experience brain damage as a result of oxygen deprivation. Forceps and vacuum extractions also create risks of harm to the infants that they are used to deliver.

When a mother and her partner bring a doula to their birth to provide support, some of the things that they do can contribute to reducing medical interventions without increasing the risk of harm to the baby. For example, a doula can help the mother try different positions during labor which may help the baby to be birthed spontaneously. In contrast, women who labor without a doula often find themselves being instructed to labor on their backs. Back labor reduces the size of the pelvic outlet, which could result in the use of forceps of a vacuum extractor. Spontaneous birth also eliminates the need for the baby’s body to be manipulated inside of the birth canal, reducing the likelihood of brachial plexus injuries.

While hospital policies may vary, most do permit doulas to be present with their clients during labor and delivery. Let your prenatal care providers know that you are interested in finding a doula to assist you with your birth. They may recommend one or more doulas in your local area. The internet is another way to find local doulas. Since the doula that you select will be helping you with one of the most highly personal experiences that you will ever have, it is essential that you find someone that you are comfortable with. Check their credentials, visit them in person, and make sure that you are all on the same page about what it is that you want during your birth.

Having a doula assist you with labor and delivery can reduce the need for some of the medical interventions which have been shown to cause certain birth injuries. Unfortunately, interventions are sometimes required, and birth injuries can still occur whether there are interventions or not. If a birth injury has harmed your child, it is important that you get help from an attorney right away. The skilled Tennessee birth injury attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC are here to help you during this difficult time. We will sit down with you to learn about your case, answer your questions, explain your options, and help you decide how to proceed. To learn more, call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case.  At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.

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