WELCOME TO CHESHIRE DOULAS

Welcome to Cheshire Doulas, available to attend births at your home or in hospital. These are some of the Hospitals covered, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, Wythenshawe Hospital , Macclesfield Hospital, Countess of Chester Hospital, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester,Tameside General Hospital, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Trafford General Hospital, and Hope Hospital, Salford.



Benefits

Research has shown that having a doula present at a birth:-

• can shorten first time labour by as much as 2 hours
  
• decreases the need for pain medication
  
• decreases requests for epidurals
  
• lowers the intervention rates
  
• decreases the chance of caesarean section
  
• helps fathers participate with confidence

After birth mothers who have doulas are:-

• more likely to successfully breastfeed for longer
  
• less anxious and depressed
  
• have greater self esteem and are more confident with baby
  
• more satisfied with their partner

"Doula" (pronounced "doola") is a greek word meaning "woman servant or caregiver."
In modern day society it now refers to "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during or just after childbirth." (Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, Mothering the Mother 1993)
A comprehensive review published by the Cochrane Library, the biggest source of evidence-based healthcare in the world, concluded that having a doula (or other non-medically trained woman present at the birth) is the best guarantee you can have these days of a natural untraumatic experience of childbirth. Women who have a doula present, rate the birth as less difficult and less painful, than women who are not supported by a doula.


Studies have shown that doulas offer numerous benefits both to mother and child. Whether having your baby at home or in hospital, whether it be your first, second or third baby, whether it be a planned caesarean or a natural birth, continuous support throughout labour is of upmost importance. This is not always possible especially with a hospital birth, as shift changes and strained resources mean a vital element of care has been lost from the whole process.

It used to be the case that women within the immediate and extended family (mothers/sisters/grandmothers etc) would be on hand, providing support, advice, encouragement, guiding with experience, and helping with the practicalities that need to be performed before, during and after a woman gives birth to a baby. But unfortunatly for many women this is not always possible with changes in society and life styles, causing us to live far from our families and/or our extended families being extremly busy. The tradition of having a doula allows the labouring woman to have a private advocate who is dedicated soley to her needs.