Doula is an experienced woman in motherhood, offering help and care for pregnant and postpartum women. She is not a midwife, she does not deliver or assist the doctor. Doula helps the pregnant woman and her family to get through the pregnancy, can participate in childbirth and provides support during the puerperium.
Doula(Greek: woman who serves) is an educated, experienced mother who provides support during pregnancy and after giving birth. She supports a pregnant woman and her family during pregnancy, and provides substantive, physical and mental help. Doula can also participate in the birth itself and support the birthing woman. Provides assistance after childbirth and during the puerperium. Doula gives a sense of security, provides psychological protection to a pregnant woman.
Is doula a midwife?
Doula cannot be confused with a midwife, they are two different jobs. The midwife has a medical education and provides medical care for a pregnant woman. The midwife assists the doctor during the delivery and ensures its proper course. For several years, midwives in Poland have also been able to conduct a physiological pregnancy and provide home births.
Doula, on the other hand, deals with non-hospital care. She provides advice and mental support, also as an experienced person in motherhood. She acts as a guide, supports and advises. However, he does not have medical education, so using a doula, even an experienced one, cannot replace a consultation with a doctor or midwife.
Douleappeared in Poland about 10 years ago, but they have been known around the world since the 1960s. It was in the United States that the first mention of douli appeared in the book of an anthropologist Dany RaphaelTender gift: Breastfeeding . The concept of douli was extended by American researchers who, based on the observation of childbirth in Guatemala, assessed the impact of childbirth on the later bonds between mother and child. The help of the doula in such cases turned out to be invaluable. At the end of the 1980s, the idea of doula reached Western Europe, where it was recognized as a profession in many countries.
For many years, researchers have emphasized the importance of a safe, dignified birth. It is estimated that continuous psychological support before delivery and help during labor facilitate the transition through this difficult time. Currently, the number of home births is small and care in hospitals is limitedmost often used to secure childbirth from a medical point of view. Therefore, it seems necessary to support the child in labor. On the part of doula, you can count on mental and informational support, relating to pre-delivery exercises, relaxation, care and care for the newborn.
After years of observation, no negative effects of the doula's work were found. The choice of such cooperation is always up to the pregnant woman, and the doula care itself is payable - its scope depends on the woman's needs and is a contractual matter.
Doule in PolandassociatesDOULA Association in Poland , which has been operating since 2011. On the association's website, you can search for certified doules that provide their services in specific cities. Since 2015, the first Annual Study for Doul in Poland has been operating at the Medical School of Wielkopolska, based on the proprietary program of Dr. Małgorzata Chochowska, MD.
Association address: http://www.doula.org.pl/