Doula
Training Program
A DONA International approved birth doula
training
Supporting the Woman in Labor
The Buncombe County Health Center (BCHC) supports women
having doulas to enrich their birth experience. The BCHC
Volunteer doula program provides doulas at no charge to
all Spanish speaking women who attend our childbirth education
program. The BCHC also sponsors "Supporting the Woman
in Labor ” a DONA International approved doula training.
Completing such a training is the first step in becoming
a certified doula with DONA. For more information about
the doula training go to: http://www.wncdoulas.com/Doula_Trainings_in_WNC.htm
Doulas are trained and experienced in childbirth and provide
continuous physical, emotional, and informational support
to the expectant mother and her partner during labor, delivery
and in the immediate postpartum period. The word "doula" is
an ancient Greek word meaning “women’s servant” but
today refers to a woman who helps new parents. Studies show
that when doulas are present at birth, women have shorter
labors, fewer medical interventions, fewer cesareans and
healthier babies. Recent evidence also suggests that when
a doula provides labor support, women are more satisfied
with their experience and the mother-infant interaction
is enhanced as long as two months after the birth. With
doula support, fathers tend to stay more involved with their
partner rather than pull away in times of stress.
Today, a father's participation in childbirth education
classes, his presence at prenatal visits and in the hospital
is a familiar occurrence. Yet, we sometimes forget that
the expectations of his role as a "labor coach" may
be difficult to fulfill. Sometimes it is also culturally
inappropriate for an expectant father to be so intimately
involved in the process of labor and birth.
The woman’s birth partner is expected among other
things to become familiar with the process and language
of birth, to understand medical procedures and hospital
protocols and advocate for his or her partner in an environment
and culture they are usually unfamiliar with. A doula can
provide the information to help parents make appropriate
decisions and facilitate communication between the laboring
woman, her partner and medical care providers.
For more information about doulas see: www.dona.org and
for the local doula organization DAMA (Doulas of the Mountain
Area) see www.wncdoulas.com .
Or call our certified doula and doula trainer for
DONA and coordinator of the doula program at the Buncombe
County Health Center at - 250-6987.
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