Word: doulas
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...former labor Doula and am currently leading the national effort to reverse hospital bans on vaginal birth after caesareans [April 28]. Mothers never tell me that they chose a medically unnecessary caesarean. Rather, their caesareans were ordered, coerced or bullied by their doctors because labor was too early or too late, mom was too small or too big, baby was too small or too big, mom had too much or too little amniotic fluid or for myriad other reasons sometimes verging on the bizarre. Plus, let's not forget that many hospitals in our country forbid women who have...
...baby is born" - allowing for a smoother departure from the workplace, and letting fathers and grandparents know when to take time off. The famous Asian penchant for astrology can even be indulged. "Whenever there is an auspicious date, there will be a planned cesarean," says Singaporean doula Ginny Phang (a doula is a private birthing coach who is not part of the hospital team...
...time when the average prenatal visit with an obstetrician lasts six minutes, Guralnick's 1 1/2-hr. visit with the Suris feels like good value for the money. Doula fees vary greatly by geographic area. The range is approximately $300 to $1,000 for a labor doula, and postpartum specialists charge hourly rates of $15 to $35, though often with a 15-hr. minimum. As doula services are not yet covered by medical insurance, most doulas say their clientele tends to be affluent...
Despite the growth in demand for doulas, skepticism in the medical community is long-standing. Judith Halek began working as a doula more than 13 years ago, at a time when doulas were unfamiliar to most obstetrics professionals. "A ward nurse once asked me if I was part of a cult," recalls Halek. "I explained that I was there to provide support. We've come a long way, but we still have a long...
Opinions vary greatly, according to experience. Dr. David Axelrod, an ob-gyn in Alexandria, Va., recalls one doula who invited a father in just as Axelrod announced he needed to do a C-section. "That caused a little bit of a fuss," says Axelrod. "But basically a lot of my patients like their doulas, and they're becoming more popular...