Doula Power

I want to share with you a story of a challenging birth I have just supported. She very much wanted a normal birth, preferably a waterbirth, but had chosen a private obstetrician and private hospital. She had practised hypnosis for birth, attended acupuncturist, naturopath, pre-natal yoga, homeopathy, to enhance her chance of a normal birth. At 42wks. she went into labour, following the dreaded membrane sweep by the obstetrician. From the beginning it did not look like normal labour, with strong and very short, frequent surges (contractions). She demanded an epidural immediately. Her partner became very angry at her decision. He left. Disappeared for about 4 hrs. and uncontactable. She depended on her doula, even more. After many hours, with much intervention, she had a successful caesarean section, with a baby who was presenting in a very awkward position. Her partner was still angry, but present, as best he could be. I supported her choice to have an epidural, followed by the ensuing medical intervention, including the caesarean. It was the best and only choice for her and her baby. She said, many times, that her partner was always much more committed to a normal birth than was she. It raises many questions when men have a very different view and how these women can feel totally disempowered and intimidated by their partners wishes for their baby to experience a normal birth, with no drugs or other intervention. As her doula, I was able to advocate for her choices, bring them together as a couple, encourage Dad to support and nurture their very unwell baby at birth, negotiate with the obstetrician, anaesthetist, midwives and operating theatre staff. Every birth is different, and I can only hope that ‘Doula Power’ made a difference in the mother-father-baby connection.