Welcome to
The Lady's Hands
Doula Service
Serving Birthing Women, Partners and Families in
Central and Northern Wisconsin. Green Bay,
Crandon, Antigo, Wausau, Stevens Point,
Rhinelander, Shawano and all points between.
Photo by Cammie
McCue
Offering Birth Doula Services, Private Childbirth Education,
Belly Casting, and Breastfeeding Support, and More
Birth Doulas Make a Difference
This information has been copied with permission from the
DONA International website

The value of providing laboring women with continuous emotional support,
physical comfort, and encouragement has been recognized worldwide.

Given the clear benefits and no known risks associated with intrapartum
support, every effort should be made to ensure all labouring women receive
support, not only from those close to them but also from specially trained
caregivers. This support should include continuous presence, the provision
of hands-on comfort, and encouragement. Hodnett, E.D. Support from
caregivers during childbirth (Cochrane Review) in Cochrane Library,
Issue 2. Oxford Update Software, 1998. Updated Quarterly.

A Doula provides support consisting of praise, reassurance, measures to
improve the comfort of the mother, physical contact such as rubbing the
mother’s back and holding her hands, explanation of what is going on
during labour and delivery and a constant friendly presence. Such tasks can
also be fulfilled by a nurse or midwife, but they often need to perform
technical/medical procedures that can distract their attention from the
mother. Care in Normal Birth: a Practical Guide. Report of a Technical
Working Group. World Health Organization, 1996.

Facing unprecedented pressures to reduce expenses, many hospitals are
targeting the largest single budget item – labor costs… (An) unintended
consequence of nursing cutbacks may be an increased cesarean rate; the
inability of pared down nursing staff to provide continuous coverage to
laboring mothers (has been) shown to increase the chance of a
cesarean…Doulas clearly improve clinical and service quality; they provide
an absolutely safe way to reduce cesareans and other invasive birthing
interventions. Coming to Term: Innovations in Safely Reducing
Cesarean Rates. Medical Leadership Council, Washington D.C. 1996

Professionals have paid much attention to innovative technology and the
many new options for monitoring and managing labor. While the technology
is important, it can become so prominent that clinicians ignore both the
natural aspects of labor and the non-technical needs of women in labor…
Changes that support the patient in labor and reinforce the natural,
physiologic process…. Includes providing one-to-one psychological support
for patients using nursing staff or Doulas. Reducing the Cesarean
Section Rates while Maintaining Maternal and Infant Outcomes.
Bruce L. Flamm et al. Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Boston,
1997

The continuous availability of a caregiver to provide psychological support
and comfort should be a key component of all intrapartum care programs,
which should be designed for the effective prevention, and treatment of
dystocia (non-progressive labor). Guidelines on Dystocia. Society of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, 1995.
DISCLAIMER:

I, Sue Blevons, The Lady's Hands Doula Service, nor any representatives there of,
are not responsible for any  misunderstood or misrepresented information found in
this site. If there is something that you do not understand please contact me.


It is the opinion of The Lady's Hands Doula Service that the information found on
this web site should not replace medical advice or medical care by the care giver
of your choice. But, should give information about options that can be discussed
with your care giver.


It is the opinion of The Lady's Hands Doula Service that the information found here
should  be used for informational and educational reasons ONLY!

I DO NOT provide medical care of any kind, nor will I attend an unassisted birth.  I
am a non-clinical support provider.
The Lady's Hands Doula Service
Mission Statement

Your birth experience will be a life long memory, Hiring a Doula can help insure
that the birth of your child will be a memory of satisfaction. As a Doula I
recognize birth as a key life experience, I understand the physiology of birth
and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. I will assist the laboring woman in
preparing for and caring out plans for the birth of her baby. I will stay by the
side of the laboring woman throughout her birth experience providing emotional
support, suggesting practical comfort measures and providing objective
information to aid in decision making. I will supplement rather that replace the
woman’s partner or care provider.  I will help make a woman's birth experience a
positive event with rich rewards and feeling of accomplishment.
Site last updated 4/17/2008