A Dou-What?
Meet
The New York Baby!
We are excited to partner with
The New York Baby to bring you
birth and postpartum support. Unsure about what a doula can do for you? Stephanie Heintzeler, founder, explains the advantages below.
Being pregnant brings up a lot of questions and new expenses, so why think of even more expenses, like hiring a Doula? Because having a Doula in your corner will eventually lower your other expenses, and make your birth a much better in general. Why? Here are the statistics:
Having a doula by your side will...
Lower your need for the artificial contraction medicine Pitocin by 31% • Lower the risk of getting a C-section by 40%
Lower the risk of needing any pain medication by 20%
Lower the risk of your baby being admitted to the NICU by 20% • Lower the risk of having a traumatic birth by 40%
More great facts on doulas:
You can choose your OB, but your doctor often works in a team of 4-6 people, so there’s a high likelihood that they won’t be on call when you deliver. A Doula is always on call, and will show up for you.
A Doula is the only one that will be always be in the room. Nurses and doctors come and go and change shifts.
Nurses have many other responsibilities. Aside from helping care for you, the nurse is communicating with your care provider, taking care of other patients, documenting care, taking breaks, and taking care of other responsibilities. A nurse’s support ends when her shift does. The doula only has one obligation the whole time she is with you—and that is YOU!
A Doula knows how to comfort you no matter how you behave during the contractions. You will learn about the best technique for you during labor; whether it’s breathing, relaxation, massaging or finding a good position.
A doula can stay with you in your home until it’s time to go to the hospital, often saving you the risk of showing up too early and being sent back home. • A Doula does home visits, so she gets to know you in your own environment before heading into the busy hospital environment. She also does postpartum visits to help you care for your little one.
A doula continuously reassures and comforts you (the key word is continuous—a Doula never leaves the mother’s and partner's side). • You will have help to be informed about various birth choices. Doulas support you in the hospital or at home, for natural births, epidural births, and planned c-sections.
You will have your doula look after your partner as well (give them bathroom and nap- breaks!). Mothers-to-be sometimes think that they don’t need a doula because their partner will be with them continuously throughout labor. Your partner is an essential support person for you to have by your side. However, your partner will need to eat, sleep and use the bathroom at times. Also, most partners have limited knowledge about birth, medical procedures, or what goes on in a hospital. Doulas and partners always work together to make up a labor support team.
We live in a country that has a 30% C-section rate (sometimes over 40%)—this is not because those C-sections are necessary, but because it’s common for the birth team to suggest it. If there is no one in the room who can advocate for an alternative, sadly a C-section becomes inevitable in far too many cases. Whether you want a natural childbirth or not, doulas are often the only advocate you have in the room, helping you feel empowered in creating the birth you want to have.
Have a think about it, book your childbirth classes and talk to your partner about it. When you are ready to meet a doula who fits your needs and budget feel free to contact us at www.thenewyorkbaby.com. Our system will walk you through your options, pricing and available doulas.
Warmly,
Stephanie
My name is Stephanie Heintzeler and I am a German educated midwife and acupuncturist as well as US educated birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, CLC (Cerified Lactation Counselor) and IBCLC (Lactation Consultant). I founded “The New York Baby” in order to put parents in touch with a doula who fits their needs and budget as well as make sure parents have continuous support not only during birth but also post partum. Parents can choose to meet and work with me for birth and/or lactation consultations or hire one of the birth and postpartum doulas or baby nurses.
