On the heels of my doula trainer Lesley Everest's post regarding her births of 2011, I thought I'd take some time to go over the birth stats of the women I supported this year.
2011 was my first year as a doula and fresh off my training, I started accepting clients in the spring and have been on call almost constantly since. I love being a doula! It has been a wild ride of a year, from taking the step in following my passion to realizing the goal of working for myself, and doing something that makes me feel that I am making a difference. It truly feels amazing and I am so blessed that women and families have invited me into their lives, homes, and births. What a year. I am so looking forward to 2012 and all that it has to bring.
I doula-ed for 13 women this year! (There was 1 more expected for 2011, but at this point it's safe to say this will be a 2012 baby!) Because this isn't a huge number, it isn't easy to make any assumptions or gather any real statistics but this is just it, my year as a doula in review:
12 were planned hospital births, 1 was a planned birthing center birth that ended in a transfer to hospital.
4 of these births were C-Sections, 1 planned for twins (second time mom), the other 3 were unexpected c-sections (all for first time moms). 2 of the 4 c-sections were induced due to post-term babies with cervidil and/or synto and turned into long and difficult labors. Both ended in c-section due to some form of fetal distress. C-Section rate of 30%, which is actually quite high.
A stat that I find interesting is that 8 of the 13 women had some form of induction or synthetic augmentation of labor (Cervidil, synto, articifical rupture of membranes/water breaking). In some cases it was to begin labor, in others to keep contractions strong and close together. 6 of these women had epidurals, and 3 had c-sections. All of my clients who took an epidural also had some form of induction or augmentation of labor (before or after the epidural).
3 women had epidurals, but did not have c-sections. Of those who did have epidurals followed by c-sections almost all took the epidural as an alternative to a c-section in order for labor to progress.
Epidural rate of 23%.
Like most other doulas, I accept as clients those who want a natural birth, those who aren't sure, and those who know for sure they want an epidural. Many are surprised by the outcomes of their births and find that what they thought was impossible actually can be achieved and some also find that birth is full of surprises and is always keeping us on our toes.
I very much agree with Lesley's take on the "natural birth" stats- as if we could fault a mother for needing a vacuum extraction or some synto to get contractions closer together and then "take away" her pride in having a natural birth. When a woman tells me she hopes for a natural birth, of course she would like to avoid any unnecessary interventions, but she is mainly referring to a non-epidural birth.
Of my 13 clients 5 had natural births.
Of those 5, 3 gave birth on hands and knees and the other 2 used a variety of positions during the second (pushing) stage.
An interesting stat: 7 of these 13 women had NO or very minimal (1st degree) perineal tearing and NONE had episiotomies! This is wonderful to hear, as a very common fear I hear from women is how worried they are about tearing. I saw many women pushing following their own urges rather than directed pushing from hospital staff, and I also saw many doctors applying compresses or using their hands as counter pressure so as to reduce the pressure of the baby's head on the perineum.
My first birth I attended this year (and ever!) was also the most medically hands off as well as very memorable. All of mom's wishes were respected, she labored in her own home made shirt with buttons sewed on for easy skin-to-skin access, there were no IV's, no managed 3rd stage, no tearing, she delivered on hands and knees, and also arrived at the hospital at 7cm- the nurses and doctors barely believed she was a first time mom!
I am very much looking forward to the births I'll be attending in the next few months and here's to many more happy and healthy moms and babies!
Happy New Year!
2011 was my first year as a doula and fresh off my training, I started accepting clients in the spring and have been on call almost constantly since. I love being a doula! It has been a wild ride of a year, from taking the step in following my passion to realizing the goal of working for myself, and doing something that makes me feel that I am making a difference. It truly feels amazing and I am so blessed that women and families have invited me into their lives, homes, and births. What a year. I am so looking forward to 2012 and all that it has to bring.
I doula-ed for 13 women this year! (There was 1 more expected for 2011, but at this point it's safe to say this will be a 2012 baby!) Because this isn't a huge number, it isn't easy to make any assumptions or gather any real statistics but this is just it, my year as a doula in review:
12 were planned hospital births, 1 was a planned birthing center birth that ended in a transfer to hospital.
4 of these births were C-Sections, 1 planned for twins (second time mom), the other 3 were unexpected c-sections (all for first time moms). 2 of the 4 c-sections were induced due to post-term babies with cervidil and/or synto and turned into long and difficult labors. Both ended in c-section due to some form of fetal distress. C-Section rate of 30%, which is actually quite high.
A stat that I find interesting is that 8 of the 13 women had some form of induction or synthetic augmentation of labor (Cervidil, synto, articifical rupture of membranes/water breaking). In some cases it was to begin labor, in others to keep contractions strong and close together. 6 of these women had epidurals, and 3 had c-sections. All of my clients who took an epidural also had some form of induction or augmentation of labor (before or after the epidural).
3 women had epidurals, but did not have c-sections. Of those who did have epidurals followed by c-sections almost all took the epidural as an alternative to a c-section in order for labor to progress.
Epidural rate of 23%.
Like most other doulas, I accept as clients those who want a natural birth, those who aren't sure, and those who know for sure they want an epidural. Many are surprised by the outcomes of their births and find that what they thought was impossible actually can be achieved and some also find that birth is full of surprises and is always keeping us on our toes.
I very much agree with Lesley's take on the "natural birth" stats- as if we could fault a mother for needing a vacuum extraction or some synto to get contractions closer together and then "take away" her pride in having a natural birth. When a woman tells me she hopes for a natural birth, of course she would like to avoid any unnecessary interventions, but she is mainly referring to a non-epidural birth.
Of my 13 clients 5 had natural births.
Of those 5, 3 gave birth on hands and knees and the other 2 used a variety of positions during the second (pushing) stage.
An interesting stat: 7 of these 13 women had NO or very minimal (1st degree) perineal tearing and NONE had episiotomies! This is wonderful to hear, as a very common fear I hear from women is how worried they are about tearing. I saw many women pushing following their own urges rather than directed pushing from hospital staff, and I also saw many doctors applying compresses or using their hands as counter pressure so as to reduce the pressure of the baby's head on the perineum.
My first birth I attended this year (and ever!) was also the most medically hands off as well as very memorable. All of mom's wishes were respected, she labored in her own home made shirt with buttons sewed on for easy skin-to-skin access, there were no IV's, no managed 3rd stage, no tearing, she delivered on hands and knees, and also arrived at the hospital at 7cm- the nurses and doctors barely believed she was a first time mom!
I am very much looking forward to the births I'll be attending in the next few months and here's to many more happy and healthy moms and babies!
Happy New Year!
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