What is the role of a doula in a C-section delivery?

A doula is a professional that offers emotional, physical and informative support to women during birth. Their role is fundamental to the humanization of childbirth, be it a normal birth or cesarean delivery.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has long established that the ideal c-section rate is between 10% to 15%. In those cases, it’d be performed to save lives, and not cause damage.

When a necessary c-section isn’t performed timely, the maternal mortality rate rises because of the lack of safe immediate surgery. However, unnecessary c-sections put women at risk and prevents the rates of maternal and neonatal morbimortality from reaching ideal numbers.

Researched about doulas’ work throughout the years indicate that the presence of a doula reduces the probability of delivery through c-section.

When a c-section is necessary, planned or not, a doula can help the woman before, during and after the procedure. Let’s take a look at how a doula can support a family whose baby was deliveries through a c-section.

Prenatal planning and support

Doulas can help their clients prepare a birth plan to a planned or non-planned c-section delivery. The doula can help the family’s preferences be respected to ensure safe c-section birth.

Birth doulas have access to precious knowledge on options parents may want to discuss with their doctor if a c-section is necessary.

Calming presence during pre-operation and procedure

Once admitted to the hospital and awaiting surgery, people can get nervous, anxious and scared. Medical procedures and delays can ass stress to the situation, and thus, doulas can provide immediate help with distractions, calming techniques and orientating about the procedure while the family awaits the surgery. Going into a c-section prepared and confident makes a big difference to the experience.

During the procedure, the doula can take photos and help the family remain present and focused on receiving your baby. The doula can also help the mother and the baby perform skin to skin contact and quickly as possible in the operation or recovery room.

If necessary, she can also help to discuss about the woman’s wishes for the moment so the medical team can offer personalized assistance.

Staying with the mother if the baby is admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

In a case in which the newborn needs to be take to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) immediately after birth, her partner or companion is free to go immediate with the baby while the doula stays with the mother.

The doula can facilitate communication between parents that might be in different ares of the hospital and can request that the family stays in NICU as soons as possible after recovery.

Immediate support for lactation

The doula can help the mother breastfeed the newborn as soon as the baby starts showing signs they’re ready. Suggestions about supportive positions and help with the first latches can help make the feeding comfortable and positive upfront.

If the baby is admitted to the NICU, the doula can help in manual extraction or milk pumping, obtaining a colostrum supply that can be taken to the baby as soon as possible.

Processing the birth experience

During postpartum visits, the doula might attend to the family as they process the birth experience. It is not uncommon and many emotions arise after a c-section, planned or not, specially if it was an emergence.

A doula can offer resources like support groups, therapists, lactation consultants, physical therapists, masseuses, and other professionals that can help with emotional and physical recovery in the first days and weeks.

When a delivery happens through a c-section, the doula might be a critical member of the team, supporting the family in the prenatal period, before, during and immediately after birth and postpartum visit.

Studies show that the presence of a doula during c-section births is associated with many benefits to the woman, including:

• Reduction of anxiety and stress: the presence of a doula can help women feel more relaxed and safe, reducing levels of anxiety and stress
• Increased childbirth satisfaction: women that are supported by a doula usually feel more satisfied with their childbirth, regardless if it was a normal or c-section birth
• Reduction of analgesia usage: the presence of a doula can help women to deal with labor pain in a natural way, which can reduce the usage of analgesia

If you’re planning a c-section birth, consider hiring a doula. The presence of a professional doula can make your birth experience more positive and tranquil.