Mother’s Choice
Doula Services by Heidi Sylvester
Contents
What
is a doula?
Currently
most births take place in a hospital with nurses doing the bulk of the care for
a laboring woman (usually a the nurse is caring for a number of women). Before birth was moved into the hospital a
woman labored at home surrounded by her mother, sisters, friends or neighbors
who helped care for the expectant mother and her older children. These were women who had usually given birth
themselves and had provided labor support many times for the women in their
communities. A doula is a modern version
of these women helpers. Today most women
do not have access to such a support network and even if they do they are not
familiar with all that goes on in a hospital birth. A doula is a woman experienced with birth and
specially trained to know about hospital procedures, risks and benefits of
different interventions, and especially how to support and help laboring
women. A doula can provide expectant
parents with information about the choices they may need to make during the
course of labor. A doula is trained in a
wide variety of comfort techniques for labor.
A doula is knowledgeable about techniques that will help labor proceed
normally and quickly. Clinical studies
have shown that doulas have a positive effect on labor in the following ways:
- 50%
reduction in cesarean birth
- 30%
reduction in requests for pain medication
- 60%
fewer requests for epidural anesthesia
- 25%
decrease in the length of labor
- 30%
decrease in use of Pitocin
- Reduction
of medical cost
- Increased
breastfeeding success
- Greater
overall satisfaction
See DONA’s Birth Doula Position Paper
for more information on the studies.
My Birth Philosophy
I have two main beliefs when it
comes to birth. First, I have faith in women’s
abilities to make the best choices for themselves, and second, that birth is a
natural, normal, healthy process that goes best when we don’t interfere. This is sometimes a fine line to walk. Some moms will feel safest and have the best
birth when they have an epidural or an IV, even though those are interventions
into the natural birth process.
I believe that many women would make
different choices about how they want to give birth if they had confidence and
trust in their bodies and their abilities.
I have faith in women’s abilities to give birth and I want my clients to
share that. Many women today don’t have
a lot of first-hand experience with birth and so they have to base their
opinions on the dramatized and exaggerated births they see on TV and in
movies. Even women who have given birth
before often don’t know how much different the experience is when they have
support and permission to trust their instincts. We are all familiar with the dramatic version
of birth; a woman lying in bed screaming through labor as her husband stands by
helplessly-- but when a woman is supported and following her instincts the
reality becomes a woman working with the power of her body by standing, leaning
on her partner, while her doula rubs her back and quietly encourages her. Childbirth does not have to require
suffering.
Giving birth
is a tremendous moment in a woman’s life and she will remember it as long as
she lives. She should have positive
memories of being surrounded by love and caring. Birth is a rite of passage in our lives and
as such should be treated with reverence and respect. I really want my clients to come away from
birth with a renewed sense of their own power as women.
Training
I have been a student of birth since 2000 and have read countless books relating to pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. Kristi Ridd-Young trained me as a doula in 2003, in a DONA-approved class. I have special training and experience in aromatherapy, self-hypnosis, guided imagery, and supporting teenagers and survivors of sexual abuse. I have also completed training in neonatal resuscitation. My knowledge and skills are kept up to date by going to conferences, attending any training classes that I can, keeping current on the latest birth and pregnancy related studies, and reading doula and midwifery journals. I have also been fortunate to learn from Claire Stanley RN, doula, childbirth educator and certified hypnotherapist. I have also been privileged to attend births with Jules Johnstun CPM, LDEM learning the art of midwifery and assisting her and her clients. I have a special interest in serving women having vaginal births after cesareans (VBAC), having had personal experience with that.
Services
Basic doula services include: 2-4 prenatal visits (this will depend on the
needs of the expectant mother), the entire birth including early labor at your
home, 1 postpartum visits, and phone support.
I attend births in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.
Private childbirth classes are available.
I also offer belly-casting services with the option of your
belly cast being painted by my very talented sister. You can tell her how to paint it or let her
design it; her work is shown below.
I feel strongly that every woman who wants a doula should have one, even if she can’t afford the fees. I am always willing to negotiate my fees or barter for goods or services. For example, you could give me permission to use photos or videos of your birth for teaching or on my website, you could cook, scrapbook or sew for me. Please contact me if payment is preventing you from hiring a doula.
About Me
My name is
Heidi Sylvester and I squeeze my passion for birth in around my full time job
of being mom to 7-year-old Roxanne and 4-year-old Erik. Roxanne’s birth was the emergency cesarean
that sparked my fascination with all things birth-related. Erik was born at home, naturally and
peacefully. Fortunately I have a great
husband who is very supportive and has enough flexibility in his job to step in
when I need to attend a birth. I also
have an addiction to beads and make and sell jewelry, beaded scarves, etc. I love nature and enjoy growing herbs,
watching birds and hunting for rocks and crystals. I also enjoy reading and learning about
different cultures’ religions and spirituality.
I aspire to become a midwife someday.
View the slideshow of Erik’s birth Here
I have been ranting on a blog these days about a variety of
topics, visit that Here
Contact
Information
E-mail
address
Heidi@mothers-choice.com
Phone
523-5981
Cell
Phone
358-2797
Please visit the websites for my backup doulas (interview
all of us and find the best match for you!):
Favorite
Links
www.utahdoulas.org - the website of the
Utah Doula Association, find more doulas to interview in your area.
www.gentlebirth.org –
This is a collection of information gathered from a large group of midwives,
there is helpful info for everything pregnancy/birth related.
www.midwiferytoday.com - the forums
on this site are a great place to get information.
www.dona.org
- Lots to learn from the world’s largest doula organization.
www.hencigoer.com
- Henci’s books should be required reading for expectant moms.
www.sheilakitzinger.com
- I especially like Sheila’s research section.
She is a marvelous author.
www.midwifejules.com -
My mentor’s website.
www.spinningbabies.com
- Lots of information on helping babies to get into the optimal position for
birth.
This is a video of a birth that I want all
women to see; it is marvelous, but also graphic so be prepared! Click Here
Heidi
in action as a doula.
Last revised: 01-08-08