DOULA STUDY GUIDE
doula - Answer -- a woman who gives assistance or advice to a new or expectant
mother, either informally or professionally
- a woman (typically without formal obstetrical training) employed to provide guidance
and continuous support during labor
offer support that is... - Answer -- unconditional
- nonjudgmental
types of doulas - Answer -- labor and delivery
- prenatal
- postnatal/child and maternal care
- abortion doulas
- doulas in prisons, hospitals, volunteers
do NOT - Answer -- have an agenda
- do NOT work to encourage someone to have a natural or medical birth
- do NOT counsel people on medical decisions
you are just holding space for them, you CAN make subtle suggestions, offer more
information, or answer questions.
first trimester abortion (suction) - Answer -- using suction to remove contents of uterus
- 15 minute procedure
- sedation of cervix, and also through IV
- pain varies from none to excruciating
- hand holding, smiling, distraction convos
first trimester abortion (medication) - Answer -- Mifepristone is taken at the doctor's
office
- some nausea
- 6 to 72 hours later at home a second Mifepristone is taken bucally (dissolved in mouth)
or vaginally
- heavy bleeding and cramps 1 to 4 hours after second pill, may last several hours
- follow up appointment a week later
- doula can provoke abortion with herbs, or otherwise offer massage and heat therapy
for cramps and bleeding
second trimester abortion (D and E) - Answer -- dilation and evacuation
- quicker, no hospitalization and labor like induction method
- sometimes possible to see fetus after an intact D and E
- osmotic dilators are short thin rods made of seaweed (laminaria) or synthetic Dilapan,
they expand, opening the cervix over time
- misoprostol, a prostaglandin that softens the cervix, can also be used for dilation
, - stronger pain meds and sedation than just suction, often general anesthesia
- pregnancy (placental and fetal tissue) is removed with vacuum aspiration, forceps, and
a curette (spoon like scraper)
- cramps and tugging sensation will occur
second trimester abortion (induction) - Answer -- less common than D and E
- similar to labor and delivery, medications that cause the uterus to contract and expel
the pregnancy
- commonly, prostaglandin suppositories or misoprostol tablets are inserted into your
vagina every few hours, oxytocin (Pitocin) may be given through an IV line
- an injection into the abdomen may be given to ensure fetal demise
- often occurs in maternity ward
- sometimes necessary once the pregnancy has reached a point where D and E is no
longer an option
- often used by those terminating pregnancies they did not wish to terminate, so they
can say goodbye to their child
miscarriage - Answer -- many people have manual or vacuum aspirations and D and E
to deal with incomplete miscarriages
- 15-20% of people miscarry in the first 7 weeks
- those miscarrying often need support as well
adoption - Answer -- pregnancy and birth are a different experience when they are not
leading to parenting
- may want or not want time with baby, bonding, breastfeeding
- sometimes plan may be kept private from hospital staff to ensure it is not interrupted
- people may not want to feel the pain of childbirth for various reasons, it can be
different than facilitating a natural birth
HIV - Answer -- black women are 15 times more likely to have HIV than white women,
and latinas are 4.5 times as likely
- risk of transmission from parent to child can be as low as 2% with proper technique
and care
- managed by maintaining a regimen of HIV medications during and after pregnancy
and testing and medicating baby after birth
- C section used to be the norm, but vaginal birth is recommended if precautions are
taken
- breastfeeding is seen as risky, however some chose to do it because of lower risk
- stigma affects HIV patients, help them find a provider that is caring and supportive
active labor - Answer -- part of the first stage of labor
- cervix begins to dilate more rapidly from 4 to 10 centimeters
- contractions are longer, stronger, and closer together
- last part of it is often called "transition"
doula - Answer -- a woman who gives assistance or advice to a new or expectant
mother, either informally or professionally
- a woman (typically without formal obstetrical training) employed to provide guidance
and continuous support during labor
offer support that is... - Answer -- unconditional
- nonjudgmental
types of doulas - Answer -- labor and delivery
- prenatal
- postnatal/child and maternal care
- abortion doulas
- doulas in prisons, hospitals, volunteers
do NOT - Answer -- have an agenda
- do NOT work to encourage someone to have a natural or medical birth
- do NOT counsel people on medical decisions
you are just holding space for them, you CAN make subtle suggestions, offer more
information, or answer questions.
first trimester abortion (suction) - Answer -- using suction to remove contents of uterus
- 15 minute procedure
- sedation of cervix, and also through IV
- pain varies from none to excruciating
- hand holding, smiling, distraction convos
first trimester abortion (medication) - Answer -- Mifepristone is taken at the doctor's
office
- some nausea
- 6 to 72 hours later at home a second Mifepristone is taken bucally (dissolved in mouth)
or vaginally
- heavy bleeding and cramps 1 to 4 hours after second pill, may last several hours
- follow up appointment a week later
- doula can provoke abortion with herbs, or otherwise offer massage and heat therapy
for cramps and bleeding
second trimester abortion (D and E) - Answer -- dilation and evacuation
- quicker, no hospitalization and labor like induction method
- sometimes possible to see fetus after an intact D and E
- osmotic dilators are short thin rods made of seaweed (laminaria) or synthetic Dilapan,
they expand, opening the cervix over time
- misoprostol, a prostaglandin that softens the cervix, can also be used for dilation
, - stronger pain meds and sedation than just suction, often general anesthesia
- pregnancy (placental and fetal tissue) is removed with vacuum aspiration, forceps, and
a curette (spoon like scraper)
- cramps and tugging sensation will occur
second trimester abortion (induction) - Answer -- less common than D and E
- similar to labor and delivery, medications that cause the uterus to contract and expel
the pregnancy
- commonly, prostaglandin suppositories or misoprostol tablets are inserted into your
vagina every few hours, oxytocin (Pitocin) may be given through an IV line
- an injection into the abdomen may be given to ensure fetal demise
- often occurs in maternity ward
- sometimes necessary once the pregnancy has reached a point where D and E is no
longer an option
- often used by those terminating pregnancies they did not wish to terminate, so they
can say goodbye to their child
miscarriage - Answer -- many people have manual or vacuum aspirations and D and E
to deal with incomplete miscarriages
- 15-20% of people miscarry in the first 7 weeks
- those miscarrying often need support as well
adoption - Answer -- pregnancy and birth are a different experience when they are not
leading to parenting
- may want or not want time with baby, bonding, breastfeeding
- sometimes plan may be kept private from hospital staff to ensure it is not interrupted
- people may not want to feel the pain of childbirth for various reasons, it can be
different than facilitating a natural birth
HIV - Answer -- black women are 15 times more likely to have HIV than white women,
and latinas are 4.5 times as likely
- risk of transmission from parent to child can be as low as 2% with proper technique
and care
- managed by maintaining a regimen of HIV medications during and after pregnancy
and testing and medicating baby after birth
- C section used to be the norm, but vaginal birth is recommended if precautions are
taken
- breastfeeding is seen as risky, however some chose to do it because of lower risk
- stigma affects HIV patients, help them find a provider that is caring and supportive
active labor - Answer -- part of the first stage of labor
- cervix begins to dilate more rapidly from 4 to 10 centimeters
- contractions are longer, stronger, and closer together
- last part of it is often called "transition"
