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Maternity Center
Frequently Asked Questions about Birth Doulas

In an effort to continue to provide excellent care to our patients, Holy Cross Hospital is pleased to offer birth doula services. This program provides its clients with a birth doula who will work exclusively with them to provide support during labor and the immediate postpartum period.

What is a doula?
“Doula” refers to a professionally trained supportive companion who provides physical, emotional and informational support to laboring women and their partners during labor and birth. The doula’s role emphasizes continuous support and non-medical coping assistance.

What is the impact of having doula support during labor and birth?
Doula support has been shown in scientific studies to contribute to:

• decreased length of labor for 1st births
• decreased requests for pain medication
• increased participation of partners in the birth experience
• increased rates and duration of breastfeeding
• improved perception of the birth experience & positive self-image

How can a doula help me?
Doulas can help in many ways, here are just a few:

• She will provide emotional support by helping with relaxation techniques, encouraging a positive attitude, guiding you through rough moments and by reassuring and encouraging your partner.
• She will provide physical support by suggesting positions and strategies to enhance labor progress or minimize discomfort.
• She will provide informational support by describing common interventions and procedures, explaining the labor process to your family and support team and facilitating communication between you and your medical care team.

What services does the Birth Doula Program offer?
Having a Holy Cross Hospital doula can make your childbirth experience easier and more comfortable. Here are just a few ways you can benefit from choosing a Holy Cross Hospital doula:

• Our doulas will be on call for your birth 24 hours a day as soon as you register for the service.
• Our registration process is easier, more secure and less costly than hiring a private doula.
• Our doulas have received advanced training in addition to certification requirements.
• Twice monthly open houses allow you to meet the doulas and work on your plan for your labor.
• You can call our doula warm-line with any non-emergency questions for a doula and someone will return your call within 24 hours. This is a great way discuss last minute issues, get some tips for coping with the third trimester or fine tune your labor coping plan.
• Your doula will be familiar with the Holy Cross Hospital staff, procedures and layout, enabling her to provide you with the best support possible.

How does the program work?
Doula services will be provided for a fee of $ 550, much lower than the rates for private doulas in the Washington, DC area.

Once registered for the service, you will receive a Prenatal Planning & Information Packet. The packet is packed full of information about the program, birth planning exercises that help you think about how you want to cope with labor and a template for creating your Labor Coping Plan.

Once you go into labor, the instructions in the Prenatal Planning & Information Packet will tell you now to get connected to your doula. She will provide support to you over the phone during early labor and in person during your labor once you are admitted to the hospital.

If you come to the hospital for an induction of labor, the Prenatal Planning & Information Packet contains detailed information about how to get in touch with your doula and when she will come to the hospital to support you.

How do I register for a Holy Cross Hospital doula?
If you have received an introductory packet, simply complete the registration form and client agreement. Submit them, with payment, by mail or in person at an open house. Once we have processed your registration, you will receive a Prenatal Planning & Information Packet by mail.

If you don’t have an introductory packet, you can call 301.754.7163 to have the packet sent to your home.

What if I want to know more?
If you have more questions about the Holy Cross Hospital Doula Program, you can attend one of our monthly open houses to learn more about the program or meet the Holy Cross Hospital birth doulas.

An open house on the birth doula program is held on the second Wednesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. or the third Saturday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Holy Cross Hospital Professional and Community Education Center.

What happens at the open house?
Attending an open house is a great way to learn more details about the Birth Doula Program and how having a birth doula attend your birth can be beneficial to you, your partner and your baby.

Generally, we begin each session with an introductory video and presentation, followed by a question and answer session. There is always time during the open house for you to speak individually with the doulas present whether to ask personal questions or go over your labor coping plan.

If you enroll in the Birth Doula Program at an open house, you can take your Prenatal Planning & Information Packet home with you that night.

And of course, all of our clients are welcome to return to any open house to ask more questions, meet more doulas or go over plans again.

For the more information, call 301.754.7163.

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