Two new systems of providing support during childbirth have arrived in Ireland. Sylvia Thompson reports
Giving birth is one of the most life-affirming experiences a woman can have yet there is a growing consensus that mothers-to-be in Ireland are not adequately prepared for giving birth and that fear of a painful labour dominates their thinking for much of the last trimester of pregnancy.
Two new systems of birth support have recently arrived in Ireland which promise women more comprehensive preparation for birth and support during labour and childbirth. Available outside the maternity hospital services, hypnobirthing and Doula Ireland are both commercial ventures aimed at mothers-to-be who are keen to invest time and money to supplement ante-natal classes inhospitals.
Both approaches have already become popular in the US, Australia and some European countries.
"Hypnobirthing eliminates the fear-tension-pain syndrome before, during and after birthing. I teach relaxation and self-hypnosis techniques that are used to eliminate the fear and tension that causes long labour and pain, replacing them with confidence, calmness and comfort," says Aisling Killoran, one of two hypnotherapists training people in hypnobirthing in Ireland.
"By using mental imagery under self-hypnosis, your conscious mind learns to send positive messages to your body," she adds.
To date, Killoran has trained 32 couples in the techniques which require four ante-sessions at a cost of €100 each per couple.
Hana Hall (27) had her first born, Martha four months ago using hypnobirthing techniques.
"I had to stay in Holles Street [the National Maternity Hospital] overnight in the early stages of my pregnancy as I suffered from extreme vomiting. The experience opened my eyes to labour and put me on edge. Soon after that, I saw a programme on television in which a woman had a pain-free labour using hypnobirthing techniques so I went online and found a hypnotherapist who trained people in hypnobirthing here," says Hall.
"In the classes, my partner and I learned all about the biology of birth and how the baby's head is soft and cone shaped as it comes out which helped to take some of the fear away.
"I learned how to breathe my baby into the world, rather than pushing. We also learned different visualisations to use during labour and how to do perineal massage."
Hall explains how she also learned the language of hypnobirthing which describes the birthing experience in a gentler way - so, rather thathe baby being delivered, it is birthed; labour itself is described as the birthing process and pain is described as pressure/sensation or tightening. Hana Hall gave birth to her baby daughter (9lb, 4oz) after a labour of over 24 hours with no pain relief whatsoever.
"At one stage, I got a glimpse of how scared or confused I would have been without the hypnobirthing techniques but I never felt like giving up. I felt motivated all the time. You are really in your own world and I almost fell asleep towards the end of the labour. I felt safe and in control," she says.
Tracey Donegan and Hazel Larkin are the two women behind Doula Ireland, the first company to offer doula services to women in Ireland.
A doula is someone who offers education on birth and emotional support to women before, during and after labour. She is not a medical professional and does not perform any clinical examinations or diagnoses.
The main role of a doula is to help a woman make informed choices about pregnancy and childbirth and then support her in the choices she has made.
Doula Ireland charges couples €500 for a package which includes two antenatal sessions (up to three hours long), support during and immediately after labour, two post-natal sessions (within 10 days of the birth) and email and telephone support throughout.
"I want my clients to understand that many routine procedures are for the benefit of the hospital and not for the woman's benefit," says Tracey Donegan.
"The cascade of intervention following oxytocin is well documented. When the body is shocked into labour, it doesn't have the chance to produce endorphins and although you may progress quicker and see your baby sooner, there is an increase in pain and you are more likely to end up with an epidural and a Caesarean Section," says Donegan.
With a background in marketing, Donegan first became interested in training to be a doula after having a doula at the birth of her son while she was living in California .
Then, while living in Singapore, she trained as a doula. Hazel Larkin trained with the French birthing expert, Michel Odent in London and later also worked as a doula in Singapore.
They both firmly believe that women are often scared into having procedures and suggest that hospitals aiming to have the World Health Organisation Baby Friendly status should also work towards "mother-friendly status".
"The World Health Organisation recommends that all women have one-to-one care during labour," says Donegan. "Women are choosing to be better informed. Some women of course don't want to know and have elected their obstetricians to God status."
Larkin says: "We'll support women in whatever choices they make but it's funny that women often spend more time finding a good travel agent than a caregiver for birth."
So far in Ireland, Doula Ireland has worked with women who have had their babies in Mount Carmel hospital, Dublin and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth. The Rotunda Hospital in Dublin has stated that their midwives are trained to provide the emotional support given by doulas.
"We provide midwifery staff to support women in labour and our objective is to train midwives in a holistic manner. We feel women should be supported by health professionals without having to pay for additional support," says Pauline Treanor, director of midwifery at the Rotunda Hospital.
Declan Devane, midwifery research assistant at the School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, Trinity College Dublin, says: "Throughout the world, support during labour has been provided by a variety of people including fathers, mothers, friends, midwives and trained and untrained birth assistants. Research indicates that women who experience continuous support during labour are more likely to have a normal birth and be more satisfied with their birth experience. As a trained birth assistant, a doula can help provide important social support and should not be seen as a substitute for, but as complimentary to the role of the midwife. The key is for the expectant woman to decide what she wants and what she is comfortable with."
Meanwhile, Donegan and Larkin quote studies that have found having a trained doula during labour results in a 50 per cent reduction in Caesarean Section, 25 per cent chance of a shorter labour, 60 per cent reduction in epidural requests, 40 per cent reduction in oxytocin use, 30 per cent reduction in analgesia use and 40 per cent reduction in forceps delivery.
The real question is if maternity hospitals provided more holistic education on labour and childbirth and more midwife-led care for women in childbirth, would there really be a need for the services of a doula?
For more information:
[ www.accomplishchange.comOpens in new window ]
[ www.doulaireland.comOpens in new window ]
[ www.motherfriendly.orgOpens in new window ]