As I am on my way to meet with a potential doula client and her husband, I am thinking of all of the wonderful benefits of having a doula present at birth. In short, a doula nurtures and supports a woman during pregnancy, birth and through the early stages of motherhood. Doulas offer care, comfort, gentle guidance and informational reassurance. They are a trusted companion to both the woman and her partner. They preserve the sacredness of birth and motherhood.

But, don’t take my word for it. Here is a little word from DONA International, a widely respected professional doula organization—an organization in which I’m proudly a member.

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
• reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

Research shows parents who receive support can:

• Feel more secure and cared for
• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
• Have greater success with breastfeeding
• Have greater self-confidence
• Have less postpartum depression
• Have lower incidence of abuse

Check out dona.org for more information

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.Â

~Elizabeth Stone

Several readers have been asking about good books to buy/recommend on topics such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, parenting and vegetarian/whole foods family diets. Well, ask and ye shall receive, I say. Below are just a few of those that have influenced earthmother—with more suggestions to come as the holiday season approaches.