Birth Ambassadors, a New Book from Praeclarus Press, by Christine Morton and Elayne Clift, Describes Why Doulas Are the Ambassadors for the Midwifery Model of Care
Amarillo, Texas (PRWEB) September 29, 2013 -- An increasing number of American women are hiring doulas to attend them during labor and provide continuous labor support. For many women, this a way to counter the highly interventionist births they are likely to encounter in American hospitals. Rates of cesarean sections are at an all-time high. Almost half of American women described their recent childbirth experiences as “traumatic,” with 9% meeting full criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder.
Doulas provide individual attention, information, and support to their clients. But this role does not come without dilemmas, as Christine Morton and Elayne Clift describe in their forthcoming book, Birth Ambassadors: Doulas and the Re-Emergence of Woman-Supported Childbirth in America, new from Praeclarus Press.
One dilemma doulas face is how to advocate for the woman in hospitals, where they may not be welcome. Another dilemma is what doulas should do when hospital policies or clinical practices violate their core beliefs that women have the right to plan for their birth, to be active participants in their care, and to be treated with dignity and respect. This core belief can be at odds with the structural care models currently in place at most U.S. hospitals. Thus, doulas sometimes find themselves in awkward and emotionally charged interactions with health care providers.
While egregious cases of obstetric maltreatment do occur, more common are cases in which a woman’s desire for an unmedicated birth is not respected, or when interventions are proposed without allowing for a full discussion of risks and benefits. Women may feel coerced into intervention because clinicians implicitly--or explicitly-- convey the idea that if a woman does not comply, she will harm her baby. Knowing how to handle situations like these is often difficult for women working in hospitals as doulas.
Doulas often become doulas because they want to support women in childbirth. But to continue, they need to find ways to navigate the challenges inherent in their role. Birth Ambassadors summarizes results of the first scholarly study of the role of doulas and the dilemmas they face. It is a fascinating and readable volume destined to become a classic in women's health.
Christine H. Morton, PhD is a research sociologist whose research has focused on women’s reproductive experiences and maternity care roles. Since 2008, she has been at Stanford University’s California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, where she conducts research on maternal mortality and morbidity.
Elayne G. Clift, MA is a writer, journalist, and Humanities adjunct professor. She has worked internationally as a health communications and gender specialist, and is an educator/advocate on maternal and child health issues. A volunteer doula and Vermont Humanities Council Scholar, she has edited anthologies and published fiction and poetry collections, a novel, and a memoir.
Praeclarus Press is a small press founded by Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett and specializing in women’s health. It features books, webinars, and products that support women's health throughout the lifespan. Praeclarus Press is based in Amarillo, Texas, USA.
Scott Sherwood, Praeclarus Press, http://www.PraeclarusPress.com, +1 806-673-3901, [email protected]
Share this article