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Reports are stating that if the Duchess uses a doula, it would be the one constant in her first childbirth and this one, though the former actress hasn’t publicly discussed hiring a doula.
How The Duchess Of Sussex Can Benefit From Having A Doula On Hand During Childbirth
The Duchess’ second birth experience will be different from her first, and that’s aside from location-wise. The Duchess is rumored to deliver at home — something she reportedly planned on doing for her first child
Archie’s delivery but it didn’t pan out that way and she was eventually taken to the hospital for Archie’s delivery.
Insider talked to Sabia Wade, also known as The Black Doula, to learn how doulas can be especially important to black women during their childbirth.
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Doulas, though non-medical, are professionals trained to support women before, during, and immediately after childbirth.
Their role includes advising and facilitating a change of position during childbirth, offering hands-on touch to ease a poorly positioned baby out, and their services can even extend to advocating for a patient in a hospital who wants to push a little longer before getting wheeled off for a C-section.
But most of a doula’s work wouldn’t actually be classed as tangible, Wade told Insider.
“We’re the friend, we’re the sister, we’re the stand-in mother or aunt, we’re the advocate,” she said. “Sometimes, we have to be the fighters.”
Research shows that continuous support during childbirth, which is what a doula provides, leads to better maternal and child health outcomes.
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Having a doula on hand can mean a higher likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth, shorter labors, fewer c-sections, less anesthesia, fewer low Apgar scores (an assessment of how well a baby is doing in the world immediately after birth), and less negative childbirth experiences.
What It Takes To Get A Doula
According to studies, black women, no matter their socio-economic status, can benefit from the services of a doula. But while you may want one, doulas do cost money and they are often not covered by insurance.
According to WhatToExpect.com, most people can expect to pay anywhere between $800 to $2,500, and organizations like Wade’s nonprofit For The Village offer free or low-cost doula services to underrepresented communities.
Even if you want and can afford one, getting a doula still is a tricky business as there are only 200 to 300 active doulas in 2019. The same year, 221,539 babies were born in the city.
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