Business : Shiphrah Birth Services now available to expectant mothers

Shiphrah Birth Services is a service offering support to expectant mothers through pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.

Shiphrah owner Bethany Gates, of Vinton, will be offering support to women in Eastern Iowa.

A doula is a professional who offers pregnant women emotional as well as physical support during labor. Doulas are sometimes referred to as birth or labor coaches and are beneficial to have with a woman as she is laboring. A Doula stays with a woman throughout labor, birth, and the early postpartum hours.

Often a doula has training that allows her to help a women get started with breastfeeding, if that is the woman’s wish. Doulas do NOT provide medical care, but they provide continuous emotional and practical support for a woman while she's in labor.

Husbands, if you're wondering, doulas do not take the place of the husband or partner; instead, they support the partner and help them to support the laboring mom, along with their other responsibilities.

There are many benefits to having a doula at your baby's birth. A study from the Cochrane Library shows that women who use a doula benefit in many ways. Often the women are less likely to have a cesarean, use pain medication, or choose to use a drug to speed up labor.

The benefits are more than physically, but many were less likely to rate their childbirth experience negatively.

Part of the job of a doula is to provide a listening ear to women during one of their most vulnerable times, which can be beneficial to helping a woman achieve the birth she desires.

It is appropriate to include a doula for women planning vaginal births, natural vaginal births, VBAC’s, inductions, and cesareans.

Bethany adds, "Along with doula services, I also offer breastfeeding support to my clients (as applicable) and to women who may need help with breastfeeding difficulties and may need extra support in the postpartum period.

As a woman who has given birth to two children, I feel very strongly about the rights of women during labor/birth. Every woman deserves to have a doula supporting her during labor and has the right to be fully informed about her options during labor and birth. I also believe it is very important for women to have support after the baby is born."

If you are interested in doula services, you can find more information on Bethany's website or contact her with any questions.