Mothers being denied support in labor

With the threat of the H1N1 virus ever present, hospitals all over the country are restricting the number of support people women can have with them during labor.  These restrictions are not only having a huge impact on doulas, but also on expectant families who are now having to make last minute decisions on who will support them during their birth.

Here is a quote from DONA's President which comes from their recently issued press release.

“Some hospital systems are forcing women to choose between their partner and their doula. This move is causing many women a great deal of stress and anxiety. It is illogical to believe that having an additional professional support person will significantly increase the risk to the mother or the baby. In the same way that we will continue to have nurses available to care for the mother’s medical needs, we must allow women to get the emotional and physical support they require. Doulas have for many years been considered an integral part of the birthing team, and this has not changed simply because there’s a new viral threat” says Susan Toffolon, President of DONA International.

To read the entire press release, please visit http://www.dona.org/Website/PDF/H1N1%20Communication%20V3.pdf