Being a doula is wonderful, and women (and partners especially!) appreciate our support and help. However, I just needed to add how misleading the picture is - doulas don't palpate abdomens. Midwives, and occasionally doctors and nurses, would do this. We might do gentle massage of the belly during labour (called effleurage) if a client wanted it, but it is out of our scope of practice to palpate for baby's position (or for anything else, for that matter).
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Being a doula is wonderful, and women (and partners especially!) appreciate our support and help. However, I just needed to add how misleading the picture is - doulas don't palpate abdomens. Midwives, and occasionally doctors and nurses, would do this. We might do gentle massage of the belly during labour (called effleurage) if a client wanted it, but it is out of our scope of practice to palpate for baby's position (or for anything else, for that matter).
December 13, 2010 - 2:40pmThis Comment
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