Month: June 2012

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10 Reasons to Hire a Doula

 

10 Reasons to Hire a Doula

Giving birth is a momentous occasion that can be both exciting and daunting. A doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides physical, emotional, and educational support to ease the process and soothe laboring mothers. Your doula’s training provides practical knowledge about what is needed during birth, and her experience over many births instills an intuitive sense of what will help you most.

Doulas have supported women through birth for centuries because the relationship works. Studies show that having a doula present:

  1. Reduced the overall cesarean rate by 50%
  2. Decreased the length of labor by 25%
  3. Lowered the use of pain medication by 30%
  4.  Reduced forceps deliveries by 40%
  5.  Reduced the number of days newborns spent in NICU
  6. Increased positive maternal assessments of the newborn
  7. Lowered rates of postpartum depression
  8. Increased rates of breastfeeding
  9. Increased satisfaction of parent/ infant bonding
  10. Reduced over all stress and anxiety during the birthing process
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Immediate and Long Term Effects of Bullying That Parents Should Be Aware Of

There is a strong link between bullying and depression. Both bullies and their victims are at high risk for depression, low self-esteem, physical illness and anxiety. These symptoms may persist on a long term basis, even into adulthood. Thus, it is imperative that parents be aware of these symptoms and other immediate effects of bullying if they suspect that their child might be a victim of bullying. Immediate symptoms of bullying include:

  • Becoming withdrawn
  • Showing fear when it is time to go to school
  • Increasing signs of depression
  • Decline in school performance
  • Speaking of another child with fear
  • Noticeable decline in how the child sees him or herself
  • Signs of physical altercations, such as bruises, scrapes and other marks.

Bullying can take many forms including:

  • Cyber bullying
  • Face to face bullying
  • Physical bullying
  • Emotional abuse
  • Verbal abuse.

A website that is a valuable resource for parents concerned about bullying is:

Child Bullying

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Should Parents Be Concerned About Cyber Bullying?

Cyber bullying involves the use of technology such as cell phones or internet to bully another person. The most common form of cyber bullying is mean, hurtful comments and spreading rumors. According to the i-SAFE foundation, over 50% of adolescents have been bullied online and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying. Cyber bullying can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and even suicide. The Hartford County Examiner reported that only 1 in 10 adolescents tells a parent if they have been a cyber bully victim. Fewer than 1 in 5 cyber bullying incidents are reported to law enforcement.  Adolescents may not be aware of the consequents of cyber bullying. Consequences include losing online accounts, legal charges and, if the bullying was sexual in nature,  being charged as a sex offender. Parents and teens can take action to reduce cyber bullying and its detrimental effects. For more information about cyber bullying go to:

Cyber Bullying Statistics