Full Spectrum Doulas: Broadening the Scope of Reproductive Health Care
Creators: name: Pfaff, Anna
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2012

description: Background: Doula services, non-medical support during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period have become widely recognized in the United States as well as in other countries, and are associated with improved maternal and child health (Scott, Klaus, Klaus, 1999)(Klaus, Kennell, Klaus, 1993). The expansion of this role to include support during pregnancy outcomes other than live births, such as elective and spontaneous abortion, as well as with nontraditional doula clients such as prison inmates and queer or transgendered families, is an emerging field in public health which merits exploration. Presentation rationale: The purpose of this presentation is to introduce and define the role of the Full Spectrum Doula and raise awareness of this vocation within a wider range of maternal and child health professionals. This overview will explain the rationale and general principles of birth doula work, but will focus on the role and scope of the Full Spectrum Doula and illustrate how these skills can be incorporated specifically into abortion care. Finally, this presentation will discuss how Full Spectrum Doulas can contribute to collaboration with the health care team and the provision of reproductive health services across a lifetime. Description of need: In the United States, several recognized groups are currently providing Full Spectrum Doula services based on needs identified in their communities; interest in this field of work is growing. Beyond the scope of a few lay press sources and printed online media, discussion of Full Spectrum Doula work is absent from major public health publications and discourse. At the time this presentation was created, only one peer reviewed article had been published on the topic. In the Spring of 2012 a two-page publication, Doulas as facilitators: the expanded role of doulas into abortion care (Chor, Goyal, Roston, Keith, Patel, 2012), conducted a comprehensive literature review which yielded no findings of articles which explored the intersection of doula work and abortion care. For this reason, increasing awareness within the medical community of the role, barriers, and practical applications of Full Spectrum Doula work will serve to advance the provision of comprehensive maternal and child health care and offer opportunities for greater interdisciplinary understanding and advocacy. How to use the presentation toolkit: This presentation kit was designed for use by an experienced Full Spectrum Doula to share with medical professionals, specifically nurses, midwives, and those working in the maternal and child health field, which may benefit from an introduction to the role. This overview does not replace any other extant training materials, or serve as a comprehensive training guide for those wishing to practice Full Spectrum Doula work in their community. References: Chor, J., Goyal, V., Roston, A., Keith, L., Patel, A. (2012). Doulas as facilitators: The expanded role of doulas into abortion care. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 38(2), 123-124. doi:10.1136/jfprhc-2011-100278. Klaus, M. H., Kennell, J. H., Klaus, P. H. (1993). Mothering the mother. New York: Addison-Wesley. Scott, K., Klaus, P., Klaus, M. (1999). The obstetrical and postpartum benefits of continuous support during childbirth. Journal of Women's Health and Gender Based Medicine, 8(10), 1257-1262.