Doulas urged to set up own organisation

By Siti Fauziah Hasan

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- The doula community in the country is urged to operate under a recognised organisation to qualify them to become birthing companions, said Prof Dr Harlina Halizah Siraj@Ramli.

The Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Medical Education (Clinical Teaching) from the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said the organisation should act as a monitoring body as well as establishing a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH).

"As practise in some developed countries like the United Kingdom, Australia...they are united under one organisation monitored and assisted by doctors and not taking over roles that professionals should be performing.

"But in Malaysia, the most troubling thing is when no special body is monitoring the doula activity and anyone can admit they are a doula with just a day's training....this will put safety of mothers and babies at risk," she told Bernama.

Even though cases involving doulas are not widely reported, she said their existence had now been revealed following several cases involving deaths of mothers and babies during home births believed under the supervision of a doula.

Dr Harlina Halizah said that doula was a person who provided emotional and physical support to the mother during pregnancy and birth and they were not among medical professionals.

"They do not help deliver a baby or provide medical treatment, a qualified doula must undergo training programmes and pass special exams to help pregnant women and their families go through the exciting and challenging experiences," she said.

She said the doula service did not guarantee the safety of expectant mothers and their unborn babies especially those who were categorised as high risk such as first pregnancy, previous Caesarean delivery, baby being in a breech position, obesity, hypertension and so on.

"There are a few of them (doula) who acting outside the boundaries and seen taking over roles of doctors and midwives," she said.

Doula service tend to be used by newly married young people and first-time mothers due to fear and lack of confidence in hospital services.

"There is a lack of trust in hospital services, maybe because shared stories and unpleasant experiences during birth.

"They also felt that all the things that the hospital did was wrong and they did not require medicines even though it’s for their own good," she added.

Dr Harlina Halizah advised parents-to-be, especially young people, to raise their level of knowledge and get accurate information about pregnancy and birth process in order to make important decisions regarding pregnancy and birth.

-- BERNAMA