labor coach

"When a woman's going to have a baby," reasons Orkin, "you have a labor coach or somebody there in the room with them.

I had already studied a basic course in midwifery academics and apprenticed briefly as a labor coach and midwife assistant, but it had become clear that hands-on experience would come very slowly as an apprentice.

She is trained to deliver continuity of care from home to hospital, case the transition into the hospital environment, be there through changing hospital shifts and alternating physician schedules, serve as advocate, labor coach, and support partner to give the parents-to-be the freedom to focus inward as they meet the challenges and rewards of their unique birthing experience.

Relaxation techniques are more successful with a knowledgeable, supportive labor coach who offers both psychological and physiologic support to the laboring woman.

Today doulas are essentially labor coaches. Unlike midwives, doulas are trained to provide various forms of non-medical support during the childbirth process.

Those enrolled in TRICARE Prime (TCP) qualify for full coverage of necessary procedures, but may incur additional out-of-pocket expenses for non-medically needed ultrasounds, non-FDA (Food and Drug Association) approved medications, umbilical cord collection, non-registered midwives, labor coaches, and doulas (TRICARE, 2012).