ABOUT THE EMORY DECATUR LABOR SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS (EDLSV) PROGRAM
The Emory Decatur Labor Support Volunteers (EDLSV) program was created as a partnership between Emory Decatur Hospital Volunteer Services and Emory Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, with support from Georgia ACNM Affiliate. Since its inception in early 2019, the program has expanded to allow participants from other disciplines at Emory University as well as non-Emory students.
Our volunteers are hospital-based and provide services to patients who are on the Labor and Delivery unit. Volunteers remain in the hospital during their 12-hour shifts, and work with laboring patients as assigned by the unit charge. The unit charge identifies patients who can benefit from having a labor support volunteer, and facilitates a partnership between the volunteer, patient, and nurse.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Patient-oriented: Enhance the care and outcomes of underserved patients in a state with poor MCH outcomes, including wide disparities
Clinician-oriented: Support the work of the intrapartum caregiving team
Volunteer-oriented: Nursing and Midwifery students: build situational awareness, labor support skills, and interprofessional experience
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a Doula? What is a labor support volunteer?
According to DONA International, a doula is "a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible" (https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula/).
At Emory Decatur Hospital, our labor support volunteers function in a role similar to that of a doula. Since our volunteers meet the people they support while in the labor and delivery unit, our focus is on providing support during labor and birth.
What qualifications do your volunteers hold?
Labor support volunteers attend a private training conducted through the EDLSV program in collaboration with community professionals. Most of our volunteers are not DONA or CAPPA certified.
What can a Labor support volunteer do?
Labor support volunteers provide non-medical support during the labor and birth progress. For example, non-medical pain relief can include massage, essential oils, position changes, and breathing techniques. Volunteers can also provide emotional support and facilitate communication between the patient and medical staff.
Prospective Volunteers
● Handbook (includes program logistics and application information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yszbw-9viJfyJPOqOeXB5QePA8u_zXs4/view?usp=sharing
Publications & Presentations
● 2020 Annual ACNM Conference Poster: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nJ1zsQ5NUcQMLP8Leq-arade1zBgFCxe/view?usp=sharing
Contact Information
● Email: EDLSVolunteers@gmail.com