Engaging ‘doula’ services puts mother, baby at risk
THE controversial practice of engaging doula (birth companion) in Malaysia can be deemed hazardous, as some pregnant women have been advised to give birth at home without knowing their medical history.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said even in the United States, women were not advised to give birth at home or in situations which could jeopardise them or their babies.
He said some doula had linked home deliveries to religion, such as Maryam giving birth to the Prophet Isa without aid.
“They are very convincing and, in the end, the women are influenced to give birth at home,” he said to a question by Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin (PKR-Bukit Katil) yesterday.
Dr Hilmi said the ministry feared a rise in mortality if more babies were born at home.
“In Greek, doula means a female slave, whose original purpose was to aid pregnant women, such as by giving advice and massaging them.
“But they cannot deliver the babies. As such, those who want to aid in the childbirth process must be certified.”
He said Malaysia had, nevertheless, recorded a decline in the percentage of unsafe deliveries — down from 7.1 per cent in 1990 to 1.3 per cent in 2012, and 0.42 per cent in 2016. The average birth rate was between 440,000 to 450,000 annually.
“Since 2014, the percentage of unsafe deliveries by a doula is less than 0.5 per cent.
“However, there has been an increase in the number of unsafe deliveries via doula activities, where two births were reported in 2014 and 2015.”
This figure, he said, rose to six in 2016 and seven last year.
“As a result, three newborn deaths were reported; one in 2016, last year and the latest in January,” he said.
Responding to a question by Dr Mansor Abdul Rahman (BN-Sik) on whether the Health Ministry planned to recognise doula services, Dr Hilmi said the law was clear, whereby those who delivered babies must be certified.
“If there are high risks involved, then you have to go to a hospital. The doula should only act as a companion to the mothers,” he said.