My name is Teresa Howard. I am a certified labor
doula, lactation educator, Happiest Baby on the Block
instructor, certified postpartum doula and certified
childbirth educator. I support an average of 40 women
in labor annually and teach over 70 couples. I was
excited to hear we were getting a new hosital in my
area.

Currently I do about 80% of my labor support at North
Fulton Regional, a local Roswell hospital. The reason
my clients drive from quite a few distances- from
Gainesville, Powder Springs, Kennesaw, East Point,
Jonesboro and beyond to go there is due to their
wonderful midwives who support women in their choice
to labor and even birth in a birthing tub.

I was so disappointed that in the design for the new
facility of John's Creek they somehow did not take
into consideration the idea of hydrotherapy for pain
relief. This is hard to believe since the statistics
show how wonderful water and especially a tub can
provide great relief in labor to a mom.

So, while facilities around you- Gwinnett with their
jacuzzi tubs, and North Fulton with their wonderful
labor and birth tubs, you guys somehow did not take
into consideration that women want these things in
labor. Everyone is not looking for narcotics and
epidurals for pain relief. The fact that you failed to
put tubs into the labor rooms makes me wonder what
your epidural rates will be, and then what your
cesarean rates will be.

Shame on you for your lack of considering what women
want. The birthing suites should have more input from
those who will actually be using them. I don't think
that happened here. I will look forward to you
incorporating and retrofitting the rooms with tubs- if
you build it they will come.

Teresa Howard, CLD, CLE, CPD, CCCE (CAPPA), CD (DONA), CHBE
Labor of Love Doula and Childbirth Services, Inc.
www.alaboroflove.org
www.laborofloveshack.com
770-923-6914