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Her.meneutics is edited by associate editor Katelyn Beaty and online editor Sarah Pulliam Bailey.

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March 10, 2011

The King's Speech and Doulas

What King George VI's speech therapist, Lionel Logue, and I have in common.

Rachel Marie Stone

Turns out that Lionel Logue, the speech therapist to King George VI, played beautifully by Geoffrey Rush in The King’s Speech, had no formal training in speech therapy, or any kind of therapy, in fact. So what did he have?

Lots of qualities shared by a good doula, it turns out. A doula? Wait — isn’t a doula like a midwife?

No, we are not much like midwives, actually. To practice legally, midwives have to have the right letters after their names. They have to become experts at a host of clinical skills, including urine testing, cervical exams, fetal heart tone monitoring, and perineal stitching, to name a few. But doulas (the Greek word for "a woman who serves") — we are different. Much of our learning happens outside the classroom, and while we might have letters after our names, certification is optional in all 50 states. We don’t do anything medical. Mostly, we’re just there.

The-Kings-Speech-King-George-VI-Colin-Firth-and-Lionel-Logue-Geoffrey-Rush-500x333.jpg

But "just" being there has a powerful effect on the process of labor and delivery, spilling over into the postpartum weeks as well. An oft-cited series of studies found that women who had a doula with them were 60 percent less likely to request an epidural, 50 percent less likely to have a caesarean, and 40 percent less likely to be delivered by forceps. Additionally, their labors were 25 percent quicker than those without doulas, and they reported lower levels of depression at six weeks postpartum. All this as a result of the presence of a person who isn’t required to have a diploma of any kind?

Those who have seen The King’s Speech, this year's Oscar winner for Best Picture, will recall that King George VI, "Bertie" to his family and Logue, had seen his share of experts about his stammer, but to no avail. Logue, who was familiar with healthy speech, having studied and taught elocution, honed his therapeutic model when working with shell-shocked veterans of the Great War. He wasn’t a doctor or a formally trained therapist. But he helped Bertie as no one else had, giving him techniques to speak more fluently and the confidence to find his voice.

And that’s kind of what doulas do for expectant mothers. Logue understood normal speech — he knew what had to take place to make it happen. Doulas understand normal birth; we have great confidence that it can take place safely and with minimal intervention. And Logue understood, as doulas do, that the psychological and emotional state of our clients can create impediments. That’s why Bertie had to talk about the origins of his stammering. That’s why doulas do everything they can to bolster a mother’s comfort and confidence. Babies, like words, come out easiest when we feel safe.

That safety comes from a sense of camaraderie, or perhaps even friendship. Doulas, like Logue, stand alongside their clients, not reaching down in condescension or looking up, servile. Logue refused to treat Bertie anywhere but in his offices, refused to call him anything but Bertie, and refused, his whole life, to exploit his royal connection for personal benefit.

Doulas, too, are like professional best friends. We comfort lawyers, professionals, teen moms, and Medicaid recipients, and treat them as equals. Because in the process of bringing forth life — or words — we are all very much the same. We need to feel respected, understood, loved.

Doula.jpg

And we need patience. Perhaps most importantly, the king’s therapist was patient. Whereas Bertie’s father, King George V, impatiently urged his son to “just say it,” Logue had all the time in the world to wait for Bertie’s words, encouraging him that his pauses would perhaps add a degree of measured gravity to his speeches. Doulas, too, need patience — something that’s in short supply for American moms birthing in hospitals. Many OBs enforce a 12- or 24-hour “rule” that states that they’ll do a C-section if the baby hasn’t been born in that space of time following the waters breaking, in spite of the lack of research supporting this practice. (To imagine the effect that this threat has upon a laboring mom, imagine someone standing in the bathroom with you ordering you to do your business in 2 minutes or else and multiply the feeling of tension and fear by 10.) And unlike medical professionals, we don’t go off shift. We stay with our clients until they become mothers. Logue, too, stayed with Bertie for every speech of his career.

In some people’s eyes, Logue was a quack. Some, especially doctors, are inclined to view doulas in a similarly unflattering light. But Logue also went on to help found the British Society of Speech Therapists as well as College of Speech Therapists. More and more people are recognizing the value of doulas as well — several nationally and internationally recognized certifying organizations exist, and we doulas hold fast to the words of renowned pediatrician and neonatal researcher John Kennell: “If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.”

The active ingredients? Compassion, empathy, patience, and love, all virtues we Christians cultivate as we follow our risen Lord. Given their effectiveness applied to birth (or Bertie’s speech), I can’t help wondering: what would our world look like if we brought this life-giving touch to our every interaction?

It would look like the kingdom, I suspect.

Rachel Stone has written for Her.meneutics on fathers, eating disorders, miscarriage, flash mobs, and mommy blogs, and for Christianity Today on Germany, and has also contributed to Flourish, catapult/*cino, and Creation Care magazine. She lives in Greenport, New York, with her husband, two sons, extended family, and assorted cats. She is a doula.

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Posted by Katelyn Beaty on March 10, 2011 9:03 AM

Comments

I *think* I've heard the term doula before but never knew what it was. You sound like you have a very rewarding job!

I loved the King's Speech - I do want to mention that in reading info about Logue in followup it appears that some of the things in the movie were not actually true - such as him calling the Prince (and then King) Bertie, but did refer to him as by his title. I'm also suspecting that the requirement that he would only treatment him in his office was also fabricated.

That being said I think it drove a point home - that we are all human and therefore equal in our need for, as you said, compassion, empathy, patience, and love and while not being true in Logue and Bertie's story is true in so many other stories across the globe and across history.

Posted By: Leslie | March 10, 2011 3:00 PM

I don't know a lot about doulas, but the comparison is very interesting. Good piece!

Posted By: Gina | March 10, 2011 4:13 PM

Your writing and the movie have played into what I do with friends or strangers who continually come to me with their problems. I'm not a therapist; nor do I have training; but everyday, someone either calls or I'll meet a stranger in the store or walking. They seem to sense my compassion, understanding and desire to be a helper to them. It is a gift and blesses both the giver and the receiver. There have been times where the strangers will say,"I don't know why I'm talking to you about this but it's like you drew me to you."
One, today, said, "I knew if I saw you I would tell you this secret. It's like I must tell you!" It is a "God-thing." Most are not Christians!!!!
As we talk, I am, at times, "given" knowledge that I have no idea of having known before. It is insight and discernment. I'm sure there are many people who have this gift. It is extremely helpful!! Please use it as it comes from The Father of Lights - God Himself!!!

Posted By: Lee Coe | March 10, 2011 5:12 PM

Please allow a man to comment on an excellent her.meneutics article!
The qualities of doulas are certainly needed by anyone who helps a person be 'born again'. Jesus was surely a doula to Nicodemas (John 3). Readers who want to see an expansion on this theme of spiritual midwifery or doula-ministry may be interested learning about my recently published book: ‘Born of the Spirit – helping seekers enter and grow in God’s family’ (2009). See www.salvationarmy.org.au/supplies and follow links to Books, Salvo Publishing.

Posted By: Ian Southwell | March 10, 2011 10:36 PM

Thanks, all, for reading! And Ian--comments from men are welcome! Thanks. Leslie, you're right; Logue probably did not go so far as to call the king 'Bertie,' but requiring that he met in Logue's rooms--that's true, and it was a huge breach of protocol: you go to royals rather than requiring them to come to you. Lee--blessings in your ministry. Peace!

Posted By: Rachel Stone | March 11, 2011 7:14 AM

A few thoughts:

1) I'd be a lousy doula for a pregnant woman. Not enough patience.

2) This comparison between doulas and Logue is great. For me, it highlighted the need to just be there, loving, patient and kind, for people in need. There's a lot of people who need this, and we need to be there for him.

Professionals are great (psychiatrists, doctors, counselors, etc.) but it means a lot when a non-professional, who isn't getting paid and doesn't have to do this, sticks by you during a time of need.

3) I really need to see this movie.

Posted By: Laura K. Droege | March 11, 2011 7:15 AM

Great article! Compassion and empathy don't always accompany official certification! Patience, either. Skill and training are necessary, but they aren't everything!

Posted By: Suzy | March 11, 2011 9:33 AM

I'm giving a talk at a midwives' workshop in May (I'm a doula) and I love your analogy so much I wondered if I can use it please? It sums up exactly why doulas deserve to be taken seriously!

Posted By: vbacqueen | March 11, 2011 11:57 AM

Thank you for an interesting article. I think doulas provide an outstanding support to the labor process, and I have personally experienced the blessing that one provided to my sister. The physician community indeed should increase its support of doula involvement and its profound impact on maternal well-being in the peri-partum period.

I do want to say that it needs to go both ways, however, with doulas supporting the work of the physician community as well. As a non-OB physician, I would make 2 comments in response to your thoughts. First, while I agree that potentially unnecessary C-sections often occur, there is in fact significant medical literature regarding the potential harm to the baby when labor progresses for too long after rupture of membranes, hence the progression to C-section once that time frame surpasses an OB's comfort level. Secondly, the reference to medical professionals going "off shift" certainly applies to nurses and other staff, but many physicians don't go off shift, either. When they do, it's only because they have maintained wakefulness for a number of hours that makes it unsafe for them to provide interventions or other medical care.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and listening to mine, as well! I will continue to advocate for the doula role within my physician community and hope your respect for and advocacy of the physician role will continue as well. Ultimately, most physicians truly desire the best for their patients in terms of both the experience and outcome, and they spend many years of training and sacrifice to make the recommendations that they do. Teamwork and mutual respect for differing approaches is the best answer!

Posted By: Jaclyn | March 11, 2011 6:11 PM

Thank you for an interesting article. I think doulas provide an outstanding support to the labor process, and I have personally experienced the blessing that one provided to my sister. The physician community indeed should increase its support of doula involvement and its profound impact on maternal well-being in the peri-partum period.

I do want to say that it needs to go both ways, however, with doulas supporting the work of the physician community as well. As a non-OB physician, I would make 2 comments in response to your thoughts. First, while I agree that potentially unnecessary C-sections often occur, there is in fact significant medical literature regarding the potential harm to the baby when labor progresses for too long after rupture of membranes, hence the progression to C-section once that time frame surpasses an OB's comfort level. Secondly, the reference to medical professionals going "off shift" certainly applies to nurses and other staff, but many physicians don't go off shift, either. When they do, it's only because they have maintained wakefulness for a number of hours that makes it unsafe for them to provide interventions or other medical care.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and listening to mine, as well! I will continue to advocate for the doula role within my physician community and hope your respect for and advocacy of the physician role will continue as well. Ultimately, most physicians truly desire the best for their patients in terms of both the experience and outcome, and they spend many years of training and sacrifice to make the recommendations that they do. Teamwork and mutual respect for differing approaches is the best answer!

Posted By: Jaclyn | March 11, 2011 6:13 PM

Part of Mr. Logue's profile was that he was a Christian
Scientist. That aspect seems to be some kind of a challenge
that "reviewers" want to skirt around. Mr. Logue attributed
his ability to his study of Christian Science. This can be
verified.

Posted By: James Fahrenkrug | March 11, 2011 9:32 PM

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