What is a Doula?
By the National Women's Health Network, Doulas provide emotional support and coaching to women and their families, most often during and after childbirth. Doulas supplement other health care providers involved in birth and pregnancy and, ultimately, act as birth advocates.
What does a doula do?
The relationship between the doula and her client begins several months before the baby is due. During this time, we are building a relationship in which the mother feels comfortable asking questions, expressing her fears and concerns, and participating in the creation of a birth plan. Doulas can provide information on perineal massage and other techniques that can help reduce the stress and trauma that is often associated with childbirth.
Most doulas make themselves available to the mother by phone and text to answer her questions or address any concerns that may arise during the pregnancy. Understand that they do not provide medical care. They are, however, well-versed in many medical aspects of labor and delivery.
Doulas remain in constant and close proximity to the mother during delivery. They can provide comfort through pain-relief techniques such as breathing techniques, relaxation techniques, massage, and laboring positions. Doulas also encourage partner participation and provide reassurance.
A doula's goal is to assist the mother in having a positive and safe birth, whether it is an unmedicated birth or a cesarean. Many labor doulas will assist new mothers in starting the breastfeeding process and encourage bonding between the new baby and other family members after birth.
What doulas don't do
They do not check your baby's heartbeat or take any vitals on mom or baby, during the pregnancy or labor
They do not check for cervical dilation or labor progression
They do not provide medical advice or diagnose any medical conditions
They do not make medical decisions for the mom or the baby
They do not pressure the birthing person into certain choices just because that’s what they prefer
They do not guarantee a specific birth outcome
What are the advantages of hiring a doula?
Having a doula present during labor has been shown in numerous studies to be beneficial. A recent Cochrane Review, Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth, found that having a doula present resulted in a very high number of positive birth outcomes. Women who received their assistance were less likely to receive pain relievers and were less likely to have a cesarean birth. Women also reported having a more positive experience with childbirth.
Other research has found that having a doula on the birth team reduces the overall cesarean rate by 50%, the length of labor by 25%, the use of oxytocin by 40%, and requests for an epidural by 60%.
Compiled using information from the following sources:
1. Childbirth Connection
2. Hodnett ED. Gates S Hofmeyr GJ. Sakala C. Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. CD003766, (2003).
