What is a Doula?
A doula trusts the process of birth.
The word doula is Greek, and refers to a woman who personally serves another woman. She is a non-medical assistant who provides physical, emotional and informational support in prenatal care, during childbirth and during the postpartum period.
Women cared for during labor by a birth doula, compared to those receiving usual care were*
26% less likely to give birth by cesarean section
41% less likely to give birth with a vacuum extractor or forceps
28% less likely to use any analgesia or anesthesia
33% less likely to be dissatisfied or negatively rate their birth experience
A labor doula provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during labor and childbirth. She helps facilitate the birth experience for the parents, baby, and primary care providers and provides explanations of medical procedures and interventions.
She is also an important support during pregnancy, providing advice, exercise and physical suggestions to make pregnancy more comfortable. Doulas can help with preparation of a birth plan and can also help the new mother postpartum with breastfeeding.
On the other hand, doulas do not perform clinical tasks such as heart rate checks, or vaginal exams. These things are better left to your chosen medical careproviders.
The word doula is Greek, and refers to a woman who personally serves another woman. She is a non-medical assistant who provides physical, emotional and informational support in prenatal care, during childbirth and during the postpartum period.
Women cared for during labor by a birth doula, compared to those receiving usual care were*
26% less likely to give birth by cesarean section
41% less likely to give birth with a vacuum extractor or forceps
28% less likely to use any analgesia or anesthesia
33% less likely to be dissatisfied or negatively rate their birth experience
A labor doula provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during labor and childbirth. She helps facilitate the birth experience for the parents, baby, and primary care providers and provides explanations of medical procedures and interventions.
She is also an important support during pregnancy, providing advice, exercise and physical suggestions to make pregnancy more comfortable. Doulas can help with preparation of a birth plan and can also help the new mother postpartum with breastfeeding.
On the other hand, doulas do not perform clinical tasks such as heart rate checks, or vaginal exams. These things are better left to your chosen medical careproviders.
Doulas and Fathers??
A doula does not replace your partner! Instead she helps support the partner so that he or she can love and encourage you.
Sometimes we, as women, forget that the role of a "labor coach" can be challenging. We expect new fathers-to-be to become familiar with the process of birth, to understand medical procedures and hospital protocols and advocate for his partner in an environment he is unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable with.
A doula can provide information to help parents make appropriate decisions and facilitate communication between the laboring woman, her partner and medical care providers.
With a doula, a father can share in the birth at a level he feels most comfortable with. The doula’s skills and knowledge can help him to feel more relaxed.
I also often hear that fathers want their first birthing experience to be an intimate event. A doula does not invade on the intimacy of birth; rather, she encourages closeness and togetherness. She guides fathers through the labor and birth process so that he may focus even more on the mother.
Sometimes we, as women, forget that the role of a "labor coach" can be challenging. We expect new fathers-to-be to become familiar with the process of birth, to understand medical procedures and hospital protocols and advocate for his partner in an environment he is unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable with.
A doula can provide information to help parents make appropriate decisions and facilitate communication between the laboring woman, her partner and medical care providers.
With a doula, a father can share in the birth at a level he feels most comfortable with. The doula’s skills and knowledge can help him to feel more relaxed.
I also often hear that fathers want their first birthing experience to be an intimate event. A doula does not invade on the intimacy of birth; rather, she encourages closeness and togetherness. She guides fathers through the labor and birth process so that he may focus even more on the mother.