What is a doula?

"Doula" is an ancient Greek word meaning "woman servant".  This term has evolved in the Western world to being used to describe a person specially trained to support a woman and her partner through pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. A doula provides continuous emotional support, assistance achieving physical comfort, non-clinical advice and assistance in getting information. Every pregnancy and birth experience is unique, and a doula's role varies depending on the current needs of the client.
 

What does a doula do?

Before labor, I will meet with the mother (and her partner) to discuss birth preferences and answer any questions they may have about the birth. The goal of the prenatal visits are to establish a good relationship between the doula and the parent(s)-to-be, and to help the pregnant woman and her partner to be as informed as possible and empowered to create the birth experience they desire.

Once in labor, I will meet you at home or at the hospital, and can help you to be as informed as possible, support you in your choices and act as an advocate for your decisions. I will encourage relaxation, a positive birthing environment, position changes, and comfort measures to decrease the discomforts of labor. I will stay with you until after your delivery.

Following delivery, in the postpartum period, I will meet with your new family to discuss healing and to assess and offer help with breastfeeding and newborn care.

A doula does not perform medical care or give medical advice (no heart-rate monitoring or examinations). A doula will not make decisions for you. A doula will help you get the necessary information to make an informed decision. She does not take the place of your midwife, obstetrician or kraamverzorgende/birth attendant.

A doula does not detract from the role of the partner. It enhances it and leaves him (or her) free to do the very important job of loving the mother. A doula provides extra support that helps a partner to best support the laboring woman, and ensures that a laboring woman is never left alone, should her partner need a break.

Research  has shown the presence of a doula can lead to a:

	60% decrease in use of epidurals
	50% decrease in cesarean sections
	40% decrease in use of pitocin
	30% decrease in use of pain medications (narcotics)
	30% decrease in use of forceps

 

In addition, long-term benefits of a doula include, but are not limited to:

 

	Improved breastfeeding
	Decreased postpartum depression
	Greater maternal satisfaction
	Better mother-infant interaction

Information was obtained from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993).