What is a Doula?
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides [nonmedical] continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth.
Some women want to have a natural childbirth, others want an epidural, and for some moms it is medically necessary to have a cesarean. A doula can be a great asset to all women in a variety of birthing situations—she can help them achieve their goals for the birth that they desire. A doula's role is to educate and support a woman in whatever choices she makes for her baby’s birth.
numerous Clinical studies have shown That a doula's presence at birth
tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.
A Birth Doula:
Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
Stays with the woman throughout the labor
Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level
Does not perform clinical or medical tasks such as taking blood pressure, temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or providing postpartum clinical care.
