What is a Doula?
The word “Doula” comes from the Greek word doule, meaning “handmaiden” or “woman who serves.” That is precisely the role of a doula for a laboring woman: to serve the laboring mother and help her have her desired birth outcome.
In essence, a doula is a massage therapist, friend, therapist, DJ, storyteller or anything else a mother needs her to be in labor. She is a shoulder to cry on or the word of encouragement when the mother thinks she can’t go on.
What does a Doula do?
A doula is trained in labor and childbirth and provides continuous support to a laboring mother. Her focus is tending to and helping the mom and supporting the relationship of the laboring couple. Doulas often support laboring women by:
Doulas are not medical professionals and do not give medical advice. (If a doula ever tries to give you medical advice or directly suggests that you go against medical advice, this should be a red flag).
A doula will also not perform medical tasks like checking blood pressure, doing cervical exams or monitoring the baby’s heart rate. It is never the place of a doula to judge, condemn or go against a mother’s wishes. Doulas do not take over or come between the mother and her birth partner or doctor and should work with other birth attendants.
Unlike nurses and doctors, doulas also do not take shifts or leave during a labor. A doula is continuously with a laboring mother without leaving or sleeping. Also, unlike medical professionals, a doula does not have other patients or rounds so her single focus is on the mother.
Why get a Labor Doula?
Doulas are important to women because their sole purpose is to provide physical, emotional, and informational support during labor and birth without doing anything medical. In other words, while your doctor is checking to see how far you're dilated and your partner is collapsed in a chair looking pale and pasty, your birth doula will be the one standing by your side, making sure you have everything you need for a positive birth experience. Having a doula by your side during labor and delivery can decrease your laboring time considerably, which might just be reason enough. There are many other benefits of having a doula present: a lower rate of C-sections, less use of epidurals and other interventions, and more satisfaction with birth experiences. A woman might feel more empowered to make decisions on her own behalf. Also, since she is being supported, she might experience less pain and ask for fewer interventions. Another reason: The less stress a woman experiences, the faster labor might occur; Stress hormones may inhibit the production of oxytocin, which is what causes contractions.
In fact, a Cochrane review published in 2012 found that in labors with the continuous presence of a doula, laboring mothers experience:
Doula-supported women had lower odds of cesarean compared without doula support and those who desired but did not have doula support (AOR = 0.41, CI, 0.18-0.96; and AOR = 0.31, CI, 0.13-0.74). The odds of nonindicated cesarean were 80-90% lower among doula-supported women (AOR= 0.17, CI, 0.07-0.39; and AOR= 0.11, CI, 0.03-0.36). (source)
The Cochrane review also compared doula support to other types of labor support, including support by hospital staff, support of a friend or relative, or partner support and found that doula supported mothers had the best outcomes. This is not to discount the very important role of family and birth partners, but to show that doulas can provide additional help to a laboring mother.
Other studies have shown that the best outcomes occur when a woman is supported by a doula, along with a supportive hospital staff and birth partner (source).
Doctors and nurses are often happy to have doulas working with them. Medical-care providers are watching out for so many aspects of the mother's and baby's clinical care that they aren't necessarily able to provide the emotional support a woman may desire in labor, and while most labor and delivery nurses are wonderful and amazing people, they have many patients at once and doctors often only make an appearance as the head is crowning. A doula can help a mother-to-be feel less anxious, and that sense of calm can often lead to a safer labor and birth. A holistic care approach -- one that involves an integrated team, including a physician, midwife, nurse, doula, and other health educators -- allows everyone to play toward their strengths and provide the mother continuous support and education.
Many partners want to be a rock for the mother of their child, but they may end up feeling as much fear and trepidation as the mother does (okay, maybe not quite as much). A doula can provide reassurance and affirmation for both parents. What's more, she can guide the partner to give more support to the mother. A doula can help a partner feel confident and comfortable in assisting during labor. For instance, if a mom likes having her feet rubbed, a doula can teach the partner how to do it well. Doulas wants partners to be an integral part of the birth experience.
The word “Doula” comes from the Greek word doule, meaning “handmaiden” or “woman who serves.” That is precisely the role of a doula for a laboring woman: to serve the laboring mother and help her have her desired birth outcome.
In essence, a doula is a massage therapist, friend, therapist, DJ, storyteller or anything else a mother needs her to be in labor. She is a shoulder to cry on or the word of encouragement when the mother thinks she can’t go on.
What does a Doula do?
A doula is trained in labor and childbirth and provides continuous support to a laboring mother. Her focus is tending to and helping the mom and supporting the relationship of the laboring couple. Doulas often support laboring women by:
- Providing continuous emotional and physical support
- Giving information if asked and helping the mother find resources to research her birth choices (before labor)
- Using comfort measures like massage, suggesting different positions and helping with relaxation breathing
- Accommodating the mother’s wishes for the birth environment (low light, soft music, etc) to the extent possible in the place of birth
- Encouraging the mother to communicate with her doctor and to be informed about any procedures and interventions (a doula does NOT give medical advice or interfere with the doctor/mother relationship)
- Supporting the father or birth partner in the best way to support the mother. A doula never replaces the very important role of the birth partner and a good doula will help the birth partner by suggesting ways that he can support the laboring mom and things that can improve their synergy in labor.
Doulas are not medical professionals and do not give medical advice. (If a doula ever tries to give you medical advice or directly suggests that you go against medical advice, this should be a red flag).
A doula will also not perform medical tasks like checking blood pressure, doing cervical exams or monitoring the baby’s heart rate. It is never the place of a doula to judge, condemn or go against a mother’s wishes. Doulas do not take over or come between the mother and her birth partner or doctor and should work with other birth attendants.
Unlike nurses and doctors, doulas also do not take shifts or leave during a labor. A doula is continuously with a laboring mother without leaving or sleeping. Also, unlike medical professionals, a doula does not have other patients or rounds so her single focus is on the mother.
Why get a Labor Doula?
Doulas are important to women because their sole purpose is to provide physical, emotional, and informational support during labor and birth without doing anything medical. In other words, while your doctor is checking to see how far you're dilated and your partner is collapsed in a chair looking pale and pasty, your birth doula will be the one standing by your side, making sure you have everything you need for a positive birth experience. Having a doula by your side during labor and delivery can decrease your laboring time considerably, which might just be reason enough. There are many other benefits of having a doula present: a lower rate of C-sections, less use of epidurals and other interventions, and more satisfaction with birth experiences. A woman might feel more empowered to make decisions on her own behalf. Also, since she is being supported, she might experience less pain and ask for fewer interventions. Another reason: The less stress a woman experiences, the faster labor might occur; Stress hormones may inhibit the production of oxytocin, which is what causes contractions.
In fact, a Cochrane review published in 2012 found that in labors with the continuous presence of a doula, laboring mothers experience:
- Reduced use of pitocin
- Decreased rate of interventions during labor
- Less need for pain medication and less requests for epidural
- Higher satisfaction with birth outcomes
- Much lower c-section rate
- Higher chance of a spontaneous vaginal birth
- Shorter labors
Doula-supported women had lower odds of cesarean compared without doula support and those who desired but did not have doula support (AOR = 0.41, CI, 0.18-0.96; and AOR = 0.31, CI, 0.13-0.74). The odds of nonindicated cesarean were 80-90% lower among doula-supported women (AOR= 0.17, CI, 0.07-0.39; and AOR= 0.11, CI, 0.03-0.36). (source)
The Cochrane review also compared doula support to other types of labor support, including support by hospital staff, support of a friend or relative, or partner support and found that doula supported mothers had the best outcomes. This is not to discount the very important role of family and birth partners, but to show that doulas can provide additional help to a laboring mother.
Other studies have shown that the best outcomes occur when a woman is supported by a doula, along with a supportive hospital staff and birth partner (source).
Doctors and nurses are often happy to have doulas working with them. Medical-care providers are watching out for so many aspects of the mother's and baby's clinical care that they aren't necessarily able to provide the emotional support a woman may desire in labor, and while most labor and delivery nurses are wonderful and amazing people, they have many patients at once and doctors often only make an appearance as the head is crowning. A doula can help a mother-to-be feel less anxious, and that sense of calm can often lead to a safer labor and birth. A holistic care approach -- one that involves an integrated team, including a physician, midwife, nurse, doula, and other health educators -- allows everyone to play toward their strengths and provide the mother continuous support and education.
Many partners want to be a rock for the mother of their child, but they may end up feeling as much fear and trepidation as the mother does (okay, maybe not quite as much). A doula can provide reassurance and affirmation for both parents. What's more, she can guide the partner to give more support to the mother. A doula can help a partner feel confident and comfortable in assisting during labor. For instance, if a mom likes having her feet rubbed, a doula can teach the partner how to do it well. Doulas wants partners to be an integral part of the birth experience.
