What is a Doula?

doula

According to DONA International, 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 of any gender identity who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the someone before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.

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 birthing person will remember all their life

  • Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a person in labor

  • Assists the birthing person in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth

  • Supports a birthing person and their family/birth partner throughout labor

  • Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the families and birthing people get the information they need in order to make informed decisions

  • Facilitates communication between the laboring person, their partner, and their clinical care providers

  • Perceives their role as nurturing and protecting the birthing person’s memory of their birth experience

  • Allows the birth partner to participate at their comfort level

What Impact Does a Doula Have?

In "Mothering the Mother: How A Doula Can Help You Have A Shorter, Easier, And Healthier Birth”, doctors Marshall Klaus, John Kennell, and Phyllis Klaus describe their six randomized, controlled studies done of over 1,000 people on four continents who used a doula at their child birth.

THE RESULTS SHOWED:

  • A 50% decrease in cesarean sections

  • A 25% decrease in the length of labor

  • A 30% decrease in use of forceps

  • A 40% decrease in use of oxytocin

  • A 60% decrease in use of epidruals

  • A 30% decrease in use of pain medications (narcotics)

Other Long Term Benefits of Labor Support Include:

  • Improved Breastfeeding

  • Decreased Postpartum Depression

  • Greater parental satisfaction

  • Better parent-Infant Interaction