What is a doula?

A doula is a woman trained to assist other women with the emotional and physical aspects of labor and birth. A doula differs from a midwife in that she usually has no medical training and does not perform any medical tasks (such as internal exams and blood pressure readings) - she is there to "mother the mother", to provide emotional support and help the mother have the kind of birth she desires.

Doulas have an extensive knowledge of the labor process. They may be trained in massage and relaxation techniques to help the mother through labor. They will stay by the mother's side through the entire labor and birth and can also help support other family members during labor (for example, making sure the husband, too, stays hydrated and nourished and able to participate). She does not replace the husband as primary coach or support person, but helps to support the family as a whole. Doulas promote the close connection between mothers and their loved ones, being mindful to not substitute themselves for the irreplaceable role a father can play to his beloved companion.

Doulas will not make decisions for the mother, but can assist her in finding information necessary to make an educated decision.

Do I need a doula at my birth?

Whether a woman is giving birth in a hospital, a birth center, or at home, she can benefit from the presence of a committed and knowledgeable labor support person. When that support person is trained in relaxation techniques, massage, and tools specific to labor, the laboring mother profits even more. Doulas are devoted to the welfare of women in labor, remaining by their sides throughout the entire labor and birth, offering their skills to comfort, reassure, and support the mother. Doulas address the emotional and psychological aspects of labor, which are usually overlooked in our current medical care structure.

What about labor support from the nurses?

More often than not, nurses cannot give enough time to a single laboring woman to provide reliable labor support, though they might know some techniques that would help the woman in labor. The nationwide shortage of nursing staff, together with the extensive and increasing note-taking and paperwork required of nurses, compound this problem, so much so that labor and delivery nurses spend less and less time with the laboring woman. Women cannot depend on nurses to provide their labor support. With a doula present giving emotional and physical comfort, she can work with the nurses to provide constant support, making sure that the woman’s every need is met.

The Doula Difference

Statistical outcome for laboring women who had a trained doula at their births:

• 60% reduction in epidural anesthesia
• 50% reduction in the cesarean rate
• 40% reduction in pitocin use
• 40% reduction in forceps-assisted births
• 25% shorter labor in first-time mothers