What is a Doula?
Doulas are advocates for women, babies, and families, and are also knowledgeable in the processes of pregnancy, labor and birth, breastfeeding and in the transitions of the postpartum period. Some doulas specialize in assisting women during labor and birth and are known as Birth Doulas. A Birth Doula's primary concern is for the comfort of the laboring woman. She is there to attend to the birthing mothers unique physical and emotional needs continuously throughout labor. Others doulas include Antepartum (Prenatal) Doulas who specialize in working with mothers and families during pregnancy and Postpartum Doulas for after the birth. Both Antepartum and Postpartum Doulas can be found: helping with household organization, offering suggestions on pregnancy and newborn care, and may also do other tasks such as light cooking and cleaning and sibling care. Because each familiy's needs are unique, and doulas vary in their levels of experience, education, and philosophies, it is important for mothers and families to find a doula in whom they are comfortable with and in whom meets their needs.
Why use a birth doula?
The concept of a doula is not new. For centuries before, and in many cultures today, laboring women have surrounded themselves with other women who were knowledgeable about labor and birth. These knowledgeable women would assist the new mother by easing many of the physical and emotional burdens associated with labor.
In our culture today, most births occur in the hospital where nurses experience the challenges of caring for more than one laboring women at a time. Their clinical work and other duties leave them little or no time to give full attention to the non-clinical needs of the woman in their care. Doulas compliment the birth team by having both knowledge of how to support a woman in labor and an understanding of hospital procedures, policies and interventions. They are able to stay with the laboring mother throughout her entire labor, and assist her during the various stages of labor progression. While no one labor has any guaranteed outcomes, studies have shown that doula attended births have:
- 45% reduction in the cesarean rate
- 25% shorter labor
- 60% reduction in epidural requests
- 50% reduction in oxytocin use
- 31% reduction in pain medication use
- 34% reduction in forceps delivery
**Meta-analysis on doula studies and more information can be found at: Klaus, Kennell, Klaus. Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth, p. 51. 1993. Perseus Books. Reading, Massachusetts.
I am a birth doula who...
- first, and foremost believes in respectfully allowing parents to make their own decisions regarding the birth of their child. As a doula, I offer information, suggestions, and support, but will then stand back and let the parents decide what is best for them and their baby.
- Believes that the birth of a baby is a sacred and precious time in a woman's life where her divine role as mother is fully expressed, and that within her lies the power and ability to birth her baby.
- Believes that Fathers, when present, play an important and unique role in the labor process. I will gladly let them participate as little or as much as they desire.
- Serves parents choosing home birth or hospital birth, women who have partners or not, who may be a first time mom or has had multiple births, and those women seeking an un-medicated or a medicated birth. I also am willing to serve mothers who birth unassisted.
- Believes in mother led birthing practices. I will gladly assist Mothers in the ways they desire. Some of my assistance may include: helping mothers prepare for the birth, continuous labor support in the way of giving suggestions and/or hands on help for various comfort techniques and position changes, labor support that may also include things like helping to set up birthing tubs, changing sheets, bringing food and drink etc, and I also aid parents by giving informational support when desired.