What is a doula?

A doula is a labor support professional who “mothers the mother” during childbirth, as well as during the prenatal and postpartum periods. Birth doulas provide support to pregnant women prenatally, through labor and birth, and in the early days postpartum. Postpartum doulas provide in-home services to families in the early weeks after baby is born.

Doulas are non-medical care providers. Their role is limited to educational, emotional, physical, and logistical support. They do not provide clinical care such as taking blood pressure or checking dilation in labor, nor do they give medical advice.

All doulas provide information, emotional support, and comfort measures such as massage, hydrotherapy, and enhanced relaxation. Doulas enjoy providing attention to expectant parents and getting to know their clients prenatally. By the time you go into labor, your doula has become a trusted friend and mentor. During labor and birth, doulas feel privileged to be present and helping at such a sacred and joyful event. Postpartum doulas simply love hanging out with new moms and their babies! Your doula is there to support you in your choices and to provide concrete physical and logistical support. Doulas do not take the place of dads, partners, or other family members who want to help you. Their job is to facilitate everyone’s optimal participation at your birth, as well as to provide support to the entire family through the postpartum recovery and adjustment period. If you are a single mother, your doula can serve as your primary support person so that you are never left alone in labor.

What are the benefits of doula support?

There have now been several studies on the benefits of continuous labor support on labor and birth outcomes. Laboring women who are supported by doulas have lower c-section rates, lower instrumental delivery (forceps and vacuum extraction) rates, and are less likely to use epidurals or pain medication than women who do not have doula support. These women also have shorter labors, have more positive childbirth experiences overall, and are more likely to breastfeed. Furthermore, the newborns of these women have higher 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores.

Postpartum doulas can have a strong impact on early parenting success. The evidence shows that women who use a postpartum doula have increased rates of breastfeeding, decreased rates of postpartum depression, decreased incidence of maternal re-hospitalization for complications postpartum, a stronger bond with their newborns, greater self-confidence in their parenting abilities, and increased understanding of newborn care.

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• What is a doula?
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  • Postpartum Doulas