What is a Doula?

I want to introduce you to a person that you will want for support during your pregnancy and birth – your doula.

The standard definition for what a doula does is that we “provide physical, emotional, and information support”, however I find this definition incomplete. Doulas do provide physical support – sometimes literally holding you and sometimes by offering a massage or a cold rag at just the right time and just the right place. A doula is 100% responsive to you, anticipating your needs before you voice them.

Expecting families need unwavering faith in their ability to carry and birth their baby. You already know more about you will birth your baby than anyone else! However, a doula can be a barometer of normal or slow the room when it seems it is spinning. A doula can be a rock when you need an anchor, a sounding board when you need to roar and a doula understands how very hard you are working even if you “make it look easy”. A doula’s presence allows your partner to experience birth without feeling like he needs to know everything about being a labor coach.

Often families wonder if they need a doula - won’t the nurse or midwife do some of the things?? The answer is YES you do need a doula! Your nurse or midwife is incredibly skilled at keeping you and your baby safe during pregnancy, labor and postpartum. They use their skills to navigate the twists and turns of labor and provides encouragement however your doula is solely focused on providing support. A doula can rub your lower back for hours because she is not responsible for making medical assessments. Your doula is going to be there while you labor at home, through your transition to your place of birth (or to your midwife arriving at your home) and until the baby has arrived and everyone is snuggled together.

Building this relationship of support with expecting families is my favorite part of the job. I believe this “relational support” is why research shows that women who use doulas have a higher level of satisfaction with their birth experience - no matter how the birth occurs. It turns out that the research shows a lot of good things about using a doula. Women who have a doula are more likely to have a vaginal birth and less likely to request pain medication. Studies also show that having a doula actually changes the way women feel about childbirth. Those who used doulas have a markedly higher rate of positive feelings toward childbirth. In case you needed any more incentive to use a doula, research also shows that women using a doula have labors that are shorter and their babies go to the NICU less often.

As you consider your birth team, consider adding a doula!