What is a Doula?
The word doula has a Greek origin and means ‘ a woman that serves ‘.
Some people prefer using terms such as a birth companion or a birth coach.
A doula is a non-clinical support person who attends a birthing family during the birth process, and may also provide support and informational services during pregnancy and in the early postpartum period.
What does a Doula do?
A doula provides both physical and emotional support not only to the birthing client, but also to the partner or family members who are also present. This can include labor support techniques such as movements, positions, and non pharmaceutical pain relief techniques, and may also include nurturing such as hydration, giving family members a break from labor support, helping the client with self-care, reassurance and encouragement, and much more.
A doula also provides unbiased informational support such as translating medical terms into lay terms, reminding the client of options and choices, encouraging the client to ask questions and be assertive about needs, emphasizing the importance of informed decisions making within the comfort level of the client, and providing evidence based resources and appropriate referrals as needed or desired by the client.
What does a Doula do?
Over twenty years of research focused on doula for has shown conclusively the effectiveness and benefit of doula care. Outcomes are improved, risks to mother and baby are reduced, and multiple benefits to the entire family and even the birth team and birth site have been demonstrated.
Original Doula Studies show
* Decrease in cesareans 26% – 50%
* Decrease in length of labor by 25%
* Decrease in epidural requests by 60%
* Decrease in instrumental delivery by 30%
* Decrease in narcotic requests by 60%
* Decrease in Pitocin use by 40%
* Improved breastfeeding
* Increase in time spent with baby ( suggests improved bonding )
* Decrease in postpartum depression
* Decrease in preterm labor
In addition, the greatest benefits come with the use of a doula who is trained and is not part of the mother’s family or social network…
*** Definition and information taken from the Purely Doula Manual 2019 by Ana M. Hill
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