A
Birth Doula
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Recognizes birth as a key
experience the mother will
remember all her life
-
Understands the physiology
of birth and the emotional
needs of a woman in labor
-
Assists the woman in
preparing for and carrying
out her plans for birth
- Stays with the woman
throughout the labor
- Provides emotional
support, physical comfort
measures and an objective
viewpoint, as well as
helping the woman get the
information she needs to
make informed decision
- Facilitates
communication between the
laboring woman, her partner
and her clinical care
providers
- Perceives her role as
nurturing and protecting the
woman's memory of the birth
experience
- Allows the woman's
partner to participate at
his/her comfort level
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Frequently Asked Questions About Birth Doulas
1. What is a birth doula?
A birth doula is a woman trained and experienced in
childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional
and informational support to the mother and her support
people before, during and just after childbirth.
2. Where does the word
“doula” come from?
The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek, meaning
“Woman’s servant.” Throughout history and in much of the
world today, a cadre of women support a woman through
labor and birth, giving back rubs and providing
continuous emotional support. Like their historical
counterparts, DONA International birth doulas know how
to help a woman in labor feel better. However, today’s
doulas are much more diverse than their predecessors.
3. What effects does the
presence of a doula have on birth outcomes?
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s
presence at birth:
- tends to result in
shorter labors with fewer complications
- reduces negative
feelings about one’s childbirth experience
- reduces the need for
pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum
extraction
- reduces the requests
for pain medication and epidurals, as well as the
incidence of cesareans
4. What effects does the
presence of a doula have on the mother?
When a doula is present during and after childbirth,
women report greater satisfaction with their birth
experience, make more positive assessments of their
babies, have fewer cesareans and requests for medical
intervention, and less postpartum depression.
5. What effects do the
presence of doulas have on babies?
Studies have shown that babies born with doulas present
tend to have shorter hospital stays with fewer
admissions to special care nurseries, breastfeed more
easily and have more affectionate mothers in the
postpartum period.
6. How can I find a doula
in my area?
Use DONA International’s online
doula locator or click here.
7. How do doulas practice?
Doulas practice in three ways: privately hired directly
by clients,
as hospital employees, and as volunteers in community or
hospital programs.
8. Does a doula replace
nursing staff?
No. Doulas do not replace nurses or other medical staff.
Doulas do not perform clinical or medical tasks such as
taking blood pressure or temperature, monitoring fetal
heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or providing
postpartum clinical care. They are there to comfort and
support the mother and to enhance communication between
the mother and medical professionals.
9. Does a doula make
decisions on my behalf?
A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene
in their clinical care. She provides informational and
emotional support, while respecting a woman’s decisions.
10. Will a doula make my
partner feel unnecessary?
No, a doula is supportive to both the mother and her
partner, and plays a crucial role in helping a partner
become involved in the birth to the extent he/she feels
comfortable. |
