What is a Birth Doula?

In nearly every culture throughout history, women have been surrounded and supported by other women during the process of childbirth. The term “doula” is the more modern-day expression for a woman caregiver, who assists another woman and her partner during childbirth and postpartum. A doula“mothers the mother” while protecting the special bond between the new parents and their baby.

A birth doula is trained to attend to the special emotional and physical comfort needs of a laboring woman to help smooth the labor process. She also assists in helping to gather information for women and their partners prior to and during birth. The birth doula is usually hired by the parents-to-be to provide personal support and does not perform any clinical tasks, making her completely available to attend to the needs of the birthing woman.

During labor and delivery, a birth doula can provide comfort and support such as positioning suggestions, gentle massage, calm encouragement, emotional support, breathing suggestions, reflexology, and visualization techniques. She can also help to facilitate communication between the primary caregivers (the doctor, nurse, and/or midwife), allowing the mother and her partner to remain focused on the birthing process. A birth doula can accompany a woman and her partner in any birth setting (hospital, home, or birth center), and can make a positive addition to any birthing team.

The doula acknowleges the father’s role as coach and can help to enhance his experience of the birth process. The father and the doula often work as a team in providing comfort and support to the birthing woman. A birth doula can help to assist the father by making practical suggestions so he can better help his partner.

During the immediate postpartum period, a doula can help to encourage breastfeeding and bonding between the mother and baby. Often, standard hospital procedures (such as bathing, warming, measuring, testing) can be done at the mother’s bedside, allowing more time for mother/ infant bonding. In these cases, the doula can become an advocate for the mother and her newborn, reminding the hospital caregivers of the parents’ wishes to bond directly after birth.

A woman’s birth experience is a powerful and sacred one. A doula can help a woman and her partner to have a more positive and healthy childbirth that they will remember for a lifetime.