Doula Services
What is a doula?
A birth doula is a professional labor assistant. Someone who supports a woman and her family physically and emotionally during labor and birth. Women have been providing this support to each other since time began and in recent years it has developed into a true profession. Doulas today receive specialized training in the birth process, comfort techniques. They become familiar with the birth settings and develop rapport with midwives, doctors and nurses in their community. They are aware of local resources which may be of use to the pregnant woman and her family. While the services provided by individual doulas will differ, most doulas have the following in common:
- A true passion for birth
- Trust in a woman’s ability to give birth
- An open mind which allows her to work within the infinite variety of birth situations arising from different cultures, religions, birth settings and care providers
The benefits of hiring a birth doula
Evidence from many clinical studies suggests that using a birth doula:
- 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 and cesarean births
- Reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals
Research also shows that parents who use birth doulas:
- Feel more secure and cared for
- Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
- Have greater success breastfeeding
- Have greater self-confidence
- Have less postpartum depression
- Have lower incidence of abuse
What a doula will not do
- Perform clinical or medical tasks – they do not replace your chosen care provider
- Make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical care
- Replace other members of your labor support team – your partner, other family members or friends
