What is a doula?
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
- A Birth Doula
- 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
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her spouse/partner and her clinical care providers
Throughout history, women relied on other women as well as their partners for encouragement and support before, during and after childbirth. Today,the birth of technology has meant the reality that many women experience birth in unfamiliar settings without constant reassurance. The support and encouragement that a doula provides plays a vital role in childbirth. Studies confirm that the presence of a doula for labor and delivery resulted in:
50% fewer cesarean deliveries
25% decrease in length of labor
40% reduction in oxytocin (pitocin) use
30% decrease in use of pain medication and forceps
60% decrease in request for epidurals
Increase in confidence of the father
Increase success in breastfeeding
Greater marternal satisfaction*
Excerpted from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993).
50% fewer cesarean deliveries
25% decrease in length of labor
40% reduction in oxytocin (pitocin) use
30% decrease in use of pain medication and forceps
60% decrease in request for epidurals
Increase in confidence of the father
Increase success in breastfeeding
Greater marternal satisfaction*
Excerpted from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993).
