What is a Doula?
Doula is a Greek word expressing "woman caregiver". A doula is an experienced companion who provides women and their partners with emotional, physical (non-medical) and informational support throughout the different phases of her pregnancy, birth and/or the postpartum period.
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 mother's request for pain medication and/or epidurals
Research shows parents who receive support can...
- feel more secure and cared for
- are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
- have greater success with breastfeeding
- have less postpartum depression
- have lower incidence of abuse
(referenced from DONA.org)
- 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 mother's request for pain medication and/or epidurals
Research shows parents who receive support can...
- feel more secure and cared for
- are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
- have greater success with breastfeeding
- have less postpartum depression
- have lower incidence of abuse
(referenced from DONA.org)
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BIRTH DOULAS
What does a birth doula do? A birth doula will meet with the expectant family early in pregnancy to clarify goals, offer support and information about resources in the community. A doula supports the mother's beliefs and desires for her birth experience. She will offer support and encouragement to the mother and her partner, but does not intrude on the experience, or impose her own personal beliefs or agenda. She brings an understanding about the physiology and psychology of birth and knows the value of providing for the emotional needs of the mother, father, partner and other family members in labor. She provides consistent and continuous support during labor, offering effective pain-coping strategies, positional changes to facilitate birth, emotional support, and reassurance. In the case of an emergency, the doula stays connected with the family, offering reassurance and focused compassion. Because she does NOT have the role of medical provider, she can maintain an emotional connection. She will remain by the side of the the mother (and partner, father, or support person) throughout the entire labor and birthing process, encouraging understanding and communication between her, her partner, and her health care providers. A doula will stay with the mother for a brief period after the birth of her child offering suggestions and assistance with the first feedings if desired. She may offer to take photographs for the new family, provide a snack, and support the newborn baby-care plan. Finally, she will arrange a visit or several visits after the baby has arrived. This time can be used to review the birth, answer questions, provide support for feedings, listen and provide referrals to community resources, if needed. |
POSTPARTUM DOULAS
What does a postpartum doula do? A postpartum doula have received special training to support women and families for the first few weeks after childbirth. A postpartum doula understands responsibilities that new parents face. She assists and encourages this new, and perhaps fragile, family while they transition into their new roles. She is trained specifically to respect individual preferences as to how to care for the new baby. Her job centers on increasing parental confidence as she helps new parents learn to respond to their newborn's individual needs. Her assistance may decrease incidences of maternal exhaustion and frustration, while fostering feelings of confidence and connection. A postpartum doula's work includes: assistance with newborn care, breastfeeding support, preparing meals, light housekeeping, and care for older children so that the postpartum mother can rest and recuperate. Postpartum Doulas are idea for families in which:
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