WHAT IS A DOULA?

A doula is an experienced and trained labor companion who stays with a laboring woman throughout her entire labor and birth experience, providing emotional, physical, and informational support. Your birth experience will be a lifelong memory, and using a doula can help ensure that the birth of your child will be a memory filled with satisfaction. A doula recognizes birth as a key life experience, and understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. She supplements rather than replaces the woman's partner and care-provider. She helps make a woman's birth experience a positive event with rich rewards and feelings of accomplishment. See “A Doula Makes the Difference” from Mothering Magazine: http://www.mothering.com/pregnancy-birth/doula-makes-difference

WHY CHOOSE A DOULA?

Each person involved in the care of the laboring woman contributes to her emotional well-being. However, doctors, nurses, and midwives are primarily responsible for the health and well-being of the mother and baby. Medical care providers must assess the condition of the mother and fetus, diagnose and treat complications as they arise, and focus on the safe delivery of the baby. These priorities rightly take precedence over the non-medical psycho-social needs of a laboring woman. The doula helps to ensure that these needs are met while enhancing communication and understanding between woman or couple and staff. Along with her knowledge and objective perspective, a doula brings a loving human touch that contributes to a respectful environment and a gentle beginning for you and your baby.

Clinical trials have demonstrated that the presence of a doula is also associated with:

• Reduction of cesarean rates
• Reduction in use of forceps
• Less requests for epidurals
• Shorter labor
• Reduction in oxytocin augmentation
• Lower rates of newborn complications
• Reduction of maternal bleeding after birth
• Increased success with breastfeeding
• Reduction in postpartum depression
• Increased maternal satisfaction

HOW DO BIRTH PARTNERS AND DOULAS WORK TOGETHER?

A doula can never replace the love and caring that the birth partner provides during the birth experience. No one else can fill this special role. A doula gives the birth partner ideas about what comfort measures work best during different parts of labor and birth. A doula's knowledge and experience can help the birth partner participate comfortably in the birth. The doula and birth partner work as a team. 

Doulas Do:

• Provide physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth.
• Offer comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement, touch, and positioning.
• Assist families in gathering information about the course of their labor and their options.
• Guide the mother/couple through informed decision-making with birth information and resources.
• Guide fathers to participate with confidence at their own comfort level.
• Recognize birth as a key life experience.

Doulas Don't

• Perform clinical tasks.
• Project her own values and goals onto the laboring woman.
• Diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions, or give medical advice.
• Make decisions for the family.

Doula Information:

• http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/havingadoula.html
• http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/doulas/a/doulas.htm

Video about doulas: