faqs

What exactly does a doula do?

During pregnancy a doula's main role is informational and emotional support.  She objectively helps the woman gather the information she needs to know, as well as her options and to make informed choices.  Once labour begins the doula provides continuous support throughout the entire labour and birth process.  She provides non-medical comfort measures and relaxation as needed, including encouragement, positional changes, walking, massage, aromatherapy, acupressure, visualizations, soft music, hydrotherapy, hot/cold packs, and a birth ball to help make labour faster and more efficient.  The doula will make sure the mother-to-be is as comfortable as possible by providing cool cloths, water/juice and ice chips, and can also do snack or meal runs. She can offer breaks to the partner as well. 

If the woman is planning to have other friends/family members present during her birth she will guide the birth team in working most effectively for the labouring woman.  She will help keep the couple informed about their labour progress and can help to facilitate communication between them and hospital staff.  She will also stay with the family for one to two hours postpartum.  She may help with initial breastfeeding and take photos if desired.  Most doulas also write a birth story and offer at least one postpartum visit to discuss the birth experience.

Are there any benefits to having a doula?

Yes!  Clinical studies have shown that women who have doulas tend to have:

• 50% reduction in cesarean rates*
• 40% reduction in forcep deliveries*
• 25% shorter labours*
• 60% reduction in epidural requests*
• 40% reduction in oxytocin (Pitocin) use*
• 30% reduction in analgesia use*
• increased maternal mother-infant bonding*
• reduced post-partum depression*
• fewer episiotomies
• improved neo-natal outcomes
• greater satisfaction with the birth
• decreased anxiety and tension
• decreased post partum depression
• easier transition to parenthood
• improved breastfeeding

*Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus

What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?

Doulas are not medical care providers.  Doulas do not perform any medical tasks such as blood pressure checks, fetal heart tone monitoring, internal exams, etc.  Her focus is on the emotional needs of the woman.   A midwife, like an obstetrician, is a medical care proivder.  Your doula is an addition to that birth team.

Do doulas replace dads/partners?

No!  Doulas do not replace the partner, she is there in addition to him, and allows him to participate at his comfort level.  The partner's role is a very important one.  He has an intimate and unique bond with the woman and her baby.  Ideally, the partner and doula make an excellent support team for the labouring woman. 

I'm giving birth with a midwife, do I need a doula as well?

In the hospital - Midwives in hospitals are primarily responsible for the medical health and safety of several labouring women and their babies.  Therefore, even if you get a fabulous midwife whom you immediately connect with, she most likely will not be with you from beginning to end.  She will have other moms to care for and there may be a shift change sometime during your labor.  A doula is there from the time you agree for her to arrive until Mother and Baby are happily nursing and immediate needs have been met.  Her primary focus is your physical and emotional comfort and helping you get the information you need to make informed decisions regarding your medical care.  She helps ensure you have the birth experience you want.  In addition to the benefits to the mother, most midwives and labour & delivery nurses welcome the presence of another knowledgeable care provider to lighten their sometimes overwhelming responsibilities.

Out of the hospital - Even if you are the only labouring woman your midwife is caring for, you may still want to have a doula present.  As stated above, the primary concern of your midwife will be ensuring the health and safety of you and your baby.  If your midwife will have less than two assistants, you may need to have a doula present as well.

I plan on having an epidural, do I still need a doula?

Absolutely.  A doula can help you manage your labour longer, reducing the amount of drugs you and your baby are exposed to.  She can help you deal with the side effects of medications used in labour.  Often, after an epidural is given, hospital staff and even loved ones pay more attention to the monitors and less attention to the labouring woman.  When the signs of physical discomfort are gone, they may feel that all of her needs are being met.  This is not the case.  A labouring woman still needs strong emotional support.  In addition to providing this emotional support and encouraging loved ones to stay involved, the doula continues to provide informational support so that the couple can make informed decisions.

I'm having a cesarean, what can a doula do for me?

A doula can have a tremendous effect on how a woman feels about her cesarean birth experience, regardless of whether it was planned or an emergency.  If a woman is informed, well supported, and cared for throughout the birth, she is more likely to come away from it with a positive feeling.  A doula can help explain hospital procedures and she can narrate the birth to the mother if the partner prefers to be by the mother's face rather than watch the operation.  She can stay with the mother while the partner accompanies the baby to the observation area. 

After the cesarean, the new mother may require extra assistance in getting her baby latched onto her breast.  At a postpartum meeting, the doula reviews the birth with the mother and helps to clear up any misunderstandings that may have occurred.  The doula is an understanding, and trusted confidant with whom the mother can freely express ANY feelings regarding her birth experience without fear of being judged or belittled.  

But I don't want a "stranger" attending my birth.

That is understandable.  You will not necessarily meet your labor and delivery nurse before your birth.  Sometimes your doula is the only constant, in the ever-changing sea of faces you will encounter in the hospital.  Doulas typically offer an initial consultation free of charge, two prenatal visits, and on going support by email and phone.  This gives time for her to get to know you and your partner and the plans and concerns you have for your birth ahead of time. 

What kind of training does a doula have? 

Doulas may or may not have given birth themselves.  For a doula to become certified she must attend a training workshop, participate in a series of childbirth classes, read numerous books, write several papers, attend births with specific requirements, receive positive evaluations, and sign a code of ethics.