Additionally, Doulas…
- Recognize birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life.
- Understand the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
- Assist the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth.
- Stay by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor.
- Provide emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective point of viewpoint, and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions.
- Facilitate communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and clinical care providers.
- Perceive their role as one who nurtures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience.
[Information culled from Doulas of North America (DONA)]
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Why do pregnant couples need a Doula?
While many couples sail through pregnancy alone, having a Doula by your side can enhance the birthing experience.
Doulas take care of background details, allowing couples to focus on one another, allowing the one not birthing to be fully engaged in the process rather than having to deal with distracting minutiae.
What are the functions of a Doula during the entire pregnancy?
There are several functions of a Doula.
Prior to pregnancy, the Doula will meet with the pregnant mother or couple to discuss coping strategies, address needs, fears, offer nutritional and health and fitness information, expectations for the birth and how to operate as a team during labor.
During labor, the Doula is actively engaged in making the labor as smooth as possible. This includes, but isn't limited to: working with the mother to facilitate the progress of labor, employing relaxation techniques and other non-medicinal ways of dealing with labor pains, and facilitating communication with caregivers (doctors, midwives, and nurses).
After the birth, Doulas provide additional information for mothers about infant care, breast feeding, postpartum mood disorders and offer on-going follow-up support for mothers and couples.
How does a Doula help a father/partner during pregnancy?
The ways that Doulas help fathers are endless.
Doulas give them confidence, empowering them to have an active role in the birth.
Doulas help them enhance a mother's success at breastfeeding, which, in turn, provides the baby and mother with higher maternal success.
Why a Doula and not a nurse?
Unlike a medical nurse, a Doula focuses 100% of her energy on the mother. Nurses have other patients they're responsible for, as well various aspects of labor they are concerned about. Even the most attentive and caring nurse will have other clinical responsibilities and not be able to offer a laboring mother relaxation techniques, emotional support, massages, or encouragement and praise. This is where having a Doula enhances the birthing process and ensures that it's as smooth and comfortable for the mother as possible.
Are there any statistics that prove a Doula is useful?
Yes, studies have shown that by having a Doula*:
- tension and labor duration is reduced
- mother's feeling of control is elevated
- partner participation is enhanced and increased
- cesarean and medical intervention rates are decreased
- mother's self esteem is enhanced
- new born outcomes improve
- parent-child bonding is facilitated
- chance for postpartum depression is decreased
- birth experiences are enhanced
* For more specific statistics and more information, check out: Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth
What Don't Doulas Do?
Doulas do not replace medical personnel; instead, they help laboring mothers and families through the birthing process.
Doulas do not offer medical information or advice concerning the medical technicalities of the birth.
While Doulas may facilitate communication between medical staff and their clients, they do not play a role in any decision making process or relieve the client and her family of any responsibility in communicating with the hospital or medical staff.
What is a Doula?
Derived from ancient Greek, Doula originally meant "women who help other women," or "highest household servant." Having moved beyond the trappings of the word servant, current-day Doulas not only provide laboring mothers with physical and emotional support, but also hands-on education that can't be found in any book. Doulas offer support to the pregnant couple before, during and after the birth. A Doula mothers the mother. She assists the couple with breathing and relaxation techniques, guided imagery or other non-medical technical labor-coping strategies.
