What does a birth doula do?

A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support before, during and just following childbirth.

How is a doula different from a midwife?

Doulas do not perform any clinical tasks such as: monitoring baby's heart rate, vaginal / cervical exams, blood pressure checks, etc.  Because a doula is not responsible for your medical care, she can devote all of her attention to helping you through your labor. For more information about doulas please visit:  DONA International

Why would I want a stranger at my birth?

By the time you're in labor, you will have built a relationship with your doula by getting to know each other through your prenatal visits.​ In the hospital, aside from your partner, family or friend, your doula may be the only person you will know. Most OB/GYN's and nurse midwives work in a group, so whoever happens to be on call is the person who will attend your birth. In the hospital, you will be assigned a nurse who you may have never met before. It's common to experience shift changes in the hospital. Your nurse, midwife or OB's shift may end, and they have to leave before your baby is born.  A doula provides a constant reassuring presence for you and your partner.

Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary? 

No, doulas do not replace partners or usurp their role. Having a doula present enables your partner to relax because there is someone there to guide you both through the process. Most partners have had very little experience with laboring women or childbirth. Part of my job as your doula is to reassure your partner. I will demonstrate labor support and soothing techniques to encourage their participation right from the start.

Will a doula make decisions on my behalf?    

No, a doula does not make decisions for her clients nor intervene in their clinical care. She provides informational support, helping the birthing woman to make informed decisions, emotional support and respect for those decisions; while doing her best to help uphold your birth preferences.

What if I want pain medication?

Doulas are trained to support women in all birth scenarios.  Whether or not you are planning to use pain medications or are just "open to using them,” a doula can be an invaluable part of your birth team. Women receiving pain medications still benefit from the knowledge and continuous presence of a doula. Doulas can provide information so that you can make informed choices about using pain medications, giving you a realistic picture of what changes you may experience in your labor and what possible effects there might be to you and your baby. 

What if I want an epidural?

Having a doula will help you cope while you wait for the anesthesia and afterwards. An epidural cannot rub your shoulders, help explain what is happening or provide reassurance to you and your partner.  A few things worth considering:

• You may need to wait for the anesthesiologist. An epidural is a voluntary medical procedure, and it can take a little while for the anesthesia to take effect.

• Some labors progress too quickly to receive an epidural.

• Epidurals come with other interventions: IVs, urinary catheters, continuous fetal monitoring (either external or internal), frequent blood pressure monitoring, etc.

• Sometimes an epidural does not "take" evenly on both sides.

• Epidurals sometimes cause uncontrollable shaking, distressing numbness, itching, and breakthrough pain.

• Most epidurals block the majority of the intense sensations of labor, however they don’t always relieve the pressure of second-stage labor.  In order to birth most effectively, you will likely want to allow the epidural anesthesia to wear off so that you will have more physical awareness and control over your body.

• Epidurals do not provide complete relief of back labor but they confine the mother to lying in bed, which prevents her from trying many of the positions and movements that can naturally relieve the pain of back labor.

• There are possible risks and side effects of having an epidural.

Having an epidural does not mean that you will stop laboring or need less support. There are times when the needs of a laboring woman can be even greater when she has medication. For the 5 - 15% of women who do not receive complete pain relief from an epidural, a doula’s support can make a big difference.  Doulas can provide key support during second-stage (the birthing phase) which often requires more help.

What if I need a Cesarean?

A doula provides a warm, calming, and informative presence throughout your entire birth experience.  I will be there for you in whatever capacity is appropriate and help you to focus on the birth of your baby, while comforting and supporting you in any and every way I can.  www.ican-online.org

 
Relevant statistics: Research studies show, doulas have been proven to:

Decrease medical intervention in labor:

• Reduce the need for cesarean by 50%

• Reduce the length of labor by 25%

• Reduce the use of pitocin (synthetic oxytocin) by 40%

• Reduce pain medication use by 30%

• Reduce the need for forceps by 40%

• Reduce epidural requests by 60%

6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:

• Less anxious and depressed

• More confident with their baby

• More satisfied with their partner (71% vs. 30%)

• More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)

Study cited in “The Doula” by Klaus in Childbirth Instructor Magazine, Spring 1995..