What is a Doula?
The word “doula” (doo-la) is a Greek word that means “woman caregiver” or “a woman who serves.”
A doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous emotional, physical and educational support to women and their partners throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery as well as the postpartum period. A doula possesses significant knowledge and experience that allows them to communicate, educate and advocate with a high degree of professionalism and kindness. They are the often the liaison between the medical staff and the expecting family. A doula is there to help families keep their ideal birth plan within reach. Studies have proven that women who hire doulas are less likely to have unnecessary medical interventions that can snowball into undesirable birth experiences.
A doula’s purpose is to help women have safe, memorable and empowering birth stories. A doula is a calm, nurturing, and reassuring presence for new parents.
What does a doula really do?
A doula offers support in a variety of ways – emotionally, physically and psychologically. This includes but is not limited to…
• Writing a birth plan
• Providing evidence based education
• Using positive words of affirmation, reassurance and encouragement during labor and delivery to both parents
• Easing the worries of the father or other family members
• Talking the mother through emotional blockages
• Reminding the mother to breathe
• Providing birth tools such as a birth ball, peanut ball or rebozo
• Providing mental imagery
• Squeezing the mother’s hips between contractions to relieve pressure
• Massage and counter pressure
• Aromatherapy and essential oils uses
• Warm compresses with a heat pack
• Helping the laboring mother change positions
• Keeping the mother hydrated
• Placing cold towels on mother’s head
• Timing contractions
• Stepping in when the father needs a break
• Taking photographs
• Helping the mother get started with breastfeeding