What is a birth doula?

A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth.  Specifically doulas do the following.

  • Recognize and honor birth as a physical, emotional and spiritual process
  • Support the mother’s desires for her labor and birth, whether medicated or unmedicated
  • Provide one to two prenatal visits to form a relationship with the mother and her partner, discuss preferences for the birth, provide information about various aspects of labor and birth, formulate a birth plan, and discuss strategies for managing labor pain
  • Provide telephone support throughout pregnancy to answer questions or provide support
  • Remain on-call for several weeks at the end of pregnancy, to be available to join the mother and her partner when desired during labor
  • Provide continuous support throughout labor, birth and immediate postpartum. A doula may provide massage, acupressure, aromatherapy, suggestions for position changes, help with understanding of options during labor, verbal reassurance and encouragement, and assistance with initiation of breastfeeding and bonding
  • Support the husband or partner during labor, birth and postpartum
  • Provide one to two postpartum visits to discuss the birth, provide any information desired about infant care, facilitate breastfeeding, provide referrals for additional support as needed

In addition, some doulas provide additional services, such as the following.

  • Photograph the birth
  • Provide a birth story to the new family
  • Provide additional services for an additional fee, such as belly casting or pregnancy photography

What is a postpartum doula?

A postpartum doula educates new parents and older siblings on infant care and assists new mothers in postpartum self care, such as staying well fed and hydrated. She can assist with establishing breastfeeding. The goal of the postpartum doula is to help new parents transition into parenthood, not to care for the baby for them.

If I have a doula, will my partner feel excluded?

A woman’s partner can bring to the birth something a doula cannot, and that is an intimate knowledge and loving understanding of the individual mother. A doula cannot replace this, but she can take over other tasks to make the mother’s birth partner free to give the loving support she needs. A doula can also teach the partner techniques to aid in effective laboring and reduce pain, empowering the partner to take an active role in labor assistance and increasing confidence to do so.

What won’t my doula do?

A doula does not give or interpret medical advice. She does not perform medical tasks, such as monitoring fetal heart tones or blood pressure. She does not speak for you or argue with your care provider. She does not take the place of the husband or partner. She does not catch babies. What a doula does do is empower and educate you to ask the right questions of your care provider, understand the answers, and make your wishes known to the support staff.

Has any research been conducted to investigate how the presence of a doula impacts labor delivery and postpartum?

Yes.  Many randomized, controlled studies have shown that the presence of a doula can lead to:

  • Shorter labors!
  • 60% decrease requests for epidurals
  • 50% decrease in cesarean sections
  • 40% decrease in use of Pitocin
  • 30% decrease in use of pain medications (narcotics)
  • 30% decrease in use of forceps
  • Decreased perception of pain during labor
  • Increased satisfaction with the birth experience

In addition, long-term benefits of labor support include:

  • Improved breastfeeding
  • Decreased postpartum depression
  • Greater maternal satisfaction
  • Better mother-infant interaction

References:

  • Mothering the Mother, by MH Klaus, JH Kennell, and PH Klaus; Addision Wesley Publishing Company, 1993
  • Campbell DA, Lake MF, Falk M.; Backstrand JR. (2006 Jul-Aug) A Randomized Control Trial of Continuous Support in Labor by a Lay Doula. J of Obset Gynelcol Neonatal Nurs, 35(4), 456-64.
  • Kennell J, Klaus M, McGrath S, Robertson S, Hinkley C. (1991 May 1) Continuous Emotional Support during Labor ina US Hospital. A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA, 265(17), 2197-201.
  • Scott KD, Klaus, PH, Klaus MH. (1999 Dec) The Obstetrical and Postpartum Benefits of Continuous Support During Childbirth. J Womens Health Gend Based Med, 8(10), 1257-64.
  • Hodnett ED, Gates S, Hoffmeyr GJ, Sakala C. (2007 Jul 18) Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth Cochrane Database Syst Rev., (3):CD003766.
  • Zhang J, Bernasko JW, Levbovich E, Fahs M, Hatch MC. (1996 Oct) Continuous Labor Support from Labor Attendant for Primiparous Women: A Meta-Analysis. Obstet Gynecol, 88(4 Pt 2), 739-44.

How do I find a doula?

In the Cincinnati area, you can find a doula by attending a Meet the Doulas event or through our list of member’s contact information.

How do I choose a Midwife or Doctor who will best support me during pregnancy, labor and birth?

Your choice in care provider will affect the health of you and your child.  It will also affect whether or not you will have a happy and positive birth experience.  You have to determine what is important when creating your birth vision.  A hand-out sits in the resource section that lists questions to ask your provider.  These questions can help you determine which provider is the best fit.

As a doula, why should I join CADS?

CADS is a network of doulas supporting other doulas. By working together, we can share our resources, trouble shoot difficult labor situations, mentor new doulas in training, and increase awareness among the public much easier than we can alone.