What is a Doula?
site-pIw72w • July 5, 2021
And why are doulas an important part of the process?
A doula is a trained companion who is not a healthcare professional and who supports another individual (client) through a significant health-related experience, such as childbirth, miscarriage, induced abortion or stillbirth. Partners are equally comforted and reassured by the presence of a trained doula. A doula's role is never to replace the partner. We work to keep the partners even more involved in the labor and birth by offering ways they can help, and intuitively reading what the birthing person's needs are so that we can work with the partner to provide just that.
The doula's goal, and role, is to help the client feel safe and comfortable, complementing the role of the healthcare professionals who provide the client's medical care.
Countless scientific trials, compiled by
The Cochrane Review, examining doula care demonstrate remarkably improved physical and psychological outcomes for both mother and baby. Doulas have a positive impact on the well-being of the entire family. The
American Pregnancy Association
has written a very in depth article on all the benefits of having a doula throughout your pregnancy.
Why choose a birth doula?
- Better pain management means less use of Pitocin
- Less epidurals
- Higher APGAR scores for baby
- Fewer C-sections
- Shorter labor
- Less use of instruments like forceps and vacuums
- More likely to have a vaginal birth
- Have greater success with breastfeeding
- More satisfaction with your birth
- Feel secure and cared for
- More successful in adapting to new family dynamics
- Have less postpartum depression