Birth DOULA INFORMATION

What is a Doula?

A Doula is a professional labor assistant who nurtures and cares for the mother during labor and delivery of her child. She does not replace the father at the birth...but acts as an aide so that the father and mother may experience the glory of childbirth together. She offers ideas that might help ease the discomfort as well as being a constant: someone the mother knows will not leave to check on another patient, won’t quit when her shift ends, and gives her unconditional support.

The term doula is Greek for slave or servant. Doulas provide emotional and physical support during pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. (NOTE: In some areas, the term doula only refers to postpartum help, in this FAQ I am dealing only with Labor support.). They call themselves many things including: Childbirth Assistant, Labor Support Professional, Birth Assistant, Birth Companion, etc.  

A Doula Provides:

·        explanations of medical procedures

·        emotional support

·        advice during pregnancy

·        exercise and physical suggestions to make pregnancy more comfortable

·        help with preparation of a birth plan

·        massage and other non-pharmacological pain relief measures

·        positioning suggestions during labor and birth

·        helps support the partner so that they can love and encourage the laboring woman

·        avoid unnecessary interventions

·        help with breastfeeding preparation and beginnings,

·        written record of the birth

·        many other possibilities that vary from doula to doula

What can a doula do for me?

These statistics are taken from Mothering the Mother: How a doula can help you have a shorter, easier, and healthier birth by Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993)  

·        50% reduction in Cesarean rate

·        25-50% shorter labor

·        60% reduction in epidural requests

·        40% reduction in use of Pitocin

·    30% reduction in use of pain medication (Demerol, etc.)

·        40% reduction in forceps delivery

Information on  Birth Doula       Information on Postpartum Doula

            Picture            Hypnosis         Services              Sources       Return to Home Page

Copyright© 1998-2004 by PS Personal Services

lynnd@ps-ps.com                    480-586-1279