What is a doula?
- Carson Duffy
- Aug 22, 2021
- 3 min read
What is a birth doula?
A birth doula is a trained and experienced labor companion. We serve and support the birther and their partner by providing continuous emotional support, physical comfort, and advocacy during birth. Doulas can assist birthing parents and their families in getting information to make the very best health care decisions for themselves and their families.
What emotions and characteristics are often associated with birth doulas? This word cloud was created from 23,387 client testimonials submitted to DoulaMatch.net between 2009-2015. These are the top 250 descriptors of clients' doula care experiences.
Who might be in the room during a birth and how do they relate to each other?
Physician: A physician (doctor, MD, OBGYN) is responsible for your and the baby's medical well-being. They are present for the birth and occasionally during labor.
Midwife: A midwife is responsible for medical care, gives intermittent support and comfort, and is present when possible in active labor.
Nurse: A nurse provides medical care as dictated by the caregiver's orders and hospital policies. They provide intermittent support and comfort as time allows and keeps the caregiver updated on your labor.
Partner/Family: Is a continuous or intermittent presence, provides varying amounts of support and comfort, witnesses, and shares birth with the birthing person.
Doula: A doula is a continuous presence for emotional support, physical comfort, non-medical advice, and guidance for the family.
Comparison of providers' ability to furnish emotional care to laboring women
Key: + provides this component, -- does not provide this component, ? varies
The above information has been adapted from the DONA International Birth Doula Manual 2017.
But... What does this look like in the moment?
Every birth is different! Here are a few examples of the support a doula might provide during birth.
Physical Support
You might find it challenging to apply your classroom or book learning in the moment. A doula can suggest different positions and pain management strategies depending on your unique labor circumstances.
Fanning the birthing person with a fan or a manila envelope (whatever is available!) to keep them cool.
Offering hip squeezes or counter pressure to the low back during contractions.
Physically supporting any number of labor positions - swaying, lunges, walking, side-laying, squatting.
Applying heat or cold packs to help with pain management.
Emotional Support
Birth is intense and unpredictable, often bringing a wide range of emotions to the surface. A doula anticipates these emotions and provides individual care to the birthing person and their partner/family.
Offering advice and positive comments, suggestions, and encouragement during labor.
Helping partners/family understand how the birthing person might be feeling.
Supporting the birthing person in remaining calm and practicing relaxation through breath, thought, and movement exercises.
Remaining calm and modeling patience and confidence.
Evidence-based Informational Support & Advocacy
Doulas cannot make decisions for clients or speak for their clients. They can help you get the information you need to make an informed decision.
A doula can help a birthing person review available information and think through options. After the birthing person makes their decision, a doula supports it.
A doula can help a client prepare to discuss questions with their caregiver by role-playing conversations, helping a client create a list of questions, or suggesting resources with additional information.
Preserving the memory
You and your partner/family will be busy and distracted during labor. A doula will help document information you can use to remember and process this life-changing experience.
With a client's permission, taking pictures or videos to document and remember the birth.
Taking notes of happenings and time to help clients remember and document their birth experience.
Recording questions asked by clients and answers given by care providers to add to birth documentation.
As a birth doula, I also provide prenatal and postpartum services to support my clients in having the best possible birth experience, as you define it. More information is provided through the link below.
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