Labor Doula

What is a labor Doula?

A Doula is a woman knowledgeable in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth. A Doula's role is non-clinical - they do not replace the care of your doctor or midwife, and do not perform such tasks as heart rate/blood pressure checks, or vaginal exams.

Trained Doulas are aware of the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. Generally, Doulas believe that pregnancy and birth are normal, natural and healthy processes.


Their care includes preparation for birth, helping the laboring woman with support, comfort measures, relaxation techniques, and an intentful viewpoint, as well as support after childbirth such as help with breastfeeding and postpartum care.

How Does a Doula Serve a Family?

The Doula serves as an advocate, labor coach, and an informative resource for the mother and her partner while providing the added comfort of additional support all through the entire labor. Certainly, having loved ones such as a spouse with the mother does provide some added comfort and support. However, as the published literature continues to show, it is the support of a trained and experienced woman that results in the greatest benefits. It is important for the Doula to offer up-to-date current resources and information to the parents.

A labor support Doula joins a laboring woman either at her home or in hospital or birth center and remains with her until a few hours after the birth. In addition to emotional support, Doulas can work as advocates of their client’s wishes and may assist in communicating with medical staff to obtain information for the client to make informed decisions regarding medical procedures. Thus, the Doula can act as a go-between for mother and care staff, spouse or partner and family and visitors.

What Does a Doula Do?

The following is a basic description of what you might expect from a labor Doula. Typically, Doulas meet with the parents in the second or third trimester of the pregnancy to get acquainted and to learn about prior birth experiences and the history of this pregnancy. She may help you develop a birth plan, teach relaxation, visualization, and breathing skills useful for labor. Most importantly, the Doula will provide comfort, support, and information about birth options.

A Doula can provide:

• Emotional support and encouragement
• Information to the parents that is current and evidence based
• Exercise and physical suggestions to make pregnancy and childbirth more comfortable
• Information about proper nutrition
• Help with preparation of a birth plan
• Explanations of medical procedures and interventions
• Facilitation of communication between members of laboring woman's birth team
• Massage and other non-pharmacological pain relief measures, aromatherapy, accupressure, and any other non-medical comfort techniques she may be trained in
• Uninterrupted, non-judgemental labor support for the mother
• Positioning suggestions during labor and birth
• Support to the partner so that s/he can provide support and encouragement to the laboring woman
• Help to avoid unnecessary interventions
• Help with breastfeeding preparation and initiation

Some Doulas also offer a written record of the birth (birth story).

How Do I find a Doula?

alldoulas.com - Doula Directory
doulanetwork.com
findadoula.com

How do I become a Doula?

You can train through a variety of organizations. In the United States and Canada, Doulas are not required to be certified, however certification and training is available through several different organizations.
Some are:
Birth Arts*
DONA
ALACE
CBI*
GBI

* offers distance learning