What is a Doula?

A Doula (Greek dialectal: servant-woman, slave) has been schooled in the process of childbirth, and then applies those teachings to real-world experiences. Birth Doulas provide informational, physical and emotional assistance to the mother before, during and immediately after the birth of the child. A Birth Doula continually reassures, comforts, encourages and respects the mother, and her family. Birth Doulas provide mothers the individualized care they need, based solely on the mother's personal circumstances and preferences.

What is the importance of having a Birth Doula present at a birth?

There have been numerous clinical studies that have shown that a Birth Doula’s presence at birth:

• has a distinct tendency to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one’s own childbirth experience
• reduces the need for Pitocin, forceps or vacuum extraction
• reduces requests for pain medication, epidurals, and the incidence of cesareans

Please click here if you wish to examine detailed information about the various research studies on the use of Doulas. You can also find more information regarding studies at the DONA® website by clicking here.  

• they practice privately, and are hired directly by clients
• they practice as employees of hospitals
• they practice as volunteers in community, or hospital programs

Absolutely not! Birth Doulas do not replace nurses, or any other medical staff. Birth Doulas do not perform clinical or medical tasks, such as taking blood pressure or temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or providing postpartum clinical care. Birth Doulas are present to comfort and support the mother, and to enhance communication between the mother and medical professionals.

Does a Birth Doula make decisions on my behalf?

Generally speaking, a Birth Doula does not make decisions for their clients, nor do they or interfere with their clinical care. A Birth Doula should provide informational and emotional support, while respecting their client's decisions.

Will a Birth Doula make my partner feel unneeded?

Absolutely not! A Birth Doula is not only supportive to the mother, but also to her partner. In fact, a Birth Doula plays a critical role in getting the partner involved in the birth to an extent that is comfortable for the partner.

You refer to yourself as a Birth Doula - is there more than one type of Doula?

Yes, there is more than one type of Doula. In fact, there are three different types of Doulas, they being Birth Doula (a.k.a. Labor Doula), Postpartum Doula and lastly, an Antepartum Doula.

Birth/Labor Doulas provide support during childbirth. More specific information on this type of Doula is found above in these Birth Doula F.A.Q., as well as the How To Hire A Doula page on this website.

Postpartum Doulas provide assistance after the baby has been born. They take care of necessary household tasks, such as: grocery shopping, meal preparation, cleaning dishes, doing laundry, or tending to older children. Essentially, Postpartum Doulas do whatever a mother needs, so that she can enjoy and care for her new baby. More on Postpartum Doulas can be found on DONA® International's website by clicking here.

Antepartum Doulas are a relatively new type of Doula. A woman may need help before the baby’s arrival, during pregnancy. Perhaps a woman is on bed rest, or she may be experiencing a difficult pregnancy. Antepartum Doulas specialize in supporting women  who are facing a high-risk or difficult pregnancy. For the most part, Antepartum Doulas help mothers in the same manner as a Postpartum Doula. Being a rather new concept, finding certified Antepartum Doulas may be difficult.