Doula is a Greek word meaning “woman’s servant”. She was originally the woman who helped the lady of the house through her childbearing years.
Today, a doula is someone who provides non-clinical support and care to a woman (and her partner) during childbirth and in the postpartum period. She provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, objective viewpoints, and also helps the mother and partner obtain the information needed to make informed decisions.
Current research has shown us that using a professional birth doula during
labour provides the following benefits:
For the mothers:
For the babies:
Most doulas offer a free initial consultation at a location and time of your convenience. Plan to interview at least two doulas, as it is important that you feel completely comfortable with your choice. Try to schedule your interviews close together so that you do not forget your previous interviews and you can compare and contrast. The interview is the doula’s opportunity to demonstrate her personality and services and how she would best serve you. This is your opportunity to meet her and ask her questions.
Questions for both Birth and Postpartum Doulas
What training have you had? How long have you been a doula? How many clients do
you support per month? Do you work with one or more back-up doulas (for times
when you are not available)? May we meet them? What is your fee? What do your
services include? What is your refund policy? May we call you with questions or
concerns before and after the birth? Can you provide references?
Questions for Birth Doulas
What is your philosophy about childbirth and supporting women and their
partners through labour? How many prenatal visits do you provide? At what point
do you usually join women in labour? Do you come to our home or meet us at the
hospital? Do you meet with us after the birth to review the labour and to
answer questions?
Questions for Postpartum Doulas
Tell me your experience as a postpartum doula. What is your philosophy about
parenting and supporting women and their families during the postpartum period?
What different types of services do you offer? When do your services begin
postpartum? What is your experience in breastfeeding support? Do you have
current CPR certification?
Although this is an interview, do not be too formal. Be as open as you can with the doula you are interviewing. Make sure that the location is comfortable. Do not put up too many barriers. Really give her an opportunity to demonstrate her personality and services, and enable her to get to know you too. Remember, you are not hiring her to paint your house. You are hiring her to support you through a very sacred and awesome event in your life. She may potentially see you in a variety of vulnerable positions and emotions. So give her a good dose of who you are and what you are all about and she will return the effort. Be sure you have a clear understanding of the payment arrangements as the payment options and services associated may vary.
Women have complex needs during childbirth. In addition to the safety provided by your primary care giver, and the love and companionship of your partners, women need consistent continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. Couples benefit from individualized care based on your circumstances and preferences.
A birth doula is someone who provides non-clinical support and care to a woman and her partner during childbirth. As their support is not clinical, they do not replace your doctor or midwife, rather they support you as a part of your birth team. Generally your relationship with your doula will begin during pregnancy. As you discuss the priorities you have for your upcoming birth, your doula will help you find ways of obtaining your goals. This may be in the form of finding the appropriate childbirth class, accessing accurate information, learning and practising techniques for labour, and assisting with determining and writing your birth preferences, if desired.
The doula joins the mother and other support people when they feel the need for extra support. She goes with them to their place of birth and stays until after the baby is born.
Doulas are proficient in massage, positioning, comfort measures, relaxation and breathing techniques. Using these skills, and their considerable labour experience, they will help to make the birth as comfortable for the mother and her partner as it can be. A doula will usually take notes and photographs, if you choose.
Your doula will help you remember what plans you had for labour and help you work towards the things that you wanted. She can also assist you when changes need to be made or complications arise.
After your baby is born she can help you with early breastfeeding and postpartum issues. Over the next few important days the doula will keep in touch by phone if needed, and make an appointment to visit again in order to review the labour and birth with you.
The postpartum doula may provide you with any or all of the following services: teaching and giving help with baby basics, emotional, physical and moral support, cooking, breastfeeding or bottle-feeding support, shopping, laundry, answering the phone and taking messages, light housekeeping, documenting the first precious weeks with photographs, help with older siblings, running errands, accompanying you to doctor’s appointments (if desired) and pet care.
A postpartum doula will not give medical advice and care, but she is trained to recognise anything out of the ordinary with the mother or baby, and will encourage medical referrals if needed. She has an in depth knowledge of available support in your area, and will assist you in accessing what is available in your community.
A postpartum doula’s goal is to work herself out of a job, having helped a family attain the skills needed to continue on in their new role.
The question often arises as to whether partners feel left out with a doula present. The answer is absolutely not! Doulas do not replace the birth partner in any way. When it comes to pregnancy, birth and parenting, partners are the most important members of the mother's support team. They are actively involved in easing the mother's labour pain, welcoming the baby at the moment of birth, and helping to care for the newborn at home. Birth and postpartum doulas are there to help the partners and mothers experience this special time together with confidence.
It is often forgotten that partners are experiencing this labour too. In the emotionally charged atmosphere of birth, many partners have a hard time remembering what was taught in class, or read in a book. A doula is present at a birth to lend support and confidence to the partner just as much as she is there to help and comfort the mother. As one father said, "I heaved a big sigh of relief when she (the doula) walked in. I hadn't realized how much pressure I had been feeling. She not only calmed my wife, she calmed me down." (quote from Dads and Doulas by Penny Simkin)
With her partner and a doula at her birth, a mother can have the best of both worlds: her partner’s loving care and attention and the doula’s expertise and guidance in childbirth.