"Doula" (doo'-la) is an ancient Greek word that means "woman's helper". Today it refers to a professional woman who provides informational, physical, and emotional support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum for birthing women and their partners. Doulas are recognized for their contribution to improved physical outcomes and emotional well being of mothers and their newborns. And if you think about it, women have always supported women during childbirth, across cultures and throughout all of history! The role of a doula is one of non-medical support; she does not replace medical staff or make medical desicions. Her role is to nurture, respect, and support a birthing woman and her partner's choices.
A doula...
recognizes birth as a life-changing experience that mothers and their partners will always remember.
understands the emotional and physiological changes and needs of a woman during labor.
assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for birth.
assists the woman in getting the information she needs to make well-informed decisions .
stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout labor, providing emotional support and physical comfort measures.
facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and her care providers.
perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience.
Recent studies show that using a doula may result in...
reduced cesarean rate by 50%
reduced labor duration by 25%
reduced use of forceps or vacuum extraction
reduced need for pain medication
fewer episiotomies
increased chances of successful breastfeeding
reduced post-partum depression
better mother-infant bonding
overall more positive birth experience reported for mother
Mothering the Mother, by M.H. Klaus, J.H. Kennell, and P.H. Klaus; Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, New York (1993)