About

What Is A Doula and How Can One Help You?

A doula is someone who is experienced in childbirth and someone who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth.

A Trained Doula:

• Recognizes childbirth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of women in labor
• Assists women in preparing for and carrying out her plans for the birth
• Stays with the woman throughout her labor
• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, and an objective viewpoint, and helps the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions
• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical care providers
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of the birth experience
• Allows the woman’s partner to participate at their own comfort level

Benefits of Having a Doula:

• 60% Reduction in epidural anesthesia requests
• 50% Reduction in cesarean section rates
• 40% Reduction in pitocin use
• 40% Reduction in forceps and other assisted deliveries
• 30% Reduction in analgesia use
• 25% Shorter Labors
• Fewer cases of postpartum mood disorders
• Increased successful breastfeeding
• Better mother-infant interaction
• Greater overall satisfaction with the birth experience
• Increased sense of self-confidence and feeling of empowerment for mother
• Increased confidence and participation by the partner