 According
to DONA International
(Doulas of North America), a birth doula is a person trained and experienced
in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational
support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth. The following
common questions about doulas were answered by DONA as follows:
Where does the word “doula”
come from?
The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek, meaning “Woman’s
servant.” Throughout history and in much of the world today, a cadre
of women support a woman through labor and birth, giving back rubs and
providing continuous emotional support. Like their historical counterparts,
DONA International birth doulas know how to help a woman in labor feel
better. However, today’s doulas are much more diverse than their
predecessors. DONA International membership includes men and women from
a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds.
What effects does the presence of a doula have on birth outcomes?
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at
birth:
- tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
- reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
- reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or
vacuum extraction
- reduces the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as
the incidence of cesareans
What effects does the presence of a doula have on the mother?
When a doula is present during and after childbirth, women report greater
satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive assessments
of their babies, have fewer cesareans and requests for medical intervention,
and less postpartum depression.
What effects do the presence of doulas have on babies?
Studies have shown that babies born with doulas present tend to have shorter
hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries, breastfeed
more easily and have more affectionate mothers in the postpartum period.
How can I find a doula in my area?
Use DONA International’s online doula locator.
How do doulas practice?
Doulas practice in three ways: privately hired directly by clients,
as hospital employees, and as volunteers in community or hospital programs.
Does a doula replace nursing staff?
No. Doulas do not replace nurses or other medical staff. 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. They are there to comfort and support the mother and to
enhance communication between the mother and medical professionals.
Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?
A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical
care. She provides informational and emotional support, while respecting
a woman’s decisions.
Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary?
No, a doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and plays
a crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to the
extent he/she feels comfortable.
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