A doula is defined as being "a woman who is trained to assist another woman during childbirth
and who may provide support to the family after the baby is born." But what does this mean? What does a doula do to assist the woman before, during, and after childbirth?
A doula's role is to offer you emotional and physical support during your time as a pregnant, laboring, and postpartum woman. Studies show that having a doula present can increase your satisfaction in your overall birth experience, lowered rates of interventions, lowered rates of chemical pain relief, better success breastfeeding and less instance of postpartum depression. A doula will help you build a birth plan, prepare for your upcoming delivery, and serve as your best asset in the room.
The DONA website highlights the following as some of the key things a doula does:
- Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
- Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
- Stays with the woman throughout the labor
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
- Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
Doulas are trained in special techniques that will help lessen discomfort and can prove extremely useful in every birth scenario. I myself like to administer massage, acupressure, soft touch, distraction techniques, meditation techniques, yoga poses to help baby descend, heat or cold to ease aches, etc. Your doula should be able to direct you in to positions that will optimize baby's position and descent for birth. Although a doula is not a member of the medical team, they can prove to be an integral part in communication between the two. A doula does not speak to medical professionals on your behalf, but can explain the things going on around you so you can make more informed choices, while being informed of alternative plans of action. Every doula you interview should be focused on the outcome you desire for your birth, and help keep you lifted up in positivity the whole way through it. Your perfect doula will give you the confidence you need to trust your body, yourself, and your decisions.
