What is a doula?

A doula is someone who offers guided support through major life transitions. Some doulas guide families through the birthing process while others guide families through the dying process.

Doulas are non-medical professionals, meaning that they cannot perform medical (taking blood pressure readings, doing blood tests etc. Because of this, doulas mainly work alongside medical professionals like doctors, nurses and midwives.

This blog post focuses on doulas that support the perinatal experience, the time leading up to and following a birth.

What kinds of doulas support the perinatal experience?

Birth Doulas -connect with families during pregnancy to help guide them through birth. They are usually on-call to be present in the birthing room to support families during delivery.

Postpartum Doulas -connect with families during pregnancy or early postpartum to help guide them through postpartum

Full Spectrum Doulas -connect with families anywhere along the childbearing spectrum  (from trying to conceive to postpartum) to help guide them throughout the full perinatal journey.

Doulas can support a variety of birthing experiences: c-sections, vaginal births, home births, hospital births and birth center births.

What do Doulas do?

Doulas offer educational support.

With consultations that are personalized to help teach families about labor stages and how to feel more comfortable during birth; to prepare the home and lifestyle for postpartum; to connect with evidence-based info to help families inform their intuition about how they will care for their baby.

Doulas offer emotional support.

With suggestions about holistic relaxation modalities and a listening ear to help process the ups and downs of carrying new life.

Doulas offer hands-on support.

With compassionate on-site comforting techniques to help families move through birth and with light tidying, infant care tips plus companionship during the early postpartum stage.

What don’t doulas do?

Doulas are non-medical professionals that mainly work alongside medical professionals like doctors, nurses and midwives.

Doulas do NOT:

• Deliver babies

• Perform medical procedures (taking blood pressure readings, doing blood tests etc.)

• Make decisions for their clients

What are the benefits of doula support?

Studies show that doula support IMPROVES:

✓  Self esteem and confidence

✓  Satisfaction surrounding the birth

✓  Communication with healthcare providers

✓  Infant and maternal health

Studies show that doula support DECREASES:

↓ Labor times

↓ Fear, anxiety and stress

↓ Sense of pain

↓ Unnecessary C-sections

↓ Use of extra interventions

↓ Healthcare costs

Source: Evidence Based Birth

Looking for a Doula?

Browse the Resource Provider Directory to connect with support!

Are you a Doula?

Apply to be listed in the Resource Provider Directory!