Doulas

What is a Doula?

The word, "doula," comes from the Greek word for the most important female slave or servant in an ancient Greek household, the woman who probably helped the lady of the house through her childbearing. The word has come to refer to "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth." (Klaus, Kennell and Klaus, Mothering the Mother)

A doula...

• Recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life...
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor...
• Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth...
• Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor...
• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions...
• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical care providers...
• Perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience.

The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with the recognition of their important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers and infants.

The benefits of having a doula include:

• 50% reduction in the cesarean rate
• 25% shorter labor
• 60% reduction in epidural requests
• 40% reduction in oxytocin use
• 30% reduction in analgesia use
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery

Information was obtained from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993).

Questions to ask a prospective Doula:

• Is she certified?
• Does she provide prenatal and/or postpartum visits?
• What can you expect during these visits, if offered?
• How many births has she attended?
• Can she provide references?
• What form of training has she had?
• What types of births has she witnessed (Cesarean, epidural, intervention free, VBAC, teen birth, etc.)?
• What is her fee? And does she have a sliding scale or other arrangements available?
• Has she ever worked with your care provider or at your place of birth?
• Does she have back-up arrangements available?
• What will her role be in early labor?
• Will she provide labor support at your home prior to going to the place of birth?
• Is she familiar with many methods of childbirth?
• How does she define her role during labor and birth?

{Home}{OBs}{Midwives}{Doulas}{Birth Options}{Shopping}{Resources}{Etc.}