What is a doula?
The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek and means “one who serves” or “servant woman”. Today the word represents a professionally trained woman who is experienced in childbirth and provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother and her partner before, during and after childbirth.
A doula:
- Shares her knowledge of the physiology of pregnancy and birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
- Gets to know you prenatally helping you identify what is important to you about your birth.
- Attends the birth, day or night.
- Offers suggestions for coping with labor, and helps labor unfold as quickly and easily as possible.
- Works together with the mother's partner to provide support to the mother, and suggest ways the partner can help.
What are the benefits to having a doula?
- Numerous clinical studies show that doula support during birth can result in:
50% reduction in caesarean section rate
25% decrease in length of labor
30% decrease in use of forceps
40% decrease in use of pitocin
60% decrease in use of epidural anesthesia
30% decrease in use of narcotic pain medication - Reduces negative feelings about one's childbirth experience
Research suggests parents who receive support can:
- Feel more secure and cared for
- Are more successful adapting to new family dynamics
- Have greater success with breastfeeding
- Have greater self-confidence
- Have less postpartum depression
- Have lower incidence of abuse