What is a doula?
Doulas are trained, non-medical professionals whose primary role is to provide unconditional and personalised support to families during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period by offering continuous care that focuses on emotional and physical wellbeing, including information sharing and advocacy.
This can apply to a woman planning a physiological birth, home birth, hospital birth or a planned caesarean.
In no way does this mean that the doula is there to replace the partner. Doulas work closely with partners, guiding and encouraging them, so they feel more confident in their role as the primary support person. Doulas will help to reduce any anxiety or concerns of the partner as they arise, and strive to complement their involvement, not diminish it. The partner is not expected to be the sole source of emotional support, so by having a doula this allows them to focus on being emotionally present particularly when faced with unexpected changes.
Having a doula present will aid both the mother and partner.
Obstetricians, midwives and nurses are responsible for monitoring labour, assessing the medical condition of the mother and baby and treating complications when they arise; but birth is also an emotional, energetic and spiritual experience with a long-term impact on a woman’s personal wellbeing.
Doulas do not provide any type of medical care and do not make decisions or speak on behalf of their clients, however, they do provide evidence-based information and research to help their clients gain a better understanding of medical procedures and encourage the couple to ask all the right questions to ensure they are making the right choices for their birth.
What Does the Research Say?
Research has shown that the presence of a doula can lead to better outcomes for both mother and baby, including shorter labour, reduced need for interventions, and higher satisfaction with the birthing experience. Doulas offer a unique, personalised form of support that can make a significant difference in the experience of childbirth.
The way a woman feels about her birth and the way she is treated during her labour and birth can and will have an enormous effect on her postpartum experiences, so Doulas ensure that the mother is feeling safe, calm, supported and respected.
The role and impact of a doula includes:
- Emotional support: Doulas provide continuous emotional support to the mother and her family. This includes being a calming presence, offering reassurance, fear release, positive affirmations, mindset and helping to manage the emotional highs and lows that can come with pregnancy and childbirth.
- Physical comfort: Doulas are highly trained and skilled in techniques to help provide comfort measures to reduce or eliminate pain and distress during labour, such as breathing exercises, massage, positioning, and using birthing tools like birthing balls and rebozo’s. Their presence can help reduce stress and anxiety, which can positively influence the birthing process.
- Advocacy: Doulas help ensure that the mother’s wants and needs are respected. They can facilitate communication between the mother and the medical staff, ensuring that the mother’s preferences and concerns are heard. While they do not make medical decisions, they can help the mother understand her options and advocate for her choices.
- Information & Resources: Doulas maintain a high level of continuous professional development (CPD) and are dedicated to providing evidence-based information about pregnancy, labour, birth, and postpartum care. They help expectant parents understand the processes and options available to them, which can help parents feel empowered to ask more questions and make informed choices based on their set of circumstances.
- Postpartum care: After birth, doulas continue to provide support, assisting with breastfeeding, helping the family adjust to life with a newborn, and offering emotional support during the postpartum period. They may also help with newborn care, light housework, sibling care and providing resources and referral information for additional support if needed.
- Continuity of care: the presence of a doula throughout the entire process from pregnancy to postpartum provides consistency and trust, which can be comforting for the whole family.
We will provide you with this research and show you how to present this to prospective clients, particularly the partners so they will see the key benefits of having you as their doula and sharing in their birthing journey.