What is a Doula and what are the benefits of having one?
"...Studies show that when a doula or other birth partner is present, women have less painful labours, fewer medical interventions, fewer Caesareans, and healthier babies. Recent evidence suggests that when a doula provides support, women are more satisfied with their experiences, and the mother-infant interaction, is enhanced for as long as two months after the birth. Doula support has been found to have a positive effect on a couple’s relationship as well..."
Your Pregnancy Bible. Ed: Dr Anne Deans
Doula is a Greek word and stands for ‘a woman who serves’ or ‘mothering the mother’. A doula has passion for the process of birth and recognises that the mother will remember it all her life.
The doula’s goal is to help women have a safe and satisfying birth, wherever and however the mother chooses.
A doula trusts in a woman’s instincts. She stays by her side throughout the entire labour, birth and immediate time after. As a Postnatal doula she accompanies the new family in the first weeks.
A doula is usually employed by the birthing family as a private birth attendant and provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make well informed decisions.
A doula sees pregnancy and birth as bodily functions and normal life events, not as an illness that needs to be treated.
Doulas support midwives in their work.
A doula specialises in non-medical skills such as massage, aromatherapy, relaxation, breath awareness, positioning, communication, etc.
A doula does NOT perform clinical tasks such as vaginal exams, foetal heart rate monitoring or blood pressure readings.
A doula is knowledgeable and experienced in birth. She can provide information about clinical procedures and interventions. Her skills can help to assess your progress by observing body physiology, facial expressions and speech.
A doula will NOT diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions or give medical advice.
A doula is your friendly guide, sister, mother and professional supporter.
Worldwide doulas become more and more recognised as professional carers and their presence has been shown to increase the safety of birth, enhance a woman’s strength and her creative capacity to give birth. Randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews have shown that women supported by a doula are:
- less likely to use pain medication
- less likely to have an epidural or spinal anaesthesia
- less likely to give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
- less likely to give birth by caesarean section
- less likely to be dissatisfied with or give a negative rating to their birth experience
Other benefits are:
- reduced use of a syntocinon drip (artificial oxytocin)
- reduced chances of maternal fever and infection
- reduced maternal bleeding following birth
- reduced chances of health complications and hospitalisations of the baby
- new mothers bond more easily with their babies
- increased chances of successful breastfeeding
- reduced incidence of post-partum depression
- A birth-doula stays with the woman at all times during the birthing process.
- Being a professional she can be more objective than a family member and she doesn’t have to work under hospital policy.
- In a homebirth a doula can assist the midwife and add an extra set of skilled hands to nurture and care for the mother and her partner.
- After the birth, she can help mum in the first days and weeks to establish a good way with her baby.
