What is a Doula?
From the greek meaning "slave to the mother". "Doula" refers to a supportive companion (other than a friend or loved one) who is professionally trained to provide labor support. She performs no clinical tasks. "Doula" also refers to lay women who are trained or experienced in providing postpartum care - mother and newborn care, breastfeeding support and advice, cooking, child care, errands and light cleaning - for the family. To distinguish between the two types of doulas, one may refer to "birth doulas" and "postpartum doulas".
What do Doulas provide?
** Continuous physical and emotional support to women and their partners during labor and birth.
** Non-medical skills such as massage and other non-pharmacological pain relief measures.
** Help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, massage, and positioning.
** Help and assistance to partners who want to play an active role so the woman has a satisfying childbirth as the woman defines it.
** Home care prior to hospital.
Research has shown that the presence of a doula lowers the incidence of medical interventions. Women who have had continuous labor support have shorter labors, less need for forceps, a lower risk of a cesarean section, and interact more favorably with their newborns.
New England Journal of Medicine
Journal of the American Medical Association |
