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What is a Doula?
A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and evidence-based informational support to a birthing person before, during, and immediately after childbirth and beyond to help achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.
Prenatal Support
Doulas provide education and resources to expecting persons, helping them prepare for childbirth and make informed decisions about their "preference list." They may also offer techniques and exercises to help with physical comfort during pregnancy.
Advocacy & Support
Doulas serves as a liaison between the mother and the healthcare team, ensuring the birthing person's preference list is respected and their concerns are addressed. However, doulas do not provide medical care or perform clinical tasks.
Labor, Birth, and Postpartum Support
During labor and birth, doulas provide comfort with pain-relief techniques such as breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, massage, and laboring positions. A doula supports your wishes and desires for your birth experience. Whether this is the first or fifth baby, a doula is there to help the birthing person achieve the healthiest, most satisfying positive birth experience possible. A doula is there to help the pregnant person transition to a parent or help a couple become a family.
Postpartum Care and Support
Most families find navigating through the postpartum period both challenging and overwhelming. The Postpartum Doula comes to the home to support the new parent as the new family transitions during this special time. By nurturing the birthing person and supporting their physical and emotional needs, they are then better equipped to nurture the newborn. The postpartum doula is professionally trained to provide nonjudgemental support, companionship, and evidence-based information in several areas. This may include breast/chestfeeding support, newborn care education, and assistance with household tasks. They also offer emotional support to help prevent or mitigate postpartum depression.
Evidence and Benefits of a Doula
There have been several studies and trials that demonstrate the benefit of a doula as a part of the perinatal team in having a positive impact on the outcome of the birthing person and the infant. There is an increase in overall patient satisfaction, sense of personal accomplishment, higher self-esteem, shorter labor, increased chance of vaginal deliveries, and better infant outcomes. There is a decrease in anxiety and the use of epidurals or other interventions. Cesarean sections are reduced by as much as 39% (Journal of Perinatal Education).
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): "The MOST effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes, limit interventions and prevent the primary cesarean is the continuous presence of a support personnel, such as a DOULA."
click links below for more information on evidence based doula care
Community Support & Resources
Doulas may also connect families with additional community resources as needed, such as parenting classes, mental health services, food, or housing assistance programs.
The primary goal of a doula is to offer new parents care, understanding, information, and unwavering support throughout one of the most transformative experiences of their lives. By providing wholistic assistance, doulas empower families to navigate this journey with confidence and clarity.
Partner Support
Doulas also provide essential guidance to partners, helping them become actively involved in the birthing process. They offer practical advice and emotional support to partners, ensuring they feel confident and capable in supporting the birthing person.
This involvement strengthens the bond between partners and helps them share the birth experience more fully.
Steps that are essential for being a successful doula
A strong knowledge of childbirth or postpartum education
Ways to provide comfort measures for laboring people
The understanding of how to navigate common complications
Being knowledgeable in the process of childbirth
Understanding physiologic birth
Differentiating between normal vs abnormal
Knowing ways to provide comfort measures for laboring individuals
Understanding how to assist a client to help them navigating the medical system
The ability to set aside personal beliefs and focus on the client's wishes and desires for their birth experience.
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