What is a Doula?
The word "doula" is a Greek word meaning woman caregiver. It is now used to describe a trained and experienced companion who provides the laboring woman and her husband or partner with continuous emotional support, physical comfort and assistance in obtaining information before, during and just after childbirth.
A Doula mothers the mother (and she looks after the father as well). Giving birth is an intimate time and a time where women most need to feel safe and secure. A Doula helps to provide that environment. She will stay with you while you labor and give birth to your baby.
The art of mothering the mother is centuries old. The doula gives from her heart to create a sense of calm around the mother during one of the most important times in her life. It is in this compassionate environment where the mother can enjoy her labor, feel connected to her coach and educated so that she does not fear her experience.
Doulas enable women to look back at their births with a sense of pride, empowerment and identity.
A doula’s goal is to help the birthing mother.
She assumes the mother’s goal as her own
She physically supports the mother with massage, labor positions, aromatherapy, a hand to hold and sometimes a shoulder to cry on
She offers continuous support and reassurance to the partner and family while honoring their place at birth
She supports and encourages the coach in his/her style rather than replace it
She understands the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of labor being a mother herself
She can give explanations of medical procedures and interventions as desired
She attends the family before, during and after the birth
She can be the support person working with siblings who are attending the birth
She offers breastfeeding support
Where you choose to give birth can have a huge impact on what type of birth experience you will likely have. Please take a look at this page to see statistics from local hospitals to help you determine which hospital's philosophy and practices are in line with your goals. Local Hospital Statistics