Frequently Asked Questions About Doulas

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What is a doula?

“Doula” comes from a Greek word meaning “a woman who serves” and is used to refer to a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother prenatally, during labor, and shortly after birth. They help mothers prepare for birth and facilitate comfort techniques during labor.

Why should I hire a doula?

Numerous studies, such as outlined here and here, have found that births that have the continuous support of a doula are:

• Less likely to have labor induced by the use of pitocin.
• More likely to give birth spontaneously rather than via forceps, vacuum, or cesarean.
• Less likely to have a baby with a low Apgar score.
• Tend to have a shorter labor.
• Less likely to have negative feelings about labor.
• Less likely to make requests for pain medication and epidurals.

Does a doula perform cervical checks, etc?

No; clinical and medical tasks such as cervical checks, blood pressure monitoring, fetal heart rate monitoring, etc. are outside the doula’s scope of practice. A doula provides physical and emotional support during labor. They will never make decisions for you or speak on your behalf, but are there to enhance communication between you and medical professionals.

Will a doula make decisions for me?

No; a doula will provide you with evidence based information and allow you to make the best choices for you and your family. A doula will respect your decisions and support you without judgement.

Will a doula replace my birth partner?

No; a doula supports the entire birth team. She will help the partner become involved in the birth to the extent that the couple finds comfortable. Partners, especially for a first birth, can often feel at a loss for how to best support a woman in labor. A doula can provide the guidance needed for the partner to feel comfortably engaged.

What if I have a c-section?

Whether a ceserean is planned or not, a doula can still provide needed support. Depending on specific hospital policies, your doula and partner can be in the room for delivery. She can offer breastfeeding and emotional support immediately after delivery. Often a cesarean is not planned and a doula can help walk a family through what is happening.