What Is A Doula

Birth and Labor Doula

A birth doula supports a family during pregnancy, birth, and the early weeks of parenting, with reassurance, practical assistance, and information. A doula is someone you come to know well by the time of your birth, and who is there during your labor, by your side, focused solely on you and your partner. They can encourage you, remain objective, and help your partner feel more confident about how to support you. They can also assist you with practical knowledge on comfort measures for labor, such as massage and suggestions for positioning. A doula can provide information when you have questions and help you communicate most effectively with your medical caregivers. The main focus of a birth doula's role is often on the birth itself, but doula support can also be invaluable during pregnancy (especially if you have questions about tests or complications), and after the birth when they can help out with feeding and adjusting to life with a newborn.

There are a few things a birth doula is not. They are not acting as a nurse or midwife, so they do not provide clinical care such as doing examinations on you or checking your baby's heartbeat. The support a doula provides fits together with but does not replace, the care of your doctor, midwife, or nurses. Doulas do not make decisions for you or speak for you. This is your birth, your baby, your life! A doula supports you by providing information to help you make informed choices, but it's always you who decides what's best for you.

Doulas make a difference! The research has shown that having a doula at your birth can make a real difference to the outcome. The risk of emergency cesarean is reduced, as well as the chances of other interventions happening like episiotomy and assisted delivery. How a parent interacts with their baby, their satisfaction with their birth, and their relationship with their partner are all rated significantly higher with those who have had a doula compared with those who have not!

Postpartum Doula

A postpartum doula supports a family in the immediate period after a birth with reassurance, practical assistance, and information. A postpartum doula may carry out any of the following tasks:

● Assistance with breastfeeding

● Preparing feeds and/or bottle feeding a newborn

● Caring for older siblings

● Planning and preparing meals

● Carrying out light household tasks

● Providing overnight support

● Education and information on parenting issues

A postpartum doula is there to support new parents in caring for their newborn and providing them with the care and information they need to navigate their way through the early weeks of parenting.

There are a few things a postpartum doula is not. They are not acting as a nurse or midwife so they do not provide clinical care such as monitoring a baby’s growth or administering medication. A postpartum doula is not a nanny who only looks after older children, nor are they a cleaner. The postpartum doula is there to help parents develop and build new skills to enable them to develop confidence in their new role. Doulas do not make decisions for you, or speak for you. This is your postpartum, your baby, your life! A doula supports you by providing information and explanations you may want about your choices, but it is always you who decides what is best for you.

Abortion Doula

An abortion doula is a trained, non-medical professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to individuals seeking an abortion. They accompany the person through the process, offering:

Emotional support: Listening, validating feelings, and providing comfort.
Physical assistance: Helping with pain management, relaxation techniques, and practical tasks like holding hands or fetching supplies.
Information: Explaining the procedure, answering questions, and providing resources.
Advocacy: Ensuring the person's rights and preferences are respected.

Abortion doulas are trained in a variety of areas, including reproductive health, trauma-informed care, and cultural sensitivity. They work in collaboration with healthcare providers to provide a safe and supportive environment for the person seeking an abortion.