Why hire a Doula?
In many cultures, women have traditionally received support from other women during pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period.
A doula is a trained support person who provides non-medical physical, emotional and informational support to a woman and her chosen support people before, during and after childbirth. A doula does not replace a midwife, obstetrician or other healthcare professional and does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment.
A Doula (also known as a birth coach) believes in mothering the mother, enabling a woman to have the most satisfying experience that she can from pregnancy into motherhood.
What Does a Doula Do?
A doula may support a woman by:
providing reassurance and encouragement
helping her explore comfort measures during labour
supporting communication with the maternity care team
providing general information about birth preferences
supporting the woman’s chosen partner or support person
offering emotional support during the early postnatal period
The type of support provided will depend on the woman’s preferences, circumstances and birth plan.
Doula Support and Pain Relief
Some women choose to use medication during labour, while others prefer to begin with non-medical comfort measures. A doula’s role is to support the woman’s informed choices and not to discourage appropriate pain relief or medical care.
Some research has explored whether continuous labour support may be associated with differences in the use of some interventions or pain relief options. Individual experiences and birth outcomes vary, and no particular result can be guaranteed.
Possible Benefits of Continuous Labour Support
Research has reported associations between continuous labour support and outcomes such as:
increased satisfaction with the birth experience for some women
greater perceived emotional support during labour
improved confidence and reassurance for some women
reduced use of some interventions in certain circumstances
different breastfeeding outcomes between individuals
These outcomes are not guaranteed and may be influenced by many factors, including the woman’s health, pregnancy, labour, maternity care and personal preferences.
Making an Informed Choice
A doula may be one part of a woman’s broader maternity support team. Before engaging a doula, consider asking about:
training and experience
scope of practice
availability
fees and cancellation terms
how they work alongside midwives, obstetricians and other healthcare professionals
what support is included before, during and after birth
Women should continue to follow the advice of their maternity care providers and seek medical assessment for any concerns during pregnancy, labour or the postnatal period.
This article provides general educational information only and does not replace individual maternity or medical advice.