What is a doula?

"Doula" refers to a supportive companion (other than a friend or loved one) who is professionally trained to provide labor support. She performs no clinical tasks. A doula provides physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth. Doulas help and advise on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, massage and positioning. They provide assistance to families in gathering information about labor and their individual options. Doulas give continuous emotional reassurance and comfort. They practice non-pharmacological pain relief measures and assist partners who want to play an active support role. A doula's purpose is to protect the positive memory of this birth and actively support the mother so that she has a safe and satisfying childbirth as she herself defines it.

Effects on birth outcomes:

• Labors are shorter.
• There are fewer complications.
• Cesarean rates are reduced.
• There is less need for oxytocin to speed up labor.
• Use of forceps is reduced.
• Women request less pain medication and epidurals.

Effects on the mother:

• Greater satisfaction with childbirth.
• More positive assessments of their babies.
• Less postpartum depression.

Effects on the baby:

• Babies have shorter hospital stays and fewer admissions to special care nurseries.
• Babies breastfeed more easily.
• Mothers are more affectionate to their babies postpartum.

Effects on the health care system:

• The cost of obstetrical care is dramatically reduced.
• Women are pleased with the personalized care doulas offer.

The benefit of continuous support in labor is recognized by:

• The World Health Organization
• The Medical Leadership Council (an organization of over 1200 US hospitals
• The Sociatey of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada