Why a Birth Doula?
The Role
A Doula is a non medical professional, trained to provide continuous emotional, physical and informational support to the birthing parent and their support person during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.
How a Doula Benefits
Doulas are more than someone who attends a birth. A Doula is a nurturer, a teacher and a confidant. A Doula educates, listens, supports and learns what their clients need and want for their own birth.
A Doula provides evidenced based information to their clients.
Doulas offer continuous support during labour, and will use a variety of different techniques and tools to assist the birthing parent.
As a birth coach familiarized with medical procedures surrounding birth, a Doula will support the partner by offering guidance and reassurance.
After birth a Doula will ensure breastfeeding is established and help the new parents with any additional support needed at that time.
What's the Evidence on Doulas?
The meta-analysis on several doula studies:
- 36% REDUCTION in use of pain medication
- 51% REDUCTION in cesarean delivery.
- 71% REDUCTION in use of pitocin
- 57% REDUCTION in forceps or vacuum delivery
- 1 hour and 38 mins SHORTER labour
"If doulas were a drug it would be unethical not to use it." ~Dr. John Kennell