A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous non-medical physical, emotional and informational support to their clients before, during and after childbirth to help clients achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible. Support includes helping families gain evidence based information in creating their birth and newborn care plans, assisting with comfort measures during labor, offering positioning and movement suggestions to progress labor, and assisting with infant care and feeding postpartum. Whether it's a family's first baby or their tenth, a doula can help make the birth and postpartum experience better.
Countless scientific trials examining doula care demonstrate that:
" Continuous support during labour may improve outcomes for women and infants, including increased spontaneous vaginal birth, shorter duration of labour, and decreased caesarean birth, instrumental vaginal birth, use of any analgesia, use of regional analgesia, low five‐minute Apgar score and negative feelings about childbirth experiences."
Other studies have shown that having a doula as a member of the birth team decreases:
The role of the doula is never to take the place of a partner in labor, but rather to complement and enhance their experience. Today, more fathers and partners play an active role in the birth process. Some partners prefer to enjoy the delivery without having to stand in as the primary labor coach. By having a doula as a part of the birth team, fathers/partners are free to do whatever they choose. Doulas support and encourage birth partners to use comfort techniques and can step in if they want a break or need to take care of other family members, etc. Having a doula allows them to support their partner emotionally during labor and birth and to also enjoy the experience without the added pressure of trying to remember everything they learned in childbirth class!
The presence of a doula can be beneficial no matter what type of birth you are planning.
For families who have decided to have a medicated birth, the doula will provide emotional, informational, and physical support throughout labor and the administration of medications. Doulas offer position changes and comfort measures to help in the progression of labor and fetal positioning even with epidurals. They help deal with potential side effects, and doulas may also help with comfort measures where medication may be inadequate.
For a client facing a cesarean, a doula can be helpful by providing constant support and encouragement. Often a cesarean results from an unexpected situation leaving them feeling unprepared, disappointed, and lonely. A doula can be attentive at all times throughout the cesarean, letting you know what is going on throughout the procedure if the situation allows photograph the event. This can free the partner to attend to you and the baby, or accompany the newborn to the nursery if there are complications.
Doulas have a positive impact on the well-being of the entire family.
Doulas are well equipped with comfort and coping techniques that effectively support people’s goals for unmedicated vaginal delivery and avoiding pain medications and medical interventions. A doula’s skill set is made up of emotional, physical, and informational tools designed to help people achieve the experience of physiologic childbirth within a hospital, birth center, or home setting.
Doulas can enhance the labor and birth experience of people who want to use pain relief medications by providing information, so you are empowered to make an informed decision about pain relief options and procedures. Doulas also recommend in-bed positions changes and movements that enhance labor’s progression and minimize the “cascade effect” leading to undesired interventions.
A birth doula may be one of the most important and effective resources available to people striving for a VBAC. Doulas can help you “leave no stone unturned” in your effort to have a vaginal birth and help you to navigate the mental and emotional uncertainty that often accompanies this path. A doula can also offer indispensable reassurance and encouragement during C-sections births.
The postpartum period is a critical time for parents and babies. Doulas provide postpartum care services to ensure you are healing well and adjusting to your new role as a parent. From breastfeeding support to newborn care guidance, Doulas offer support so you can rest and recover.
Womb to World MN Doulas are well connected in the Twin Cities and can connect clients with local resources and support groups to foster relationships and create a network of care. Whether you are looking for parenting classes, lactation consultants, pelvic floor specialists, chiropractors, mental health professionals, or simply a supportive community, we can help you find what you need.
If you are looking for a doula with an L & D Nursing background and a BSN, who became a doula because she believes that each client deserves continuous, evidence-based support that reduces childbirth risks, listens to your needs and values your birth experience, I invite you to reach out. Together, we can discuss your goals and how I can support you on your journey. Don’t hesitate to contact me for a consultation or any questions you may have.