What is a birth doula?

Doulas offer emotional, physical, and informational support during labor and delivery. Doulas do not replace your partner! Rather, they enhance your partner’s ability to support you in the most effective possible way. Doulas support laboring couples as advocates and supporters offering their knowledge and experience of the birth process, labor, and birth techniques for a more positive birthing experience. Doulas assist with labor positions, comfort measures, and their knowledge of the birthing process. It is my goal to empower women during the birth process for increased satisfaction in their journey to motherhood.

Do doulas perform in a medical capacity?

Doulas do not perform in a medical capacity. We do not take temperatures, place IVs, perform vaginal exams, monitor maternal/fetal vitals, etc. Doulas do not deliver babies or offer medical diagnosis.

Are doulas trained or certified?

Not all doulas are trained. While there are many organizations that certify doulas currently, there are no state or federal regulations on practicing doulas. Ask your doula about her credentials and the organization which she received her training and/or certification through. Sometimes doulas are trained by an organization, but never certified for varying reason.

Don’t nurses do the same things that a doula does?

Generally, your nurse has several laboring mothers she is responsible for at one time. She is monitoring vitals, logging information and patient progress, is in and out of the room to tend to other patients who need her attention, has changes of shifts, and is communicating your progress with your midwife, or physician. Nurses have a myriad of nursing responsibilities that don’t offer you continuous one on one care.

I plan to use medication for pain. Do I still need a doula?

While epidurals offer effective pain relief most of the time, there are things your epidural can not do for you. An epidural cannot:
• Give you a massage or hold a cold compress to your forehead
• Provide you with information on your options
• Get you a glass of water or ice chips
• Offer you continuous support while your partner takes a break
• Offer reassuring, nurturing, and comfort measures
• Assist you with breathing and relaxation techniques
• Offer direction and support during the pushing phase
• Offer breastfeeding support and direction
• Take photographs

Employing the use of a doula concurrently with an epidural can give the birth experience that you desire while allowing you to focus on the birth of your baby. An epidural cannot take the place of comfort, reassurance, understanding, and the power of human touch.


I have a supportive partner. How can hiring a doula aid me? Will a doula replace or exclude my partner?

The doula has the experience and training of a professional. Your doula's experience and training will bring reassurance and peace to the birth at a time that may feel scary, or uncertain. A woman is better able to cope with her labor when she has both the emotional support of her partner and the professional support of a doula. The most caring and supportive partner cannot replace the value of a trained professional. The role of your doula is different from the partner's role and should not conflict with, or alienate your partner from, the birthing experience. Your partner is equally important during the birth; however, studies show that trained labor support offers many benefits that a partner, or friend, will not. Your partner is able to comfort you emotionally because there is an existing intimate relationship established. Please see the Doulas and Dads section for more information on the topic.

When should I call my doula?

A doula will come to you when labor becomes intense and you feel you need support. This is usually when your contractions are about five minutes apart and in duration of roughly one minute. When you feel that you would like your doula to join you, the doula can meet you at home, at the hospital, or birth center.
A doula will provide support during labor, delivery, and generally 1-2 hours after you give birth. Your doula will help with initial breastfeeding support. In addition, your doula will visit you one to two times in the week following delivery to offer additional breastfeeding and process the birth experience with you, as well as get feedback on her role.


My doctor doesn't see the value of labor support, can I still have a doula?

Your doula will meet with you prenatally to get a fuller understanding of what is important to you during your birth. She will spend time educating you, going over comfort measures, breathing and relaxation techniques, and provide you with informational and community resources to assist you in achieving your goals.
Your doctor will most likely arrive towards the end of your labor when the birth of your baby is eminent. The doctor will generally not be there for emotional support, or to provide comfort thorougout your labor. As the doctor arrives towards the end of your labor, he/she may not always appreciate the value of a continuous support by trained labor support professional.
Your doula is a trained and skilled in working with medical personnel. A doula’s job is completely separate from the role of your doctor,or midwife. It is not unusual for the doctor, or midwife, to thank the doula for her efforts after the birth!

I have a supportive OB or midwife. How can a doula’s services benefit me?

Will your doctor?
-come to your home and labor with you until it's time to go to the hospital, or birthing center, and then stay with you until breastfeeding is established?
-Help you with breastfeeding techniques and support?
-Does he/she provide you with massage?
-Provide prenatal visits in your home?
-Suggest positions to ease back labor and help with pushing?
-Do the double hip squeeze, provide counter pressure, or offer positional recommendations?
-Bring a birth ball, or other tools for comfort techniques, to make your labor easier?
-Stay by your head providing encouragement while you are in transition and when the baby is being born?
-Offer you cold/hot packs?
-Wipe your brow with a cold cloth?
-Take photographs of you and your partner with your new baby?

If you answer no to one of these questions you deserve a doula! Your doctor, or midwife, is an important part of your medical care. Doulas offer continuous labor support, comfort measures, and information to help you achieve a more positive birth experience. If you are having a homebirth, a doula can still offer invaluable support during labor and delivery. An extra set of hands at a homebirth can allow the midwife to focus more fully on her role as your caregiver.

What if I am giving birth to my baby by cesarean section, how can a doula support me in this situation?

Becoming a mother is an exciting journey, regardless of how your baby is born. Major abdominal surgery is no less tasking, or frightening, than a vaginal birth may be. If the hospital policy allows, your doula will continue to support you in the delivery of your baby. If your doula is unable to accompany you into the operating room, she will join you as soon as possible following surgery. While the baby and the birth partner are in the nursery, the mother may find herself in recovery alone. The benefits of having your doula by your side throughout this process are immeasurable. The doula can stay by your side supporting you while your partner accompanies the baby to the nursery.