A doula also known as a birth companion, labour coach. A doula should be someone with whom you create a special relationship with, someone you can be vulnerable with, someone you can trust and can facilitate conversations regarding your wishes with your birth team and be a source of strength throughout your labour, and birthing journey. A doula is a wealth of information and the calm in the middle of labour.
What a doula DOES NOT do:
Doulas are not medical professionals and do not give medical advice. (If a doula ever tries to give you medical advice or directly suggests that you go against medical advice, this should be a red flag).
A doula will also not perform medical tasks like checking blood pressure, doing cervical exams or monitoring the baby’s heart rate. It is never the place of a doula to judge, condemn or go against a mother’s wishes. Doulas do not take over or come between the mother and her birth partner or doctor and should work with other birth attendants.
Unlike nurses and doctors, doulas also do not take shifts or leave during a labor. A doula is continuously with a labouring mother without leaving or sleeping. Also, unlike medical professionals, a doula does not have other patients or rounds so her single focus is on the mother.
What a doula DOES do:
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Providing continuous emotional support by actively listening, validating emotions and feelings throughout pregnancy and birthing journey, as well as helping come up with actions / solutions by providing the birthing person and partner with all available and reliable information
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Providing different methods of physical support including but not limited to massage, suggestions of different positioning and offering breaks to the support people in the room.
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Giving information if asked and helping the mother find resources to research her birth choices (before labor)
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Using comfort measures like massage, suggesting different positions and helping with relaxation breathing
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Accommodating the mother’s wishes for the birth environment (low light, soft music, etc) to the extent possible in the place of birth
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Encouraging the mother to communicate with her doctor and to be informed about any procedures and interventions (a doula does NOT give medical advice or interfere with the doctor/mother relationship)
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Supporting the father or birth partner in the best way to support the mother. A doula never replaces the very important role of the birth partner and a good doula will help the birth partner by suggesting ways that they (the partner) can support the laboring mom and things that can improve their synergy in labor.
