Should You Consider Using a Doula?

For thousands of years, women have had a friend or family member offering physical and emotional support during delivery. For most of that time, it was a mother, sister, or good friend who provided this support. Today, labor support professionals called doulas (pronounced DOO-lahs; Greek for "woman who serves") are trained to provide the comfort and care women need during labor. They essentially are mothering the soon-to-be mothers.

The services that a doula provides can include:

• Explanations of medical procedures
• Emotional support
• Advice during pregnancy
• Suggestions to make pregnancy more comfortable
• Help with preparation of a birth plan
• Massage and other nonpharmacological pain relief measures
• Positioning suggestions during labor and birth
• Support for partners and other family members during labor
• Communication with the obstetrician to avoid unnecessary interventions
• Help with breastfeeding
• A written record of the birth

A doula's job is to take care of you and no one else. Your doula will make sure that your birth experience is as positive as possible. If you choose a doula with whom you feel comfortable, you should be able to put your full trust in her to take care of you during the birthing process.

A doula will help you before, during, and after labor. During pregnancy, she can be a source of information about comfort and safety issues for you and your partner. After you give birth, she can help you in your physical recovery and with any early breastfeeding struggles you might have. But, as you might expect, the bulk of a doula's work is in the delivery room. This is where she provides emotional and physical support during the birthing process. In addition, your doula can be your main source of communication with the doctors.

Make sure that the doula you choose understands and agrees with your preferences for the birthing experience -- how you feel about episiotomies, c-sections, epidurals, and other forms of pain relief. Once you're in the delivery room, she will be your advocate and will translate your wishes to the medical professionals when you might not have enough energy.

Women who have a trained doula with them during delivery experience a:

• 50% reduction in the cesarean rate
• 25% shorter labor
• 60% reduction in epidural requests
• 40% reduction in oxytocin use
• 30% reduction in analgesia use
• 40% reduction in forceps delivery

Research shows that having a doula can positively affect how new moms feel about their labor experience, themselves, their partner, and their new babies.

The best way to choose a doula would be through friends or family who may have used one. You can also ask your obstetrician if any former patients may have one to recommend. Some hospitals have also recently started offering doula services. Contact the maternity ward in the hospital in which you plan to give birth to find out if they have any affiliations.

If you're unable to find a doula through word of mouth, there are many online resources that list certified doulas by geographic area. These include:

The most important thing to remember in finding a doula is that you feel comfortable with the person you choose. This woman is going to be your representative, your advocate, and your source of support on one of the most important days of your life, so choose wisely.

Sources: Maternity Center Association; Childbirth.org; Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can HelpYou Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, (Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus)

All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.