A Doula is a trained, non-medical, emotional, and physical labour support person who assists you and your family during your labour, birth, and the early postpartum period. A Doula’s role is to give the family a safe, positive and memorable birth experience. In many ways, she becomes an extension of the mother. Doulas do not replace the role of a partner, or a family member, but are an addition to your support team. They can help partners by gently guiding them through the birth process. They can also relieve partners who might be feeling pressure for being every role to the mother and help partners enjoy the birth experience, reducing the stress for everyone.

A birth doula assists a woman and her family before and during childbirth. She provides non-medical emotional and physical support during pregnancy and the birthing process. Doulas work with the rest of your birth team and are there to assist the mom and support her helpers or partners but not to replace them. A postpartum doula provides families with information and support on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, infant soothing, and coping skills for new parents. They might also help with light housework, fix a meal and help incorporate an older child into this new experience.

Like any part of your birth team, Doula’s can not guarantee any birth outcome. However, in 2017, Bohren et al. published an updated Cochrane review on the use of continuous support for women during childbirth that included more than 15,000 people and reported the following: · 25% decrease in the risk of Caesarean; the largest effect was seen with a doula (39% decrease) · 8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth; the largest effect was seen with a doula (15% increase) · 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief. · Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference. · 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five-minute Apgar score. · 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience; mothers’ risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience was reduced with continuous support provided by a doula or someone in their social network (family or friend), but not hospital staff.

A Doula offers emotional, physical, and informational support for their clients. A midwife offers many of these same qualities, however, it is the midwife that will deliver the baby and perform the necessary medical examinations throughout pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum. A Doula does not do any medical checks or procedures (such as fetal heartbeat checks, blood pressure checks, vaginal exams, etc). Depending on your labour, your Doula usually arrives at your birth before your midwife does. You can call on your Doula to come to your birthplace whenever you feel you need her whereas a midwife attends to your needs once you are in active labour.

Our Doulas see their role as working with both Mother and partner (or other labour support people such as close friends or family members that you want to be present) before, during, and after labour. During prenatal sessions, we help our clients try different positions and natural pain management techniques so that you have a good idea of what works for the Mother and how the partner can support her. During birth, we make sure that both the Mother and partner are staying hydrated, nourished, and that partner can take breaks as needed. If the partner is nervous or unsure of what is happening with the Mother, we can offer explanations and reassurance. By having a Doula the partner can participate in the birth as much as he or she feels comfortable while making sure that the Mother feels supported through the whole experience. During the postpartum period, our Doulas can help partners process the birth experience if they need, give tips on supporting the Mother with breastfeeding, and teach about baby care. Some of the partners we have worked with before have felt initially skeptical about having a Doula. All of them have later shared with us how helpful it was to have her with them during the labour.

We have liability coverage for both our Birth and Postpartum Doula services.

Whether a caesarean birth is planned or not a Doula can still help. Your Doula can go into the OR with you if your partner is not able to. She can keep you and your partner calm and answer any questions you have as this can be an emotional time. After the caesarean, she will be in the recovery room with you and can help with breastfeeding and bonding with the baby. If the baby needs to be taken to the NICU your Doula can stay with the Mother while the partner goes with the baby so that the Mother is not alone.

After the birth, doulas can be available to assist new mothers with pain-relief management, breastfeeding guidance and family bonding assistance. It’s not uncommon for the doula to become part of the family and an ongoing resource after the birth of the baby.