What is a doula? And what does a doula do?

The word "doula" comes from the Greek language meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a women who provides excellent physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth. Studies have proven that women who have doulas attend births have shorter labors with fewer complications, and babies are less likely to spend time in the nursery.

A Doula·     

•    Assists the woman in preparing a birth plans, and making sure it is followed as much as possible
•     Provides support throughout the entire labor
•     Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, as well as gives the woman the information she needs to make informed decision for her and her baby
•      Helps communication between the laboring woman, and her health care providers
•      She supports the birth partner, so he feels comfortable participating

Research shows that having a doula help after the birth for the first few weeks can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, and reduces the risk of postpartum depression.

     Doulas can:

•      Offers education, friendship and support 
•     Help with newborn care, meal preparation and light house work
•     Offers useful information on breast feeding
•      How to more quickly recover physically from birth
•      coping skills for new parents
•      And can make referral to other health care providers when necessary

Each doula is different and each new mother is different so make sure you interview her first, get all your questions answered. 

The Peaceful Birth Workbook offers you a list of questions you can ask potential doulas.  

PeacefulBirth.ca was built on Jimdo.com

A quick and easy way to make a beautiful website.