You may have heard of a doula, or even thought of hiring a doula, or perhaps even becoming a doula! But what exactly does a doula do, and how does a doula help you? In this post you’ll learn the role of a birth doula prenatally, through labor and delivery, and postpartum and what that support looks like.

What is a birth doula?

A birth doula is a labor companion who provides unbiased continuous labor support for the birthing person and their partner. This continuous support includes emotional support, physical comfort, assistance in obtaining information and clarifying information, advocacy, an objective viewpoint and facilitating communication between the birthing person, their partner, and clinical care providers.

A doula’s support begins with a consultation and prenatal visits, and continues through labor, delivery, and postpartum.

What does prenatal support look like from a birth doula?

This journey begins with a consultation to get clear on the birthing person’s needs and support they are seeking, and to get to know the doula and their offerings. Then if they choose to hire the doula the next step would be prenatal visits, how many that entails depends on the specific doula’s offerings.

A prenatal visit can include exercises to get informed on choices that may arise during labor and delivery, and to lay out your birth plan. A birth plan is your preferences on your ideal birth situation, and a doula can support you in getting clear on this and what can happen and how to prepare if things do not go as planned. During a prenatal visit the doula will also cover different laboring positions, coping techniques, comfort measures, and all the ways that they can support you and your partner. I like to use this as an opportunity to go through my doula bag that comes with me to attend the birth.

In this visit there is also opportunity to cover any questions the birthing person and partner may have for the doula about their role and expectations, but also some questions that they can take back to their care provider and clarify with them to help prepare best for birth. A doula is also a resource for you to check in with, in addition to your care provider, regarding any questions that arise through pregnancy.

What is the role of a birth doula during labor and delivery?

A doula’s role during labor and delivery is to make the birthing person feel as comforted and supported as possible, and to keep them informed and an active participant in the experience. Assisting the birthing person and their partner in adapting to changes as needed. This is continuous support, not someone that goes in and out the room as they please but stays with you.

This support can include using acupressure, counter pressure, soothing massage, different positions, birthing ball, hot and cold therapy, visualization, guided meditation and breathing techniques, affirmations, listening to your needs and supporting as needed and more. A doula can coach your breathing during the pushing phase of labor, and can assist in birthing positions and support too.

Depending on if there is a partner and how involved they would like to be, the doula can also guide the partner in how best to support the birthing person. Doula’s can also give advice on questions to ask your provider and staff to keep you up to date, involved, and informed. A doula also provides meditation between the birthing person, their partner, and care providers. Doula’s nurture and support and stay with the birthing person through this stage.

Doula’s do not interpret medical findings, don’t do cervical checks or exams, don’t give clinical advice, and do not deliver the baby. Guidance, navigation, information, advocacy, support, and comfort is all part of the role of a doula.

What is a birth doula’s role after delivery?

A birth doula’s role continues even after delivery. This support includes making sure the client is comfortable, and all their questions are answered. Making sure they have a meal, and are settled in with the form of feeding they choose. Doula’s are not lactation consultants - unless they go through a separate training, but can assist and guide in the basics of breastfeeding, and can direct to resources as needed. Once this is completed a doula can head on home, and will check in with the client via a postpartum visit. During this postpartum visit the doula can support the birthing person in processing the birth and answering any of their questions, and directing to resources as they need. For further support there are also post partum doula’s.

What does the evidence say?

When a doula was involved as a support person for a birth there was a

39% decrease in the risk of Cesarean
15% increase in likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth
10% decrease in use of pain relief medication
shorter labor by average of 41 minutes
38% decrease in baby’s risk of low five minute Apgar score
31% decrease in risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience
These stats are from Evidence Based Birth with more details on the research here

If you’re thinking about using a doula…

and are in the Long Island area you can schedule a consultation with Lauren today. If you are not local, you can check out Doula Match for a doula that serves clients in your area.

As a doula and mother, I recognize that birth is a sacred life experience that will be remembered for the rest of your life, and my role is also to nurture and protect my client’s memory of this experience no matter your birth preferences. I provide continuous unbiased support, and am completely there for my client and their partner to navigate this beautiful experience, and bring my knowledge and tools to the experience to make them feel as comfortable and supported as possible. Reach out with any questions here.

What is a Birth Doula?