​What is a doula?

A doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support,and physical comfort to a mother before, during and just after childbirth.​
 

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What are the benefits of hiring a doula?
Continuous care to the mother. Nurses will be present, but nurses are extremely busy professionals with many patients on each case load. A doula is solely focused on you and your needs during labor.
 

Education. Doulas study the childbirth process, pain management techniques and breastfeeding. Doulas will meet with the mother during pregnancy to discuss these things, as well as the expectations the mother has for the doula during her labor experience.

Understanding. Doula’s come with an understanding that all labors are unique and each mother, and the way she labors, is different. A doula can work with these needs of the mother, whether it be soothing music, gentle massage, heating pads, or scented oils. A doula also knows how to redirect her approach when the mother does not feel the technique is working to her advantage.
 

Less Stress. Labor and delivery is a stressful time, but it doesn’t have to be! With the assistance of a doula, moms report less stress during labor. Less stress during labor helps labor to progress more effectively. This is true for medicated labors as well.
 

Shorter and Safer Labors. This ties in with the last topic of having less stress. When a mother is stressed, it can cause labor to stall. Studies have shown that labors of those attended by an educated labor professional are 25% shorter on average than those who did not.
 

Support for Husbands. Doulas are not only in the delivery room to support the mother! Father’s need just as much support with bringing a baby into the world as women. A doula is not there to replace the husband’s role in the delivery room. A doula is there to support BOTH mother and father. If a father would like to be hands-on, a doula will guide him and show him techniques to support his partner in labor. If a father is having a hard time with the labor process and would like to be less involved, that is okay as well. A doula can help in all of these situations.