Doula FAQ
A doula will be a wonderful emotional and physical support person through your labor and delivery. She is educated in relaxation techniques, laboring positions, emotional support, birth and delivery options, and more. She will know how to help you achieve your birth goals and help the father support you in ways he may have never even though of, even if he has already taken a childbirth education class. A doula is your partner or advocate, educating you about what is happening to you, what your choices are, and allowing you to make informed decisions on how you want your labor and delivery to go. Numerous studies have shown that a doula, professional labor support, reduces your anxiety and stress (what has been shown to increase labor length, lessen uterine contraction productivity, and open up more possibilities to complications). Continuous labor support reduces your anxiety, shorten labor which reduces the time for complications to arise, and reduces the chance of a cesarean section.
Even if you have a planned or emergency cesarean section, a doula can still be of great service to you before, during, and after the delivery of your baby.
A doula in no way replaces the father. A doula is there to support the birthing family, and help the BOTH of you achieve your birth goals. Even though fathers attend childbirth education classes and learn a couple positions and techniques, they lack the length of training doulas go through and don’t have access to the many techniques, positions and ideas a doula can present. Sometimes a father may feel inadequate, not understanding what the mother is going through and stressed because he isn’t sure he is doing everything he can to help her (or he may not know how). A doula will always help the father support the birthing mother, showing him the techniques and positions that will help her, as well he will offer the emotional support and love only the father can provide. The doula allows the father to experience and enjoy the birth, support the mother to his capacity, but not to be the sole support to meet the mothers many needs. Many times the fathers will feel relief knowing there is someone there who knows what the mother is going through, and can help the both of them better understand the process, the choices, and help support the mother in physical and emotional ways that can make all the difference. A doula also helps keep dad at moms side the entire birth, while the doula takes care of the many little tasks he may be called away to do otherwise - adjust the lighting, get mom a glass of juice, get a blanket or more pillows, call a nurse, take pictures, etc.
If you labor and deliver in a hospital, be aware that hospital based midwives often have several or more women in their care at once. Due to the increased demand for midwives to see more patients, continuous care is sometimes considered a luxury. Don't let that steer you away from midwives - they are still there to protect and promote your natural ability to birth, and protect you from unnecessary intervention, but don't expect them to be at your side the entire time. This is what a doula is for - to offer you continuous support throughout labor and delivery without ever leaving your side. A doula will not perform any medical tasks, but she will work with you and your labor, and between your partner and your midwife you'll be an unbeatable team!
This is up to the individual doula, but most doulas (myself included) will work in a hospital, home birth, and/or birth center. Even if you have a midwife and/or great nursing staff, the combination of all of us can make for an awesome support team, helping you reach your goals and have a satisfying birth experience. Often times the question is raised about doula's at a homebirth where the midwife is generally present throughout active labor and delivery offering continuous support. A doula is very valuable, even with the midwife present, because she can share support duties with the family and midwife, help with chores, bringing water and light snacks, help with other siblings, and help keep things quiet and in order while being available for the mother during her labor and delivery..
Most doulas will work on a sliding scale, or occasionally offer free services to those in need. Especially if you are in financial stress or single, most doulas are willing to work with you so you have the support you need, and so you can have a satisfying birth experience.
A doula stays with the laboring mother during the entire labor and for a while afterwards. The doula is there to offer physical and emotional support where needed. This includes establishing breastfeeding, helping the mother to get up and walk around, assist the mother with a shower if wanted, help with the newborn and answer questions relating to the birth experience, postpartum care and the baby. She will often schedule a postpartum visit in the family's home several days after the birth.
Your need for a postpartum doula is up to you and your family. Many times the new family needs time to adjust themselves and adjust to life with a new baby. Sometimes matters can be complicated by a messy house, other siblings, and pets. The stress can add up due to lack of sleep, the new baby, a messy house, no time to prepare meals or have time to yourself. A postpartum doula is there to help the new family with emotional support, guidance, light housework and errands, sibling and pet care, cooking light meals, and doing her best to help things run smoothly so the new family can concentrate on themselves and the new baby. A postpartum doula can help the new mom with concerns she may have about herself or her baby, help the father and any siblings understand what to expect during the postpartum time, help with breastfeeding if needed, show her how to take care of her new baby, offer advice and referrals. What you ask your postpartum doula is up to you, she is there to help you, the family, and the new baby (though she is not a nanny and shouldn't be expected to perform lots of cleaning or running lots of errands). Most postpartum doulas are available for up to eight weeks postpartum and they might also do night care, taking care of the baby's needs while the family rests (but waking mom when baby needs to eat for breastfeeding mothers). .