What is a doula? 
Giving birth to a baby is so much more than a physical phenomenon; it engages parents-to-be in a transformational experience, a key life event full of emotion and meaning. A doula who accompanies a woman in labor mothers the mother, taking care of her emotional needs throughout childbirth. A doula also provides support and suggestions for partners that can enhance their experiences of birth. A postpartum doula continues that valuable emotional support and guidance, helping a family make a smooth transition into new family dynamics.
Doulas are educated and knowledgeable about childbirth and the postpartum experience. They are advocates and a listening ear for birthing mothers, as well as facilitators to her partner. When a family goes home with a new baby, a postpartum doula supports every member and the family unit as a whole.A Doula....
- Recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life...
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor...
- Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth...
- Stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor...
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions...
- Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and clinical careproviders...
- Perceives her role as one who nutures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience.
