8 Roles of a Doula
A doula:
- Recognizes birth as a life experience that the mother will remember all her life.
- Understands basic physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
- Assists a woman in preparing for and carrying out her desired plans for the birth.
- Stays by the side of the laboring woman continuously throughout labor.
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, objective viewpoints, and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions.
- Facilitates communication between woman, the father, and clinical care providers.
- Perceives her role as nurturer and protects the memory of the birth experience.
- Is a compliment to the support of your partner.
Studies show that moms who have doulas present at their births have 51% fewer C-sections, 71% less oxytocin use, 28% fewer epidurals, 35% less narcotic use, 57% less instrumental delivery, 33% less maternal emotional distress, a shorter labor (by an average of 98 minutes) and higher Apgar scores for babies.