What is a doula?

A doula is a non-clinical practitioner who provides physical, social, and emotional support to expecting parents. Doulas can provide support and education throughout pregnancy, provide childbirth education and planning, offer hands-on support and guidance during labor and birth, and provide much-needed assistance during the postpartum period.

I have an amazing support person and a midwifery or obstetrical team - do I really need a doula, too?

While it is crucial to have an excellent medical team and a loved one on your birth team, a doula provides continuous support that is not within the scope of the medical team. If you are having a hospital birth, you will likely not be admitted until your contractions have progressed to a certain point, which is often many hours after labor has begun. After admission, your nurses, technicians, and obstetrician or midwife will be in and out of the room throughout your labor. A doula, however, will meet you at your home and support you through the early stage of labor prior to joining you at the hospital or birth center where they will continue to provide support for the duration of your labor.

Doulas fill a very important and specific role on your care team - your obstetricians, midwives, and nurses are medical professionals who are focused on the health and safety of you and your baby, as well as the other patients in their care. Your support person is a “you” professional, who knows you better than anyone in the room. Your doula is a pregnancy, birth, and postpartum expert of your choosing who can coach and support both you and your support person in techniques and strategies to make your birth as comfortable and smooth as possible, while lending a helping hand in ways that are customized to your unique needs and preferences.

Doulas also provide more detailed childbirth and newborn care education during pregnancy to help you feel as prepared and confident for your birth as possible. In the postpartum period, doulas can also continue to provide support and care for the new parents as well as the new baby. While all of your loved ones may be eager to hold the baby, your doula will be there to “hold” you and provide the much-needed TLC that will enable you to heal and provide the best care for your new little one.

What are the proven benefits of including a doula in your care team?

In addition to providing much needed physical, social, and emotional support from pregnancy through postpartum, studies show that having continuous support during labor and birth results in lower rates of cesarean sections and lower rates of premature birth. Expecting parents with the support of a doula are more likely to receive childbirth education and have a shorter second stage of labor.

Doula support is also associated with lower rates of maternal mortality, which is of particular importance for women of color, who have a significantly higher rate of maternal mortality in the United States. Those under the care of a doula are also less likely to experience postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety.

For breastfeeding parents, those under the care of a doula are more likely to initiate breastfeeding, experience an onset of lactogenesis within 72 hours post-birth, and are more likely to be breastfeeding at six-weeks postpartum.

For those who are interested in laboring without pain medication, doula support is associated with reduced instances of using pain medication.

(Source: Sobczak A, Taylor L, Solomon S, Ho J, Kemper S, Phillips B, Jacobson K, Castellano C, Ring A, Castellano B, Jacobs RJ. The Effect of Doulas on Maternal and Birth Outcomes: A Scoping Review. Cureus. 2023 May 24;15(5):e39451. doi: 10.7759/cureus.39451. PMID: 37378162; PMCID: PMC10292163.)

I am planning on getting an epidural. Can I still benefit from using a birth doula?

Absolutely! The use of an epidural often limits the birthing person’s mobility. In addition to providing support in the early stages of labor prior to administration of epidural pain medication, a doula can help the birthing person continue to utilize different birthing positions, techniques, and comfort measures in order to promote progression in the birthing process after the placement of an epidural.

I’m having a scheduled C-section. Can I still benefit from using a doula?

Yes! Depending on your hospital’s policy, you may be permitted to have doula support in the operating room. Additionally, labor support is only one part of what we have to offer. Hold My Heart places great emphasis on supporting expecting parents during pregnancy and postpartum. Recovery from a C-section tends to be longer and more limiting - as such, new parents who are recovering from a C-section can greatly benefit from the assistance of a postpartum doula.