What Do Labor Doulas Do?
Doulas are trained and experienced in childbirth, although they may not have given birth themselves. The doula's role is to provide physical, emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth.
The doula offers help and advice in comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning. She also assists familes to gather information about the course of their labor and their options. Perhaps the most crucial role of the doula is providing continuous emotional reassurance and comfort.
Doulas specialize in non-medical skills and do not perform clinical tasks, such as vaginal exams or fetal heart rate monitoring. Doulas do not diagnose medical conditions, offer second opinions, or give medical advice. Most importantly, doulas do not make decisions for their clients; they do not project their own values and goals onto the laboring woman.
The doula's goal is to help the woman have a safe and satisfying childbirth as the woman defines it. When a doula is present, some women feel less need for pain medications, or may postpone them until later in labor; however, many women choose or need pharmacological pain relief. It is not the role of the doula to discourage the mother from her choices. The doula helps her become informed about various options, including risks, benefits and accompanying precautions or interventions for safety.
Doulas can maximize the benefits of pain medications while minimizing their undesirable side effects.
Benefits of Doula Support
Although each labor is different, studies show that labor support dramatically improves the childbirth experience and benefits the health of both mother and newborn.
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