What is a doula?
A doula is a Greek word loosely meaning 'a woman who serves' but today, it tends to mean a woman who supports mothers-to-be and their partners before, during and after the birth of their baby. Doulas are already very popular in the USA and Australia and they are now becoming more widely popular in the UK too, with much research showing that having a professional childbirth assistant during labour can reduce the need for instrumental intervention and caesarean sections.
Years ago, families were geographically closer and mothers, along with other women in the community, looked after women in labour and afterwards in the post-natal period. Today though, many partners often commute long distances to work in the week and women often don't have their own mothers nearby to offer them support and practical help with their new baby. This is where a doula can be really helpful. Not only can she guide, encourage and support you through your labour and birth but she can offer support and information before birth and practical, hands-on help in your home following birth.
A doula is not a midwife and does not advise on medical matters but is there for you as a mother would be - to offer encouragement, tips and suggestions, help to care for you and the baby in the first few weeks whilst you adjust and recouperate and perhaps to offer a shoulder to cry on.
There are three types of doula, ante-natal, birth and post-natal and some doulas are either trained in all three areas (like me) or focus on one or two specific areas.
Research shows that a doula can lead to:
25% shorter labour
50% reduction in the need for a caesarean section
60% reduction in epidural requests
30% reduction in the use of analgesia (pain relief)
40% reduction in forceps delivery
Other research by Nugent "A Doula Makes the Difference " (Mothering Magazine, March 1998) showed that:
6 weeks after birth mothers were:
less anxious or depressed
more confident with their baby
more satisfied with the partner
more likely to be breast feeding
A doula isn't medically trained and does not replace your medical team or interfere with necessary medical decisions made by your medical team. I am there to support you and your family - to 'mother the mother' at a time when you need it most.