A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to families before, during, and after childbirth. By offering practical support, they help mothers and their partners feel informed, confident, and empowered throughout the childbirth experience. Their supportive presence, along with personalized guidance and practical assistance, significantly reduces stress and has been shown to improve birth outcomes. Whether it’s your first birth or you’re already an experienced mother, having a doula by your side can make a meaningful difference, ensuring a smoother, more positive birth and breastfeeding journey.

How Do Doulas Help During Labor and Birth?

  • Education and Guidance: They can help you understand your options and empower you to make confident, informed decisions about your birthing experience.
  • Advocacy: An important part of doula work is helping your medical team understand your unique needs while offering informational support and reassurance throughout any changes that arise during birth. They help ensure your birth plan is clearly communicated and that your wishes are respected by everyone involved.
  • Emotional Support: Throughout labor, their reassurance, encouragement, and calming presence can help you stay strong and confident.
  • Physical Assistance: A birth doula provides physical support and comfort through techniques like massage, positioning, and tools to ease discomfort and help reduce the need for pain medication. This continuous labor support can mean fewer interventions and possibly shorten the length of labor.
  • Comfort Measures: They also introduce soothing methods such as breathing techniques and visualization to help you manage pain and stay centered.
  • Partner Assistance: A doula guides your partner on how to best support you during labor, helping them feel confident and involved in the process.

Does Doula Support Improve Birth Outcomes?

  • Lower Rates of Cesarean Sections: Research shows that doula care is linked to lower cesarean rates, especially for first-time mothers with midwife providers. This can lead to healthier outcomes for both you and your baby.
  • Reduced Epidural Use: Women with this continuous birth support are less likely to use epidurals for pain relief, helping them have a more natural birth experience.
  • Fewer Preterm Births: Doula care is associated with lower rates of preterm birth and low birth weight.
  • Increased Satisfaction: As a birth companion, they provide personalized support that can enhance your overall satisfaction with your birth experience.
  • Reduced Mental Health Risks: This type of care can lower the risk of mental health challenges, like postpartum depression or PTSD, by ensuring you feel heard, supported, and cared for by medical staff.
  • Improved Breastfeeding: The supportive care a doula provides encourages breastfeeding initiation and increases the likelihood of successful breastfeeding during the postpartum period.

Postpartum Benefits of a Doula

  • Postpartum care is a different type of doula service that may be available to you. It can provide practical assistance for new parents and family members when you return home with your baby. The presence of a doula during those first weeks can bring immense reassurance along with additional helping hands.
  • Breastfeeding Initiation: Doulas help with a smooth start to breastfeeding, guiding you on proper latch and positioning. This care has been shown to significantly improve breastfeeding initiation rates. 
  • Advocacy: They can help you advocate for your breastfeeding goals, provide education and guidance if challenges arise, and connect you with community resources. 
  • Emotional Care: Their emotional support and encouragement, as you adjust to life with your new baby, can help you feel more confident in your feeding choices.
  • Breastfeeding Encouragement: After birth, some postpartum doulas with breastfeeding education may be able to provide in-home breastfeeding support. This can be especially helpful if you are experiencing problems such as latch issues, discomfort, or concerns about milk supply.
  • Baby Care: Many will happily assist with newborn care, offering guidance on diapering, bathing, swaddling, and babywearing.
  • Household Help: Some postpartum doulas also help with light chores, meal prep, or caring for older children so you can rest and bond with your baby.
  • Building Confidence: Postpartum support builds your confidence by offering guidance, troubleshooting common challenges, and celebrating your progress. With their encouragement, mothers feel empowered and reassured, helping them stay committed to their breastfeeding goals even when challenges arise.

Is Doula Support Financially Accessible?

Doulas are an invaluable part of your maternity care team as they provide physical, emotional, and educational guidance during your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Many work through income based sliding scale systems, barter and trade, and sometimes on a student or volunteer basis. You can also find certified doulas through organizations like Doulas of North America or Doula Match. As the American College of Obstetricians (ACOG), healthcare providers, and quality medical research have widely recognized the health care benefits of doula support, more health insurance plans—including Medicaid in several states—are beginning to cover these services. This means that for many families, doula support is now more accessible and affordable than ever.

Disclaimer: Our classes and accompanying materials are intended for general education purposes and should not replace medical evaluation or consultation. Please seek advice from your own healthcare providers for individualized recommendations.