If you’re expecting a baby, you’ve likely heard the word doula come up. You probably already know it’s a person that you can hire to support you on the day of the birth. But you likely have some questions about what a doula really does and how they help you during your birth.
Birth is an experience that is not just the physical act of getting the baby out; it’s also a deeply emotional experience. While the clinical care provided by your doctor or midwife focuses on the medical aspects of birth, working with a doula ensures that your physical and emotional needs are also being met. Doulas can also help with advocacy, meaning she will help you retain your autonomy and voice in the birth process when you are vulnerable, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Doula care has been shown to contribute to mothers feeling more positively about their birth experience, reporting less trauma, lowering unnecessary or unwanted interventions, and improving Apgar scores for babies.
All in all – having a doula keeps you at the center of the experience. A doula’s role is to focus on you, your family, your comfort, your emotions, and your birth experience.
What actually is a Doula?
I like to think of a doula as a guide that can help you navigate all aspects of the birth experience. Doulas do not provide medical care like your doctor, midwife, or nurse will do during labor. Instead, a doula is a trained birth professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support throughout pregnancy, labor, and the early postpartum period.
A doula makes sure that you are fully informed of your options before and during the birth process. A doula can help you address fears and help you make decisions if and when needed. Finally, doula support can help you stay calm, coping well, and “in the zone” during labor. Unlike the medical team that is “in and out” of the birth room during labor, a doula provides what’s called “continuous support” meaning they are with you the whole time – a concept that has been proven to improve outcomes for both moms and babies.
While your medical team monitors your and your baby’s health, your doula ensures you feel cared for, confident, and in control of your experience.
The Different Types of Doulas
Most people think of doulas as a professional that only helps during labor, but there is more than one kind of doula, and each offers support in a unique way:
- Birth Doula: Supports you during pregnancy and labor with education, comfort techniques, and continuous emotional care.
- Postpartum Doula: Helps you adjust to life with your new baby by offering emotional and practical support with things like recovery suggestions, meal preparation, newborn care, birth processing, and checking in on your emotional well-being.
- Full-Spectrum Doula: Offers guidance throughout your reproductive journey, from conception to postpartum and beyond. Full-spectrum doulas can offer support in the role of a “birth” or “postpartum” doula as well.
What a Birth Doula does before, during, and after labor
While some doulas may only provide support on the day of, the beauty of working with a doula is that you build a relationship with them before the big day. They can also provide suggestions for how you can prepare for labor, to help your birth go as smoothly and easily as possible.
Before the birth
A doula helps you prepare for birth through:
- Birth planning – defining your birth preferences and creating plans for how you’d like to navigate different scenarios should they arise
- Addressing any fears you have
- Childbirth education classes if this is in their skill set
- Relaxation and breathing exercises
- Guidance for you and your partner on what to expect
- Providing evidence-based information about medical interventions that may be offered or become necessary
During Labor
When you need support, your doula will join you in labor to provide a continuous, calming presence when you need it most. They:
- Offer physical comfort through massage, movement, and position changes
- Encourage you through contractions with reassurance and steady support
- Help your partner feel confident and involved
- Advocate for your preferences and help you communicate clearly with your care team
After birth
The support doesn’t stop once your baby arrives. A doula helps you:
- Transition into postpartum life with more confidence
- Establish early bonding and breastfeeding
- Debrief your birth experience with compassion and understanding
How a Doula Supports Your Partner Too
Many partners worry that a doula will take their place in the birth room, but in reality, a doula is there to support and include partners as well.
A doula helps partners feel more included and empowered by:
- Offering suggestions for comfort techniques they can provide
- Giving reassurance and encouragement during labor about the signs of labor progress which can sometimes concern partners, especially when the mom is in pain or contractions are intensifying
- Helping them understand what’s happening and answering any questions
When everyone feels supported and calm, the entire birth experience becomes more connected and positive.
Why hire a Doula?
Research shows that having a doula present during birth can lead to improved outcomes such as:
- Shorter labors
- Fewer medical interventions
- Lower rates of cesarean births
- More positive birth experiences
In addition, a doula helps elevate your voice in the birth room. The hospital environment can be overwhelming and intimidating, and for efficiency and liability reasons, there are routines and protocols in place. As such, it can be harder to get individualized care or care that is aligned with your goals and values. You may be worried about walking into the hospital and being offered interventions that are not truly necessary, and the potential downsides of routine interventions in labor. You may also feel unsure of how to know if/when to say yes to these interventions or not, since you’ve never done this before.
Having a doula on your team means that it will be easier to speak up for yourself and ask questions to get the information you need to make the decision that is right for you, because she has your back.
When you have a doula, you’ll receive care that not only addresses the baseline physical goal of “healthy mom, healthy baby”, but also makes sure you have an experience that is empowering and positive on your terms
Is a Doula Right for You?
If you want to feel more confident in your birth choices, more supported emotionally, and better prepared for whatever happens, a doula may be exactly what you need.
Birth is not just a medical event; it’s a transformative life experience. Our doula support at Birth Positive helps expecting families feel grounded, empowered, and deeply cared for every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do doulas only support natural or unmedicated births?
Nope! Generally speaking, doulas support every kind of birth plan – whether that is unmedicated, epidural, cesarean, hospital, home, or birthing center. However, each doula has her own strengths and biases. The truth is that birth plans can change, so looking for a doula that will be able to provide non-judgmental support no matter what is important to look for. At Birth Positive, we align with clients who value birth as an important life event, who want to make informed decisions, and who understand the importance of honoring the physiological birth process as much as possible.
2. Are doulas covered by insurance?
It depends. Some insurance plans and health savings accounts (HSAs) do cover doula services. Insurance coverage is something that is evolving all the time, so it is worth checking with your insurer to see what coverage you have. Our services are not in-network with any insurance plans, but some clients have had insurance that reimburses them for all or part of doula support – so it’s worth asking!
3. How is a doula different from a midwife?
A midwife provides medical care during pregnancy and birth. Their scope of practice is very similar to that of an OBGYN with the exception of surgery (c-sections). A doula on the other hand provides emotional, informational, and physical support, but does not perform any medical tasks. For example, we won’t take your blood pressure, provide cervical exams, administer medication, etc.
4. Is it awkward to have an extra person at the birth?
This is a really common concern amongst families considering hiring a doula. If you are thinking of birth as a private, family-centered event it can feel odd to picture a stranger sharing that experience with you.
The reality is that there will be quite a few new people you’ll encounter during your labor and birth experience. You will have never met your nurse before. There will be OB residents, anesthesiologists, and possible other medical staff that are brand new to you. Depending on your OB’s on call schedule, you may not even be familiar with the OB that attends the birth itself!
However, your doula is someone that you’ve built a relationship with prenatally. She is someone that works 100% for you – not for the hospital – and purely has your best interests and preferences in mind. While it may be weird to think about someone you “don’t know” sharing the private moment of the birth of your baby, more often than not, the feelings of safety created by having a doula present outweigh any awkwardness you may be worried about. Lastly – you should of course only hire someone you feel comfortable with, and someone who can respect your privacy and step out of the room if/when that is something you want during the birth.
Ready to feel more confident and supported through your pregnancy, birth, and beyond?
Your birth experience matters, and you deserve to feel empowered every step of the way.
Birth Positive is here to guide and support you in your birth experience where you feel empowered, autonomous, and in control.
Learn more about our Doula Support services: https://bebirthpositive.com/doula-support/