Why would someone choose to have a Doula?
People choose to have a Doula, because they want personalised, compassionate and continuous support throughout one of life's most intense and transformative experiences.
What is the point of having a Doula?
A doula can provide emotional, physical and practical support to families throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum. A doula provides continuity of care, providing familiarity and consistency to the family. Doula UK say that a doula is there to listen, give confidence and not judge. They offer flexible practical and emotional support in homes as well as in hospitals. "Research shows that women value and benefit from the presence of a support person during labour and childbirth. This support may include emotional support, continuous presence, reassurance, praise and information about labour progress. It may also include advice about coping techniques, comfort measures and speaking up when needed on behalf of the woman. Lack of continuous support during childbirth has led to concerns that the experience of labour and birth may have become dehumanised. Modern obstetric care frequently means women are required to experience institutional routines. These may have adverse effects on the quality, outcomes and experience of care during labour and childbirth. Supportive care during labour may enhance physiological labour processes, as well as women's feelings of control and confidence in their own strength and ability to give birth. This may reduce the need for obstetric intervention and also improve women's experiences." (The Cochrane Collaboration, 2022).
Evidence from Childbirth International, suggests that by having a Doula and having continuous support, this can reduce:
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The risk of a caesarean birth by 51%
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The risk of an instrumental birth by 57%
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The risk of the need for painkillers or epidurals during birth by 36%
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The rate of induction of labour by 71%.
Doula UK suggests that the use of doula's can also:
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Shorten labour
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Increase the parental satisfaction with the birth experience
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Lower the incidence of depression symptoms
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Increase the likelihood of initiating breastfeeding
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Increase the likelihood of successfully established breastfeeding
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Increase the rate in which women are still breastfeeding at 6 weeks post birth
"We decided to have a Doula, because I was very nervous about pregnancy, birth and also the transition to motherhood and I wanted a bit of extra support. We had a bit of up and down support from our midwife and I wanted someone on hand, that I could trust throughout the process. Julia was a wonderful support".
Victoria - Harrogate Mummy
What Does The Word Doula mean?
The word Doula is derived from a Greek word that originally meant a ‘helper’ or ‘caregiver’. Since time began, expectant parents have been supported through pregnancy, labour and birth. Up until the 19th century, traditional midwives provided this support. They may not have had training or formal medical knowledge, but had their skills passed down through the generations. Their role was to offer support, encouragement and reassurance to the pregnant parent, tie off the umbilical cord after the birth, ensure the placenta was safely delivered and they'd care for the new family.
What Does A Doula Do?
Today, doulas provide support, encouragement, reassurance and care for the new family. Doulas provide support to women and families in all kinds of situations, who have different kinds of births and who make a wide range of parenting choices. The services offered by a doula vary greatly according to the needs of the woman, couple or family that they are working with.
Doula's do not take a clinical role and work alongside midwives and doctors. They do not advise, but can support a woman to find balanced information, to make informed decisions about her maternity care.
What Is The A Difference Between A Doula And A Midwife?
A Doula and a midwife offer different types of support, but their support can also overlap in some aspects. A Doula will offer emotional support, physical support, continuous support and informational support. A midwife provides clinical care for mother and baby, ensuring the safety of both. Unless you hire a private midwife or an independent midwife, you are unlikely to receive continuity of care from your midwife. This is often when a Doula can be particularly valuable. It has been proven that having continuity of care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum can improve the outcome for Mum and baby. A Doula's role can really make a huge difference to a family, whether they choose to receive care from a NHS midwife or from a private independent midwife.
"Julia was kind, personable and helpful to me and my baby. There were some days where I wouldn't have been able to cope very well had she have not been here, to offer me some relief for a few hours,"
Sharah- Leeds
"Birth is not only about making babies. It's about making mothers - strong, competent, capable mothers, who trust themselves and know their inner strength."
-Barbara Katz Rothman
Want to know more about the role of a Doula?
To learn more about what a doula is and what a doula does, check out Doula UK or read about "why hire a doula".
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I cannot guarantee that your birth will go as planned, but having a Doula makes it more likely that you will have a positive birth experience.
As a doula, my goal is to give you and your family the attention and knowledge that you need to make informed decisions about your pregnancy and labour. To help you to navigate the birth and labour process and give you the TLC that you need after having your baby. After all, mothers need just as much attention as a newborn, because they too have just been born.
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