What is a Doula?

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The first type of doula is the Labor Doula or most commonly referred to as a Birth Doula.

Birth doulas are trained and experienced labor support persons who attend to the emotional and physical comfort needs of laboring women to smooth the labor process. They do not, however, perform clinical tasks such as heart rate checks, or exams but rather use techniques such as massage, aromatherapy and positioning suggestions to help labor progress as well as possible. A birth doula joins a laboring woman either at her home, in the hospital or at a birth center and remains with her until a few hours after the birth. Most doulas also offer several prenatal visits, phone support, and postpartum meetings to ensure the mother is well informed and supported. The terms of a birth doula's responsibilities are decided between the doula and the family. Doula’s also work as advocates of their client’s wishes and may assist in communicating with medical staff to obtain information for the client to make informed decisions regarding medical procedures. It is also important to know that Doula’s do not take the place of a partner, doctor or midwife -- they just fill in the gaps, providing continuous support from early labor until after the birth.

The second type of doula is the Postpartum Doula.
Postpartum Doulas are trained professionals who provide non-medical in-home education and support. Doulas are guides for the postpartum family, providing immediate hands-on education, support and relief. Although this may include infant-care, doulas do not assume the role of primary care-giver for the newborn child but instead, care for the parents so that parents are able to care for their new child.
At least 1 in 10 new mothers experience various degrees of postpartum depression and it may occur within days of delivery or appear gradually up to a year after the birth.

To reduce chances of postpartum depression, Michelle Chrastil MA, CPD, states that a postpartum doula may provide a new mother with:

1. Assistance with breastfeeding education and offers tips and informational support.
2. Provide…In home support for the mother, baby and family, anywhere from a couple of days to several months.
3. Provide…support for the partner so that s/he can support and nurture the mother, and the newborn baby.
4. Provide…Evidence-based information with the partner that show how his or her role in the early weeks will have a dramatic positive effect on the family.
5. A postpartum doula may also offer help in the following areas: household care, help with child/sibling care, meal preparation, errand running and other tasks that may be requested.