Doulas support both the mother and her partner. By supporting the family, she reduces partner stress allowing them to become involved in at birth to the extent they feel comfortable and act with confidence. The partner’s role is one of loving support. The doula complements the birth by supporting the partner in a way that has them be more supportive and comfortable at the same time. The doula can then provide the expertise and guidance at birth while the partner’s primary role is comfort, support and decision making. The doula becomes the partner’s anchor, supporting them in the areas they are not familiar with such as the instinctive birth behaviors that a doula would know are normal processes in birth. The doula assists the partner’s with comfort techniques, understanding medical jargon and choices they have. Also the doula supports the partner in taking care of their own personal needs.

Your healthcare provider and nurses are responsible for the birth outcome. Their primary job is monitoring labor, assessing the medical condition of the MotherBaby dyad, and treating complications if and when they arise. Childbirth is an emotional experience with a long-term impact on a woman’s personal well-being. A doula’s primary role is to help the family’s journey through birth. She is constantly aware that the mother and her partner will remember this experience throughout their lives so the doula supports the parents in having a positive and memorable birth experience. An experienced doula has a sophisticated mix of counseling skills. She can translate medical terms for the family, assist in provider communication, teach physical support strategies and explain pain coping techniques. She is an expert in positioning for fetal alignment, and solely focuses on the client’s individual needs and desires. As your doula is privately hired, she can be autonomous and support you as desired with out having to follow birth place guidelines for care.

Studies show all women should be able to have the support of a doula.

Studies show that the continuous presence of a doula results in:

• Reduced labor times
• Reduced need for pain medication and augmentation of labor
• Improved outcomes for the Mother and Baby
• Increased satisfaction with their labor and birth experience (for both mother and partner)
• Increased likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth, preventing cesareans

In addition, long-term benefits of labor support include:

• Improved breastfeeding
• Improved health of baby leading to shorter stays and fewer NICU admissions
• Decreased postpartum depression
• Greater maternal satisfaction
• Better mother-infant interaction