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Doula FAQ's
Questions
Answers
What is a doula? "Doula" is Greek meaning: "woman's helper" or "servant". A doula is a non-medical birth professional. Doulas provide non-medical emotional, physical, and informational support in addition to your doctor or midwife. They are found in hospitals, birthing centers, and homebirths. They work in co-operation with the doctor or midwife, nurses, and the birthing woman's family and friends. Doulas do not do physical exams or monitor vitals. Doulas do not give medical advice. A doula does provide support, suggestions, and a comforting presence to the family during the birth of their baby. They also provide education in the prenatal period, during labor and birth, and during the post-partum period.
Doulas arm a couple with information about standard obstetric care, optional procedures, and are available to answer questions as they come up during labor so that you may make informed decisions as a family.
A doula is a health care professional who understands the natural process of birth, helping the parents to understand this process, and works with them during labor and delivery to create the most positive, healthy and natural experience possible for the family.
She provides non-medical continuity of care for birthing women and their partners, and eases the transition from home to hospital or birth center. She facilitates, offers words of encouragement, supports and educates the couple, before, during and after birth.
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What are the benefits of using a doula? Studies have shown the following benefits of having a doula present at birth:
- 50% reduction in c-section rates
- 25% shorter labor
- 60% reduction in epidural requests
- 40% reduction in pitocin use
- 30% reduction in analgesia use
- 40% reduction in forceps or vacuum deliveries
Women who have used a doula are more satisfied with their birth experience, feel more confident in their ability to mother, bond faster with their newborn, are less likely to have post-partum depression, and are more likely to breastfeed.
-Klaus, Kennel, and Klaus 2001
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What services does a birth doula provide? Birth doula services include:
- Nutritional counseling during pregnancy
- Availability 24/7 before and during labor to answer any questions or concerns
- Exercise and physical suggestions to make pregnancy more comfortable
- Assistance in finding information and resources to help the woman make an informed decision about her birth
- An objective, non-judgmental viewpoint of your decisions
- Explanations of medical language and procedures
- Help with preparation of a birth plan
- Facilitation of communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and her care providers
- Continuous physical and emotional support throughout the entire labor and birth
- An understanding of the physiology of birth
- Massage and other non-pharmacological pain relief measures
- Suggestions on position changes during labor and birth
- Support for the woman's partner so that he or she can love and encourage the laboring woman
- Helping the woman avoid unnecessary interventions by educating her about her options, and encouraging her to communicate with her caregivers
- Help with the initial breastfeeding experience
- Photos of the birth and/or the new family immediately postpartum
- Recognition of birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember forever.
See a list of BeShaahTovah doula services.
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Does a doula interfere with the father's role in the birth? Won't he feel left out? The doula helps the father/woman's partner feel comfortable and confident by making sure his needs are met (food, drink, rest, and reassurance). The doula encourages the father to participate at his own comfort level. She also shows him what he can do to help. This helps the woman and her partner work more closely together. Some partners prefer to be present to witness the birth of their child and to share this experience with the woman they love, but they may not want to be solely responsible for the woman's comfort and emotional security. The doula can fill in and allow the partner to participate as he wishes, without leaving the woman's needs unmet. When the partner chooses to be the major source of emotional support, the doula can supplement his or her efforts by running errands, making suggestions for comfort measures, and offering words of reassurance and comfort. During a long, tiring labor, she can give the partner a break for a brief rest or change of scene. While the doula probably knows more than the partner about birth, hospitals, and maternity care, the partner knows more about the woman's personality, likes and dislikes, and needs. Moreover, he loves the woman more than anyone else there. The combined contributions of both partner and doula, along with a competent, considerate, and caring staff give the woman the best chance of achieving the birth they desire. Many doula clients have told me a doula is the best childbirth gift any husband could provide for his wife!
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How does a doula interact with hospital staff? Won't my nurse fill this role? Our doulas are specially trained in effective communication skills, and are known in the local health care community as wonderful assets to the labor team. We are welcomed into all local birth locations, and will attend births with any provider you have chosen for your family. We strive to enhance communication between the expecting family and their care provider prenatally, and will gladly accompany your family to a prenatal appointment to discuss all of our roles at the birth.
Labor and Delivery nurses may not be able to provide the constant support you desire during labor. Nurses are usually providing care and treatment for many patients at a time, and are also responsible for a tremendous amount of paperwork. This limits the time spent with each individual patient. The nurse's main responsibility is to monitor the progress of the laboring woman and give that information to the care provider. A doula will provide you with continuous support throughout your entire labor, not affected by shift changes, and help for some time after the birth as you and your partner are getting to know your new family.
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Do I need a doula if I'm planning a homebirth and/or am using a midwife? There are never too many extra hands at a birth. So even with a supportive midwife, you may still benefit from a doula's services. Some midwives provide longer care and support of the birthing woman. Ask your midwife how she feels about doulas.
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What if I am planning on using medication or I have a scheduled cesarean? The role of the doula here is to give information to the woman and/or couple to help them make the most informed decisions about the choices they have control over. A doula should always respect the choices that the woman and/couple have chosen. If planning a medicated birth, the doula is an asset to the birthing team by helping the woman labor comfortably until the medication can be given, by providing emotional support and reassurance, and by helping to avoid unnecessary interventions. The doula is also an asset when the woman is unable to receive medication to achieve a comfortable and enjoyable natural birth experience by offering support and acting as an advocate.
If you are planning a c-section and or have an emergency c-section, the doula can provide support and also remind the staff of your plans for a family-centered cesarean birth, including:
- Having your partner with you (some facilities will allow you to have more than one person).
- Watching the birth with the use of a mirror, if you wish.
- Playing music.
- Having the baby brought to you immediately.
- Having one of your hands freed to touch the baby.
- Letting your partner carry the baby to the warmer.
- Asking if your partner can cut the cord.
- Taking pictures and video.
- Asking to have more than one person in Recovery with you.
- Nursing the baby in the recovery room if you are breastfeeding.
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Will a doula push her idea of a perfect birth on me? A doula will help you construct your personalized birth preference plan, and will provide you with ample imformation and resources so you can make informed choices for your family. She may suggest alternatives for the couple to consider. She does not, however, make decisions for the couple or force her idea of a perfect birth on the woman and/or couple. Her job is to help make the woman's idea of the perfect birth come to pass.
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Why should I hire a doula? Key benefits to using a doula can be found in "What are the benefits of using a doula?" above. In addition to the statistical evidence, you may be interested in hearing from other parents who have used a doula. Ask around, or ask your doula for references. Past doula clients are our best advertisements!
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How much does a doula cost? In the metropolitan areas in the Northeastern USA, doula fees range from $300 - $1200 depending on the services provided, and the affluence of the area they practice in. The average price of a doula in the Baltimore/DC area is $600 BeShaahTovah is proud to offer quality services to our clientele at a discounted rate while we complete certification requirements. We currently charge $360 for our full labor support package. More information on what is included in your package can be found on our services page.
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Does medical insurance cover doula services? Most insurance companies do not cover the cost of doulas as of yet. However, studies are being done in hopes of changing this. The presence of a doula does save individuals and the nation money. According to Klaus and Kennell, births attended by doulas could mean a $3500 savings for individual families and therefore reflect a $2 billion annual reduction in national medical care costs. If finances are an issue for you, ask the doula if she offers payment plans or can recommend a volunteer doula for you.
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Will it be weird to have a stranger at such a private moment as birth? A doula will be no stranger by the time of the birth! She will meet with you and your partner late in pregnancy to discuss your birth plan and goals. She will be familiar with your medical history and will know what issues are important to you. She will likely be less of a stranger to you than your doctor or midwife and the many nurses that you may see.
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Will a doula's presence invade our privacy during the birth? Can we ask her to leave for a few moments without offending her? A doula should not take offense to this request. The role of the doula is to offer complete support to both woman and/or couple. If your wish is to have the doula leave for a moment, it is a duty of a doula to support you by leaving the room.
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What training does a doula receive? What certification is available? Doula training is available through DONA (Doulas of North America), CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association), ICEA, ALACE, Birthworks, and Childbirth International, among others. These are the largest organizations.
Visit the Childbirth International website for details on their certification requirements.
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