F A Q
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Birth Doulas
1. What is a birth doula?
2. Where does the word "doula" come from?
3. What effects does the presence of a doula have on birth outcomes?
4. What effects does the presence of a doula have on the mother?
5. What effects do the presence of doulas have on babies?
6. How can I find a doula in my area?
7. How do doulas practice?
8. Does a doula replace nursing staff?
9. Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?
10. Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary?
ANSWERS
1. What is a birth doula?
A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who
provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to
the mother before, during and just after childbirth.
2. Where does the word “doula” come from?
The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek, meaning “Woman’s
servant.” Throughout history and in much of the world today, a cadre
of women support a woman through labor and birth, giving back rubs
and providing continuous emotional support. Like their historical
counterparts, birth doulas know how to help a woman in labor feel
better. However, today’s doulas are much more diverse than their
predecessors. DONA International membership includes men and
women from a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds.
3. What effects does the presence of a doula have on birth outcomes?
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:
• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or
vacuum extraction
• reduces the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as the
incidence of cesareans
4. What effects does the presence of a doula have on the mother?
When a doula is present during and after childbirth, women report
greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive
assessments of their babies, have fewer cesareans and requests for
medical intervention, and less postpartum depression.
5. What effects do the presence of doulas have on babies?
Studies have shown that babies born with doulas present tend to have
shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries,
breast feed more easily and have more affectionate mothers in the
postpartum period.
6. How can I find a doula in my area?
Use DONA International’s online doula locator.
7. How do doulas practice?
Doulas are hired directly by clients, and as volunteers in community or
through hospital programs.
8. Does a doula replace nursing staff?
No. Doulas do not replace nurses or other medical staff. Doulas do not
perform clinical or medical tasks such as taking blood pressure or
temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or
providing postpartum clinical care. They are there to comfort and
support the mother and to enhance communication between the
mother and medical professionals.
9. Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?
A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical
care. She provides informational and emotional support, while
respecting a woman’s decisions.
10. Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary?
No, a doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and
plays a crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to
the extent he/she feels comfortable.
From http://www.dona.org/mothers/faqs_birth.php
1. What is a birth doula?
2. Where does the word "doula" come from?
3. What effects does the presence of a doula have on birth outcomes?
4. What effects does the presence of a doula have on the mother?
5. What effects do the presence of doulas have on babies?
6. How can I find a doula in my area?
7. How do doulas practice?
8. Does a doula replace nursing staff?
9. Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?
10. Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary?
ANSWERS
1. What is a birth doula?
A birth doula is a person trained and experienced in childbirth who
provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to
the mother before, during and just after childbirth.
2. Where does the word “doula” come from?
The word “doula” comes from ancient Greek, meaning “Woman’s
servant.” Throughout history and in much of the world today, a cadre
of women support a woman through labor and birth, giving back rubs
and providing continuous emotional support. Like their historical
counterparts, birth doulas know how to help a woman in labor feel
better. However, today’s doulas are much more diverse than their
predecessors. DONA International membership includes men and
women from a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds.
3. What effects does the presence of a doula have on birth outcomes?
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:
• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or
vacuum extraction
• reduces the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as the
incidence of cesareans
4. What effects does the presence of a doula have on the mother?
When a doula is present during and after childbirth, women report
greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive
assessments of their babies, have fewer cesareans and requests for
medical intervention, and less postpartum depression.
5. What effects do the presence of doulas have on babies?
Studies have shown that babies born with doulas present tend to have
shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries,
breast feed more easily and have more affectionate mothers in the
postpartum period.
6. How can I find a doula in my area?
Use DONA International’s online doula locator.
7. How do doulas practice?
Doulas are hired directly by clients, and as volunteers in community or
through hospital programs.
8. Does a doula replace nursing staff?
No. Doulas do not replace nurses or other medical staff. Doulas do not
perform clinical or medical tasks such as taking blood pressure or
temperature, monitoring fetal heart rate, doing vaginal examinations or
providing postpartum clinical care. They are there to comfort and
support the mother and to enhance communication between the
mother and medical professionals.
9. Does a doula make decisions on my behalf?
A doula does not make decisions for clients or intervene in their clinical
care. She provides informational and emotional support, while
respecting a woman’s decisions.
10. Will a doula make my partner feel unnecessary?
No, a doula is supportive to both the mother and her partner, and
plays a crucial role in helping a partner become involved in the birth to
the extent he/she feels comfortable.
From http://www.dona.org/mothers/faqs_birth.php
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Your needs will be
my single focus while
you labor and give
birth. You can have
what you need, when
you need it, and you
should not feel guilty
about asking. The
inclusion of family
members, especially
a woman’s partner,
will have a
tremendously
positive impact on
the birth experience.
I believe in
supporting your
partner, while they
support you, and not
taking over their
position. Their
support may be as
simple as looking
you in the eye or
holding your hand. I
will work with you
and your partner at
whatever level of
involvement they
want to provide.
There is a special
bond between mom
and those she
chooses to have
with her during her
labor and the birth of
her child. I will
respect your
relationships and do
what I can to help
have those involved
have a memorable
experience.
my single focus while
you labor and give
birth. You can have
what you need, when
you need it, and you
should not feel guilty
about asking. The
inclusion of family
members, especially
a woman’s partner,
will have a
tremendously
positive impact on
the birth experience.
I believe in
supporting your
partner, while they
support you, and not
taking over their
position. Their
support may be as
simple as looking
you in the eye or
holding your hand. I
will work with you
and your partner at
whatever level of
involvement they
want to provide.
There is a special
bond between mom
and those she
chooses to have
with her during her
labor and the birth of
her child. I will
respect your
relationships and do
what I can to help
have those involved
have a memorable
experience.