Feature Friday: What Is A Doula? | Northern Roots Doula
Hi, I'm Clara! I’m a stay at home wife & mom, and most recently, I became a doula!
During my pregnancy with my oldest I got sucked into the “birth world”. I read every book and blog I could find, I listened to podcasts, watched youtube videos, the list goes on. If it had anything to do with pregnancy or birth, I absorbed it. Somewhere along the way I heard about women who devote their careers to supporting families through pregnancy, labor, and birth, and instantly a seed was planted. That seed grew, and kept growing until finally, after the birth of my second child, I decided to dive in and become a doula. I enrolled in one of the best doula certification programs, and emerged on the other side with my very own business, Northern Roots Doula!
Today, I'm still eagerly learning about the ins and outs of early parenthood and the best part is, I get to support other families as they learn and grow too! Being a doula and supporting families through pregnancy, labor, birth, and beyond, is my passion.
Keep reading to learn more about what a doula’s role looks like.
What is a doula?
A doula - pronounced ‘doo-la’ - is a trained professional who is hired by a family to support them and to help them achieve their birth and pregnancy goals. A doula acts as a pregnancy, birth, and postpartum coach, assisting families through the ‘rollercoaster ride’ of bringing a baby into the world.
Doulas are trained professionals, but they are not licensed medical care providers. They work alongside doctors, midwives, and nurses, NOT in place of them. Doulas don't perform medical tasks such as fetal heart monitoring, blood pressure reading, cervical exams, catching babies, or anything of a medical nature, and they cannot make clinical diagnosis or recommendations. Doulas can, however, offer continuous labor support oftentimes at their client’s home BEFORE the hospital or midwife is even called. They join their clients during labor and will remain with them throughout the entire experience, unlike other medical providers who may have shift changes or other patients to care for.
What do Doulas do?
A doula is defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary as “a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth.”
A few examples of a doula’s support are:
Informational support:
Offering current, evidence based, information throughout the childbearing year.
Promoting local resources and connections
Suggesting labor techniques
Helping explain medical terms and procedures
Emotional support:
Listening to and validating their client’s feelings
Offering encouragement
Offering a calm and positive mood in the labor room
Physical support:
Comfort measures such as massage, counter pressure, and comfortable labor positions
Encouraging the mother and her birthing team to stay nourished and hydrated
Offering ‘Dad’ (or other support person) a break when needed
What are the Benefits of Doulas?
Families who experience continuous support from a doula have generally had more success adapting to new family dynamics, have greater breastfeeding success, enjoy greater self confidence, and are less likely to experience postpartum depression or anxiety.
Research has found that continual doula support during labor has also been linked to:
A shorter labor by an average of 2 hours
Increased likelihood of parental positive birthing experience by 66%
Decreased need for using drugs to speed labor by 31%
Reduced likelihood of needing a cesarean section by 28%
Reduced chance that baby will need to spend time in the NICU by 14%
(Statistics taken from Evidence Based Birth: The Evidence for Doulas )
Who benefits from a Doula’s Support?
Doulas offer assistance to families who desire unmedicated births, as well as those who plan to use epidurals and other forms of pain management. They support clients who go into labor spontaneously, as well as those who are induced. They support emergency as well as planned cesarean sections. They support hospital births, home births, and births at a birthing center. Doulas support first time parents, as well as veteran parents, single mothers, and structured family units. Doulas support moms, dads, babies, and the entire family. They are beneficial for any family who has goals for their pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum period.
Want to learn more about Northern Roots Doula?
Clara supports families located in Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Clara can support you, find her on Facebook and Instagram or email her at northernrootsdoula@gmail.com.
Thank you so much, Clara for sharing your wisdom and insight on what a Doula is and how it could benefit such a beautiful time in your life.