What is a doula? | doulacyprus

What does word doula mean?

The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.

What is a birth doula?

A birth doula is a professional labor assistant who provides physical and emotional support to a woman and her partner during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

For instance, a doula might offer:

Suggestions on pain relief techniques, such as breathing, labor positioning and massage
Emotional reassurance, comfort and encouragement through empowering words
Information about what's happening during labor, procedures that are suggested and on the postpartum period
Assistance with breast-feeding
Guidance and support for the partner during labor and birth as well as during the challenging postpartum period.

Doula attention is solely focused on the laboring mother. Doula is not a part of a hospital staff, therfore she does not have any other women to take care of, reports to fill out or any other tasks that could keep her away from her client.

How will a doula work with my partner?

Many partners, and mothers-to-be as well, are concerned that a doula will exlude the partner from sharing in the birth. When you talk to parents who have had a doula present for their birth, the oposite usually turns out to be the case. A doula knows that the birth is the parents' expirience, not hers.

You can find more usuful information on how doulas work with partners here

What are the benefits of having a doula present during childbirth?

The research has shown that having a doula at your birth can make a real diference to the outcome.

Labors tend to shorter and with fewer interventions, and the oxytocin-labor inducing drug is used less often.

The request of pain medication and epidurals is delayed and reduced. Births attended by doulas have significanlty lower rates of emergency Cesarean Section and the overall satisfaction from the childbirth expirience is noticably higher.

Doulas have the knowledge, and often personal experience as well, with breastfeeding, and the percentage of mothers breasfeeding beyond 6 weeks is higher among mothers, who recieved doula support during birth and first days of postpartum period.