What Is A Doula?
A doula, or birth attendant, is a woman offering non-medical support and information to parents in pregnancy, childbirth and the post-natal period. She is a professional support companion trained and experienced in all aspects of the childbearing year. The doula will provide physical, emotional and informational support during your pregnancy, birth and post partum period to both mother and her partner. The doula is knowledgeable in comfort measures, relaxation breathing, positioning for labour and managing labour sensations using a variety of gentle yet effective techniques including hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, acupressure and massage. Research has even shown that the presence of a doula during labour improves the mothers reported experience of birth and decreases overall experience of pain and number of medical interventions used.
Doula comes from the Greek word that means “womans servant”. A doula is there in full support of the laboring mother and her birthing team. She is respectful, a strong listener, trusts the mothers instincts and does not impose her thoughts and beliefs into the mothers birth experience.
A doula does not perform any medical or clinical tasks or diagnose any medical conditions. They do not take the place of your midwife or doctor.
