What is a Doula?

"Doula" is a Greek word that means literally "a woman who serves".

A doula is a woman who is trained in helping other women through childbirth. They are there to be the emotional support for both mom and dad. Typically they spend more time with you than your doctor or midwife through your labor - especially if you are in a hospital.

For a hospital birth, they would help you through early labor, help advocate on your behalf with nurses at the hospital, and help you cope with labor pain. Most doulas are involved to help you through a drug-free childbirth, and their success rates are quite impressive! From http://www.dona.org:

"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 and cesareans
• reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals"

All of these things are true for a home birth, though typically the midwife is on the same page as you, so the advocating part isn't needed as much. In addition to all the things listed above, they help you get ready and set up, get you food and drink if you need it, support your spouse in supporting you, give you encouragement, and helps clean up after birth.

They are basically there to meet your emotional and physical needs and comfort, while the midwife's primary responsibility is to care for your health. I love the idea that a doula will support T.J. as well. I think it'll be well worth it.