The Role of a Doula
A birth doula, or birthworker, provides physical, emotional, and educational support before, during, and after childbirth. The support is continuous – doulas don’t change shifts like a labor nurse does.
A birth doula does not act in a medical capacity — you have your doctor or midwife will diagnose, advise, and treat you.
A doula is usually different from your partner, parent, or sibling because they have a deep level knowledge and experience, and are trained at setting their own feelings, needs, and biases aside.
A doula supports the birthing person and their partner in speaking up for themselves, and steps in as advocate when need arises.
What Does That Look Like in Action?
While your doctor or midwife will diagnose, advise, and treat you, I might be talking you through your birth options while you’re pregnant, helping you try something new on the birth ball while your in labor, teaming up with your partner hold your foot when you’re pushing, or giving you a neck massage while you feed your baby in postpartum. Every birth, family, and birthworker is different.
Evidence on Doulas
The evidence on the efficacy of birth doulas is robust. Experts agree that continuous labor support is makes a difference to birthing people. The presence of a doula lowers the likelihood of a Cesarean birth, lowers the use of pain medication, and is linked to improvements in the newborn Apgar score. Most importantly, the presence of doulas leaves the birthing person feeling more positively about their birth, whatever the outcome.
For more information on the evidence on doulas, please check out:
- Evidence Based Birth’s signature article on doulas which includes questions to ask when interviewing a doula.
- Or the TLDR one-sheet that summarizes EBB’s long form work.
- You can also listen to the EBB podcast on the topic!
Different Types of Doulas
A postpartum doula provides evidence based information and physical support for new parents in the early months after birth. They may assist with feeding, basic newborn care, and light house keeping.
An abortion doula supports people before, during, and after abortion with accurate information, a compassionate presence, and practical support like childcare, transportation, or meal planning.
A bereavement and loss doula holds space for a family who is experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. They may support a family during the initial loss and/or support the family through subsequent or ‘rainbow’ pregnancies and births.
A transition doula supports trans people through the ins and outs of change. The services range widely from hormone shot education to presence before and after surgery.
A death doula works with people throughout their end of life. They may be helping the whole family, or working directly with the dying person. Their role is make it easier to talk about, process, and prepare for a meaningful death.
