What does a Doula do?
A Doula......
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Provides educational, physical and emotional support
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Supports the birth you want
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Listens to you
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Provides flexible tailored support throughout different scenarios
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Encourages communication with your medical caregivers
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Can be a huge support for your partner
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Helps you deal with the unexpected
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Helps you create your birth preference and postnatal support plan
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Helps you know your options to make your decisions
A Doula does NOT......
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Judge your choice, perspective or experience
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Push a personal agenda
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Give advice or tell you what choices to make
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Give medical advice or diagnosis
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Perform clinical tasks such as cervical examination, fetal heart monitoring or delivering a baby
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Manage the family’s birth experience
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Attempt to replace your partner or family member
What are the benefits of having a Doula?
There is evidence to show that having a doula can mean;
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Reduced risk of Caesarean birth
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Reduced risk of instrumental birth
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Reduced need for painkillers or epidural during birth
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Reduced rate of induction of labour
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Shorter labour
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Increased parental satisfaction with the birth experience
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Increased likelihood of initiating breastfeeding
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Increased likelihood of successfully establishing breastfeeding & breastfeeding at 6 weeks
Doula UK's website https://doula.org.uk/research/
