What is a Doula?
(adapted from DONA)
"If a Doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it." - Dr. John Kennell
A doula acts as an emotional and physical support figure for women and families throughout the childbearing year.
While midwives and obstetricians hold medical responsibilities during birth, a doula serves as a supportive friend, a listening ear and holds the space for you and your family to birth peacefully, with a sense of well being, no matter the setting. Sometimes known as a birth attendant or labor support, doulas can be present at hospital or home births. In the hospital setting, a doula can serve as your advocate or voice while you concentrate on your labor and stay connected to your baby, helping you access exactly what and how you need to birth. During a home birth, a doula will also support you to make choices that feel empowering, comfortable, and healthy for you and your baby.
Wherever and however you choose to birth, a doula will respond to your physical and emotional needs with skillful intuition, gentleness, and strength, reminding you that you can do this!
Doulas have been present at birth since ancient times in the form of sisters, aunties, mothers, grandmothers, and friends supporting pregnancy and birth. The modern culture within which we birth necessitates a revival of this role because our families and extended networks have been fragmented geographically and socially. Many families moving to Kaua’i from the mainland may also benefit from extra support and help as their home community is an ocean away.
Doulas generally begin working with families sometime in the first trimester and support a family throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. However, you are welcome to call upon the support of a doula at any point, even after birth.
Doulas are people who are called to show up in support of the community. They offer this service as an expression of their love for humanity and the significant personal and collective transformation that birth brings.
Doulas also function as community resources and educators. The information they have is not limited to childbearing but includes the broad spectrum of women’s health; nutritional and herbal recommendations, healing, bodywork, fertility and conscious conception, sexuality, spiritual dimensions of birth, and connecting with wise women traditions.
Feel comfortable asking your doula about what is on your mind. She will respond without judgement and help you clarify your thoughts about the wide range of concerns that may come up during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
While midwives and obstetricians hold medical responsibilities during birth, a doula serves as a supportive friend, a listening ear and holds the space for you and your family to birth peacefully, with a sense of well being, no matter the setting. Sometimes known as a birth attendant or labor support, doulas can be present at hospital or home births. In the hospital setting, a doula can serve as your advocate or voice while you concentrate on your labor and stay connected to your baby, helping you access exactly what and how you need to birth. During a home birth, a doula will also support you to make choices that feel empowering, comfortable, and healthy for you and your baby.
Wherever and however you choose to birth, a doula will respond to your physical and emotional needs with skillful intuition, gentleness, and strength, reminding you that you can do this!
Doulas have been present at birth since ancient times in the form of sisters, aunties, mothers, grandmothers, and friends supporting pregnancy and birth. The modern culture within which we birth necessitates a revival of this role because our families and extended networks have been fragmented geographically and socially. Many families moving to Kaua’i from the mainland may also benefit from extra support and help as their home community is an ocean away.
Doulas generally begin working with families sometime in the first trimester and support a family throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. However, you are welcome to call upon the support of a doula at any point, even after birth.
Doulas are people who are called to show up in support of the community. They offer this service as an expression of their love for humanity and the significant personal and collective transformation that birth brings.
Doulas also function as community resources and educators. The information they have is not limited to childbearing but includes the broad spectrum of women’s health; nutritional and herbal recommendations, healing, bodywork, fertility and conscious conception, sexuality, spiritual dimensions of birth, and connecting with wise women traditions.
Feel comfortable asking your doula about what is on your mind. She will respond without judgement and help you clarify your thoughts about the wide range of concerns that may come up during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
How Are Doulas Helpful?
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth:
A birth doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials CD(DONA).
- Results 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.
- Reduces the requests for pain medication and epidurals, as well as the incidence of cesarean sections.
- Women report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, and have less postpartum depression and increased self-confidence.
- Studies have shown that babies born with doulas present tend to have shorter hospital stays with fewer admissions to special care nurseries, breastfeed more easily and have more affectionate mothers in the postpartum period.
A birth doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials CD(DONA).
