top of page

So what is the role of a Doula?
Doulas “mother the mother”
-
Provides emotional support to mother and her partner
-
Aids in comfort measures: breathing, relaxation, movement, positioning, massage
-
Continuously reassures and comforts the mother (the key word is continuous—a doula rarely leaves the mother’s side)
-
Helps a mother become informed about various birth choices
-
Advocates for the mother and helps facilitate communication between the mother and care provider
-
Can take photos of labor and birth if requested
-
Doula's respect your vision and decisions you make regarding your birth choices
What doulas do NOT do:
-
Doulas are NOT medical professionals
-
They do not perform clinical tasks such as vaginal exams or fetal heart monitoring
-
They do not give medical advice or diagnose conditions
-
They do not judge you for decisions that you make
-
They do not let their personal values or biases get in the way of caring for you
-
They do not take over the role of your husband or partner, but rather support their ability to better support you
-
They do not deliver the baby
You can read more about what doulas do and do not do in the DONA International’s standard of practice for birth doulas

"If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it."
~John H. Kennell, MD
bottom of page