The word doula originates from ancient Greek meaning ‘woman’s servant’ or ‘slave’. The term was coined in the 1970s to describe an experienced woman who assisted the birthing mother after birth. Birth keeper is my preferred term. 

This concept however is far from new. Throughout history and across the world today women continue to support other women practically and emotionally through pregnancy and childbirth.

It is within the relatively recent medicalised history of childbirth that the need for a different type of care-giver has occurred; one that provides continuity of care, prioritises the mother’s emotional wellbeing throughout pregnancy, birth and postnatally; and trusts fully in a woman’s ability to birth her baby.

So while the term and ‘doula’ role have now become internationally recognised, the role of a doula is rooted in standard cultural practice throughout history.

Whether you have children already or if this is your first pregnancy, every woman and every birth is unique. So however birth and life with your newborn are unfolding, the most valuable thing a doula offers is continuous emotional support. This comes in the form of positive verbal affirmation, a continuous presence, and complete trust in your power and ability to birth, and mother, your child.

A birth doula:

• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labour
• Listens to you
• Assists in getting evidenced based information to help you explore and make decisions that serve you
• Provides access to a library of books and resources
• Explores with you your options and rights
• Supports your partner in supporting you
• Phone and email support
• Recognises birth as a sacred and natural life experience
• Helps you to communicate your preferences to health care professionals
• Advocates for the birthing mother for her right to make decisions about her own body and baby
• Can provide physical comfort measures
• Provides an objective viewpoint
• Continuous practical and emotional support throughout the entire labour process
• Takes care of any practical needs as they arise
• Makes sure you are kept warm and comfortable after the birth
• Offers breastfeeding support
• Provides absolute confidentiality

Within maternity care the awareness and recognition of continuous one-on-one support for women during childbirth is growing. There is evidence* to show that having a doula can mean:

 

• Reduced risk of Caesarean birth by 39%
• Reduced risk of instrumental birth
• Reduced usage of pain relief medication by 9%
• Reduced rate of induction of labour
• Increased likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth
• Shorter labour
• Increased parental satisfaction with the birth experience
• Increased likelihood of initiating breastfeeding
• Increased likelihood of successfully establishing breastfeeding
• Reduced the risk of reporting a negative birth experience by 35%