What Is a Doula and How Can They Help During Child birth?

There are many types of doula, all of which offer unlimited support tailored to the mother’s needs. Their basic roles are to assist during pregnancy as well as postpartum. Here’s how they help at different stages:

During Pregnancy

• Birth Preferences Discussion: A doula assists you in getting ready for labour by discussing how exactly you would want to execute the birth, including the maximum pain relief options you would wish, the positions of birth, and the location.

• Guiding & Providing Information: They inform you about what to look forward to during labour, the various types of births that can be performed, and other means of managing pain without medication.

• Psychological Support: Pregnancy can be tremendously stressful, and a good doula pregnancy experience includes a form of psychological assurance which makes you ready and gives you the confidence required to execute the pregnancy in the best manner possible.

During Labour & Childbirth

• Physical Comfort: A birth doula helps with breathing exercises, massage, relaxation techniques, and position changes to ease discomfort and promote smoother labour.

• Encouragement & Reassurance: Having someone by your side to offer kind words and support can greatly reduce stress and fear.

• Advocacy: A doula ensures that your birth plan is communicated to the medical team and your wishes are respected.

Postpartum Support

• Helping You Adjust: Doulas help manage emotions after surgery and assist with infant care and breastfeeding.

• Household Assistance: Some postpartum doulas assist in light housework and caring for older children.

• Emotional Well-being: Recovering from pregnancy can be challenging. A Postpartum doulas pregnancy experience involves active participation to help manage postpartum depression feelings.

Whether this is your first or subsequent pregnancy, hiring a doula has been shown to improve and foster more positive birth experiences. Here’s why many women decide to hire birth doulas:

1) Shorter & Easier Labour

The best-known advantage of hiring a doula is reducing the length of labour. Studies indicate that women who receive continuous support from birth doulas tend to have shorter active labour stages than those who do not. [3] This could be because a doula helps keep the woman calm, uses effective positions for them to labour, and uses relaxation measures that aid progress.

Through the use of the following:

• Promoting active or sitting forms of work

• Leading you through specific breathing exercises

• Applying antagonising force and massage to help ease pain

• Providing the necessary food and liquids to sustain energy levels

2) Less Need for Medical Interventions

With a doula present, the chances of requiring medical interventions, such as epidurals, forceps delivery, vacuum-assisted birth, or C-sections, are significantly reduced. Research has found that women supported by a doula are:

• 39% less likely to need a C-section

• 15% more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth

• 10% less likely to require medical pain relief (like epidurals or narcotics)

3) Reduced Pain & Anxiety

Labour is both a physical and emotional experience. Pain and fear often go hand in hand—when you feel anxious, your body releases stress hormones like cortisol, which can slow down labour and make contractions feel more painful. A birth doula helps keep anxiety levels low by:

• Providing constant emotional reassurance so you feel safe and supported.

• Using hands-on comfort measures like massage, acupressure, and counter-pressure techniques.

• Encouraging breathing exercises to manage pain naturally

• Offering guided visualisation and relaxation techniques to keep you focused.

4) Higher Breastfeeding Success

Breastfeeding can be challenging, especially in the early days when the mother and baby are still learning. However, new mothers with a doula are more likely to initiate breastfeeding and continue nursing successfully for a longer period. A postpartum doula provides hands-on breastfeeding support, helping with the following:

• Proper latching techniques to prevent soreness and discomfort

• Positioning guidance to ensure both mother and baby are comfortable

• Boosting milk supply by encouraging frequent nursing and skin-to-skin contact

• Addressing common breastfeeding challenges like engorgement, nipple pain, and latch issues

Studies suggest that women who receive professional guidance in the first few days after birth are more likely to continue exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months. [4]

5) Lower Risk of Postpartum Depression

The postpartum period can be emotionally overwhelming, and many new mothers experience what’s known as the "baby blues." However, some women develop postpartum depression (PPD), which can cause severe mood swings, exhaustion, and difficulty bonding with their babies.

A doula pregnancy experience doesn’t end at childbirth—it extends into postpartum care. A postpartum doula provides:

• Emotional support to help mothers process their birth experience

• Newborn care education to reduce feelings of being overwhelmed

• Sleep support & guidance to help mothers rest and recover

• Companionship & reassurance help reduce feelings of loneliness

Having someone check in regularly and offer encouragement can make a big difference in a mother’s mental well-being. Women who have postpartum support from a doula are less likely to develop severe postpartum depression and are more likely to feel confident in their new role as parents.

Not all doulas provide the same services. Depending on your needs, you can choose from different types of doulas:

1) Birth Doula

A birth doula focuses on supporting you during labour and delivery. They help with comfort measures, relaxation techniques, and ensuring your birth plan is followed.

2) Pregnancy (Antepartum) Doula

A doula pregnancy service is excellent for those with high-risk pregnancies or complications. They assist with bed rest, morning sickness, and preparing for birth.

3) Postpartum Doula

These doulas help new mothers adjust after birth. They provide emotional support, newborn care guidance, and even light housework.

4) Full-Spectrum Doula

They offer support beyond childbirth, including assistance with fertility, miscarriage, adoption, and postpartum care.

Selecting a doula is usually based on preference and should be done carefully since it will influence the birth. Here are some pointers:

1) Start Your Search Early

Doulas book out months in advance. Start your search early, no matter what.

2) Ask for Recommendations

Reach out to your friends, family or even colleagues' healthcare providers to give you constructive referrals for trustworthy doulas.

3) Check Certifications & Experience

Even though a medical degree is unnecessary, a certified doula should have undergone training from reputable institutions.

4) Interview Potential Doulas

During consultations, ask questions like:

• Where did you receive training?

• How many births have you attended?

• What is your availability around my due date?

• What happens if you’re unavailable when I go into labour?

A doula gives exceptional help throughout pregnancy, during labour, and even after giving birth. If you seek motivation and comfort or even wish for someone to support your preference regarding how you want the birth to happen, a birth doula can help you significantly.

Having a doula while pregnant can aid in enhancing more aspects of your life, including decreasing pain during labour and facilitating better recovery post-birth.

If hiring a doula is something you are contemplating, begin your search as early as possible and look for someone who matches your requirements and expectations. Connecting with a trained medical specialist at your local super-speciality hospital can help you formulate suitable plans for how you wish to give birth. Adequate assistance will allow you to feel that the way you give birth to your child is secure, empowering, and satisfactory.

1) What does a doula do during labour?

A doula provides physical comfort, emotional support, and advocacy during labour, helping you stay calm, manage pain naturally, and have a more positive birth experience.

2) Can a doula replace my partner?

No, a doula will work with your partner and teach them how to help you better while they provide uninterrupted attention to you during labour and delivery.

3) Do doulas only attend to natural births?

Doulas assist all kinds of births, whether surgical, home-births, or medicated Uterine surgeries, and VBACs to ensure all processes are as comfortable and empowering for you as possible.

4) Is my physician or nurse midwife necessary to have an associate with a doula?

Yes, every practitioner I know is happy to have a doula since they provide essential nonmedical services. This makes the mothers feel less anxious and more at ease as they give birth.

5) What kind of help does a postpartum doula offer?

A postpartum doula provides help in caring for the newborn, breastfeeding, and emotional and physical recovery, thus easing the transition to motherhood.

1. Sobczak, A., Taylor, L., Solomon, S., Ho, J., Kemper, S., Phillips, B., Jacobson, K., Castellano, C., Ring, A., Castellano, B., & Jacobs, R. J. (2023). The Effect of doulas on maternal and birth Outcomes: A scoping review. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39451

2. Gruber, K. J., Cupito, S. H., & Dobson, C. F. (2013). Impact of doulas on healthy birth outcomes. The Journal of Perinatal Education, 22(1), 49–58. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.22.1.49

3. Bohren, M. A., Hofmeyr, G. J., Sakala, C., Fukuzawa, R. K., & Cuthbert, A. (2017). Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Library, 2017(8). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd003766.pub6

4. Jakaitė, V., Peštenytė, A., Zakarevičienė, J., Sniečkuvienė, V., Žitkutė, V., Ramašauskaitė, D., & Domža, G. (2021). Predictors of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months: four consecutive surveys in a tertiary hospital in Lithuania. International Breastfeeding Journal, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-021-00364-6