What is a Doula?
Doula is a Greek word meaning a "woman who gives another woman support and assistance". The idea of the doula comes from the tradition of women helping women in and after childbirth, to make the birth and transition into a new family a positive and rewarding experience.
As a trained childbirth assistant, a birth doula gives support to women through pregnancy and birth, helping to give them faith in their own bodies.
Doulas reassure women that they can labour and encourage them to view labour positively.
A doula does not make decisions or project her own personal preferences, but she DOES help to get the information needed for parent to make well-informed choices.
A doula's goal is to help the mother to have the birth experiences that she wants to have....
Here is a link to a short video where couples describe what a doula did for them
And another link to an article "Seven Answers to Common Questions about Doulas"
What about Dad or other birth partners?
Many birth partners feel "put-out" that a doula is going to be present at the upcoming birth and may feel some concern, wondering why the doula is coming too.
Sometimes, there is concern about feeling left out or forgotten if a doula is there.... Please take heart in knowing that we will be working as a TEAM - and you and mum will actually help guide the doula's role as she interacts with you, and you form labour-coping patterns together.
As doulas, we want to ensure you that we are there to support fathers, to encourage you, and help guide you so that together, we can help the mum-to-be to have the birth she envisages for herself and the baby.
Here is a link to a short video in which a doula describes the differing roles of dad and the doula
