Does a doula replace my birth partner?

No, a doula plays a very separate role from the partner during birth. A doula cannot provide the same level of emotional support and connection a partner can and she is not going through a personal transition like the father. A doula is there to provide support to the mother AND father. A doula’s training and experience allows her to bring a wider perspective to the birth or postpartum period, facilitate a calming environment, tools for coping with labor, and information to help the couple make decisions.

A doula is a companion and trained non-medical professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to you before, during, and shortly after birth.

THE DATA

Hodnett and colleagues 2011 & Cochrane Review 2018

The Benefits of a Doula

  • 39% less likely to give birth by cesarean

  • 10% less likely to use pain medications

  • 41% less likely to need an assisted delivery

  • 31% less likely to be dissatisfied with her birth experience

  • 31% less likely to use synthetic oxytocin

  • Shortens labor by 41 minutes

  • Enhanced breastfeeding

  • Better maternal-infant interaction

  • Less postpartum depression and anxiety

  • Greater self-esteem