A birth doula is a trained, experienced, professional labor support person whose primary role is to support a mother during the stages leading up to, during, and immediately following the birth of her child. In addition, the doula can be a source of information to assist in making informed decisions, an advocate for informed consent, and assists the mother in achieving a birth which is healthy, positive, and empowering. A doula can also be a great asset to the mother's partner and can help them to learn how to best support their loved one during labor and birth and work as a team to bring forth their child.
There is a unique role for a doula which differs from that of a close friend, husband, partner, nurse, midwife, or doctor. A doula does not have any responsibility/ability to perform medical assessments or make medical decisions. She can help the expecting couple to understand the information and help them to advocate for their wishes and beliefs, as I feel strongly that a birthing mother knows better than anyone else what is best for her and her baby and should never be coerced into something without full information and consent and the ability to talk things through with her partner, but since a doula is not emotionally bound to the situation the way a family member or spouse might be, nor is she bound by medical liability and policy the way nurses, doctors, and midwives sometimes are, she is in a unique position to provide unconditional support and help make things go more smoothly for those in other roles as well.
A doula brings with her extensive study of birth, a passion for birth work, and hands on experience with labor, birth, and postpartum. She is able to respond calmly and objectively, since she has built up knowledge and experience of the birthing process and it is not her first time experiencing it.
A postpartum doula is a doula who "mother's the mother" in the days and weeks following childbirth, and often assists with early breastfeeding basics if relevant. Her duties can include a wide range of task to help the new mother ease into her role- things like washing the baby's clothes and/or diapers, running errands, light meal preparation, massage and acupressure, helping to bathe or soothe the infant, watching older siblings so that mom and babe can take a nap- or vice versa, holding the baby so mom can spend some time with her older children or take a shower... She can often provide referrals to other community resources or individuals if there are specific concerns or issues that come up, and can generally answer and assist with basic breastfeeding questions, positioning, etc. and basic newborn care, as well as specific concerns about things like postpartum depression, adjusting to the role of parenthood, support, etc.
Many women in this field do both birth and postpartum work, myself included. I think it is beneficial, if you have developed a relationship with someone, to have that same person continue to assist you and your family in the postpartum period after assisting prenatally and during birthing. However, some people choose to have a doula present for birth but do not anticipate needing postpartum help in this form, or, more rarely, choose not to have a birth doula present but do need or desire postpartum help. Some families may choose to hire one doula for their birth and another for postpartum; it all depends on your needs and preferences.
A doula's role, whether prenatally/birth or postpartum or both, is to unconditionally support you in your wishes, needs, and desires; to respect your informed decisions; and help make sure your needs are met and your choices respected in this sacred and vulnerable time.
At birthing, the continuous steady presence of a trained labor assistant (doula) has been shown in multiple studies to decrease perceived pain and need/request for pain medication, to lessen the risk of certain interventions and complications, and to increase the satisfaction of the mother with her birth, as well as the father's satisfaction and positive feelings about the experience, and both parents' positive feelings towards their baby and one another. The presence of birth and/or postpartum doula support makes successful breastfeeding more likely. Research has not shown any risks or downsides to the presence of a doula.
"Birth
is not only about making babies. Birth is about making
mothers... strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and
know their inner strength." ~Barbara Katz Rothman~
