What is a Doula?

A doula (pronounced doo-la) is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to families before, during, and after childbirth.

The Word "Doula"

The word "doula" comes from ancient Greek, meaning "woman servant" or "caregiver." Today, it refers to an experienced support person who offers practical and emotional care to expectant mothers and their families throughout the entire birth journey.

The Philosophy of Doula Care

At the heart of doula care is the belief in "mothering the mother." A doula's role is to enable you to have the most satisfying, joyful, and empowering experience possible during pregnancy, birth, and the early days of motherhood.

Every birth is unique, and every mother has different needs. A doula's role is to be flexible and adapt to your specific situation, providing exactly the support that you need.

Why Do I Need a Doula?

Historically, continuous support during birth came from trusted family members—mothers, sisters, aunts—who guided women through labour with experience and wisdom. They provided nurturing care during and after birth, offering practical help and emotional reassurance.

In modern society, this traditional support structure has largely disappeared. While community midwives do wonderful work, they often care for multiple families and cannot provide one-to-one continuous support throughout your entire labour. Even in hospitals, it's extremely rare to have the same caregiver with you from the start of labour through to the postpartum period.

A doula fills this gap, offering the continuous, personalized support that was once provided by extended family. Research consistently shows that this continuity of care significantly improves birth outcomes and satisfaction.

The Power of Continuous Support

A doula provides:

• A familiar, friendly face throughout your labour
• Constant physical and emotional support
• Peace of mind from their experience and knowledge
• An unbroken relationship from pregnancy through postpartum
• Someone focused entirely on your wellbeing

Doulas and Partners

A common question is: "Why would I need a doula if I have a partner?"

Doulas do not replace your partner or other support people. Instead, a doula enhances and supports your relationships during this transformative time.

How Doulas Support Birth Partners

Your partner knows you best, but they may:

• Feel anxious or uncertain about how to help
• Need breaks during a long labour
• Benefit from suggestions on comfort techniques
• Appreciate reassurance that everything is normal
• Want to focus on emotional support while the doula handles practical tasks

A doula knows when to be hands-on and when to step back, allowing you and your partner intimate moments together. We handle practical matters—making tea, carrying bags, even feeding the parking meter—so your partner can focus on being emotionally present with you.

Together as a team—you, your loving partner, and your experienced doula—you create an amazing supportive atmosphere for your baby's birth.

How Are Doulas Different from Midwives?

Both doulas and midwives are essential to maternity care, but their roles are quite different:

Doulas work alongside midwives and medical staff, never replacing them. We focus solely on your wellbeing throughout all stages of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

Doulas and Medical Intervention

A doula's role is to support your choices for your birth.

While we believe in birth as a natural process, we fully respect that every woman's wishes are different. Whether you want a completely intervention-free birth, pain relief, or a planned caesarean, a doula supports your informed decisions without judgment.

We're here to ensure you understand your options and feel empowered to make choices that are right for you and your baby.

Who Hires a Doula?

Anyone and everyone! Doulas support diverse families including:

• First-time parents who want extra support and guidance
• Experienced parents who had difficult previous births and want a better experience
• Women planning VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean)
• Single mothers who want a dedicated support person
• Couples whose partners may be unavailable or uncomfortable at births
• Families planning home births
• Anyone who wants continuous, personalized support

The Benefits of Doula Support

Research consistently shows that continuous labour support from a doula leads to:

• Shorter labours
• Reduced need for pain medication
• Lower rates of intervention
• Fewer caesarean births
• Higher breastfeeding success rates
• Greater satisfaction with the birth experience
• Lower rates of postpartum depression

Most importantly, families who hire doulas consistently report feeling more confident, supported, and positive about their birth experiences.