What is a doula?

A birth doula is a professional labor assistant who is trained to support you physically and emotionally, encourage your to be an active member of your decision making team, help and your partner(s) to become a stronger team together through pregnancy, birth, and the first weeks postpartum.

A doula works to create a positive birth experience by providing a continuous presence during your birth, nurturing you, helping your partner to be involved and pace themselves, and offering physical comfort measures through breathing, relaxation, positioning, and movements, as well as emotional support and encouragement. A postpartum doula continues that support through the first months of postpartum, helping your to learn your baby's language and cues, helping to keep your household stocked and supplied, and supporting your physical and emotional recovery as you adjust to new parenthood.

A doula is knowledgeable about the labor process, lactation, and newborn and postpartum recovery care. They are available to provide research-based information and support you and your partner(s) as you make informed decisions about the your care. Doulas are well versed in helping you to communicate your needs to family and care providers, ensuring that you are being heard and listened to.

Doulas can be strong health care advocates when needed, there to ensure informed consent or nonconsent requirements are met, helping to prevent or lessen birth trauma, and human rights violations for birthing people in all communities, but especially for birthing people who are more likely to experience the negative effects of inherent bias.