What is a Doula?

A Doula is a trained professional who uses evidence-based information to support new or expecting mothers, their babies, and their families. A Birth Doula provides support primarily at the time of labour and delivery, while a Postpartum Doula provides support primarily in the days, weeks, and months after birth.

What exactly does a Birth Doula do?

A Birth Doula assists the expecting mother and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their birth plan. A Birth Doula is also a non-medical member of the birthing team and stays by the side of the mother throughout the entire birthing process to nurture her birthing experience. They provide emotional support, physical comfort measures, and informational viewpoint, and assistance to the mother (and her partner) in getting the information needed to make the right decisions for their family. The Birth Doula facilitates communication between the labouring woman, her partner, and clinical care providers, and understands the physiology of birth and the physical and emotional needs of the mother (and her partner) throughout birth.

What exactly does a Postpartum Doula do?

A Postpartum Doula can do any number of things depending on what the new Mother needs. Postpartum Doulas can: provide physical and emotional support of the new mother and family, help with baby and sibling care, provide comfort measures for the mother, provide feeding support, provide postpartum mood disorder awareness and information, refer to community and health resources, help with light housework (tidying, laundry, food preparation), etc.

Would a Postpartum Doula have to come to my house to support me?

Not if you do not feel that type of support is necessary. There are other supports we can provide, such as in-hospital support, Meal Train coordination, postpartum gift basket preparation, help with creating a postpartum plan, and so on. Postpartum Doulas can also act as resources from afar (contacted via text, phone, email, etc.). We also offer in-person individual or group Preparing for Birth and Postpartum workshops.

Why would a Doula be useful for me?

Much research has shown that there are many positive benefits associated with Mothers being supported by a Doula or equivalent support person. In addition to that, a Doula can serve as an unbiased and non-judgmental support person that will provide evidence-based information to help support Mothers in their choices. Doulas can refer you to health professionals that they know if concerns are beyond their scope. Doulas are trained to watch out for warning signs of postpartum mood disorders and take appropriate action within their scope. All in all, Doulas are able to enter a situation well-rested, with multiple skills and research-based knowledge in order to support you with the end goal of leaving you and your family happy, healthy, and empowered in your choices.

Here is a great resource by Evidence Based Birth, covering the benefits of hiring a doula: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/