Doula - Labour Companion
Care, support and companionship
for mom, dad & baby during birth.
Gayle Friedman
Tel: +27 21 461 6402
Cell: +27 82958 4801
Women Offering Mothers Birth Support
What is a Doula?
A Doula is a Greek word meaning “woman who helps women”. In South Africa Doulas are also known as Childbirth Companions. These are women who offer continual emotional and physical support to labouring women in the form of comfort, reassurance and gentle touch. Doulas usually stay with the mother throughout labour, constantly assessing and responding to her needs. A Doula may assist the new family at home.
Why do you need a Doula?
The defining characteristic of Doula care is continuous, uninterrupted, emotional and physical support of the woman for the duration of labour and childbirth. The Doula can use many kinds of touch, massage and positioning, depending on what the mother finds helpful, or she may be a soothing and reassuring voice.
Studies have documented that a Doula’s touch and support leads to reduced pain – or, at the very least, the mother’s perception of reduced pain.
A worldwide study, involving more than 1500 women, found that mothers who received Doula support were the ones with the shortest labours. Other benefits found in this study by Klaus et al. include:
- Greater than 50% drop in caesarean births.
- 30% reduction in the mother’s need for medication.
- 60% reduction in epidural requests.
- 40% reduction in forceps delivery.
What will a Doula do for me?
A Doula:
- Recognizes childbirth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life
- Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labour
- Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth
- Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman gain access to the information she needs to make good decisions
- Facilitates communication between the labouring woman, her partner, and medical care providers.
- Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of her birth experience
Beyond labour: Benefits to mother and baby after birth
- The benefits of Doula support do not end after the labour and birth.
- Worldwide research shows:
* Better attachment and bonding between mother and baby
* Reduced need for medical intervention
* Reduced incidence of post partum depression
* mproved mother and baby well-being
* Positive feelings about labour and birth
Doulas are becoming increasingly visible and important in our labour wards because of the positive effect that they are having on all who are involved in the birth process. Every woman ought to have a positive and memorable birth experience. Having a Doula with you during your labour and birth will help you to have the birth experience you deserve. Doulas can make a difference for you and in your birth experience.
