why hire a doula?

Your doula works to support you and your partner during pregnancy, pre-labor, labor and birth.  Your doula is with you constantly offering you encouragement.  She is experienced and knowledgable in techniques to support you during the perinatal period.  She acts as your "coach" or "personal trainer". Care providers, doctors, midwives and nurses will come in and out of the birthing room, your doula stays with you constantly give you undivided attention and care.  Your doula does not replace your care providers or your partner and she does not perform any medical procedures.


The following is a general description of what you might expect from a CAPPA labor doula. Typically, doulas meet with the parents in the second or third trimester of the pregnancy to get acquainted and to learn about prior birth experiences and the history of this pregnancy. She may help you develop a birth plan, teach relaxation, visualization, and breathing skills useful for labor. Most importantly, the doula will provide comfort, support, and information about birth options.

A doula can help the woman to determine prelabor from true labor and early labor from active labor. At a point determined by the woman in labor, the doula will come to her and assist her by:

* Helping her to rest and relax
* Providing support for the woman's partner
* Encouraging nutrition and fluids in early labor
* Assisting her in using a variety of helpful positions and comfort measures
* Constantly focus on the comfort of both the woman and her partner
* Helping the environment to be one in which the woman feels secure and confident
* Providing her with information on birth options

A doula works cooperatively with the health care team. In the event of a complication, a doula can be a great help in understanding what is happening and what options the family may have. The doula may also help with the initial breastfeeding and in preserving the privacy of the new family during the first hour after birth.

(taken from the CAPPA Labor Doula Training Manual)