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Q&A: What's a doula?

My neighbor had a doula who was there when she gave birth and for a few weeks after. What exactly is a doula and why would I need one?

Re: My neighbor had a doula who was there when she gave birth and for a few weeks after. What exactly is a doula and why would I need one?

Doulas (also called childbirth assistants) are specially trained to provide support during labor and delivery. A doula also serves as a go-between for the doctor, nurses, and you and your mate. Think of her as a knowledgeable companion who can offer encouragement and wisdom throughout the birth process. Experienced doulas know all about positioning, soothing touch and other comfort measures to ease the general experience.
Many doulas also offer at-home help after baby is born, usually for a couple of weeks. Her role is to mother the mother (you), and may change from day to day. She'll generally do whatever is necessary to help you adjust, including making sure you’re well-fed and hydrated. She will also provide education for you about baby care and breastfeeding. To find a doula, ask your doc for a recommendation, check out local mom reviews on lila guide, or try the Doula Organization of North America's finder.

Paula Kashtan | May 04 , 2009 3:48 PM

re: Q: Doula basics?

I have a really good friend who is a birth doula. If you're in the Portland, Oregon area you may contact her through www.newcreationdoulas.comShe's wonderful!!! Her name is Kim.

dsrossing | June 09 , 2008 8:43 PM

re: Q: Doula basics?

Doula is misspelled on the main page.

Mrs.Incognito | June 13 , 2008 7:14 PM

re: Q: Doula basics?

Check out the link above (www.dona.org) Dona International is an organized non-profit group who trains doula's. They even list Doula's by state so you can find some in your area. I had a doula for both of my births and I am so glad I did. They were very helpful.

bryans4 | June 17 , 2008 7:04 AM

re: Q: Doula basics?

About how much can I expect tht a doula would cost?

asloan1982 | January 09 , 2009 8:35 AM

re: Q: Doula basics?

So basically, a doula is like the guy in 'Father of the Bride II"?

MEGrover | March 18 , 2009 11:57 AM

Q&A: What's a doula?

A doula sounds fabulous, but I'm also wondering how much a 24 hour tutor/slave runs for these days :)

Sandy281 | August 14 , 2009 10:13 AM

Q&A: What's a doula?

I had a doula my last birth and I'm planning to have the same doula with me for this birth...she was and is awesome! I wish insurance covered her though....

CasondraMJ | September 25 , 2009 1:42 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

I live in Phoenix and here doulas range from free (for a student needing experience) up to $1000 for the very high end ones. I have read that on the East Coast, they can easily cost $2000! Beginning doulas charge about $300-400 while more experienced one charge $600 and up. This is only for the birth doulas (who do about 2 prenatal visits to go over your birth plan, are there throughout labor plus a few hours afterwards, then check on you a few times during the first week). Postpartum doulas who come and help you after the birth, generally charge by the hour. They help with childcare, housework, perhaps cook a meal or two, whatever you need. The only doula I talked to who offered this service charged $20/hour, which seems high. I'd rather just pay a local teen babysitter to come over and do some odd jobs while I rest. Labor doulas are great from what I hear. My midwife practically insists first time moms hire one since the first birth is the hardest. I'm still looking if anyone knows of a low cost doula in AZ:)

'mingo | January 23 , 2010 11:58 AM

Q&A: What's a doula?

I thought doulas were typically used in natural births. Is it common to have a doula support a birth in a hospital? Does anyone have an experience to share?

SDMama | January 27 , 2010 6:40 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

I am also thinking of hiring a doula. Labor has been such a scary thing to me, if a doula helps me be more at ease any amount of money is worth that. I'd love to hear stories of people using one and what the pros and cons were (if any cons)?

chestnuthillestate | March 14 , 2010 6:59 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

SDMama- People use them in the hospitals, too. They serve a few different purposes there. 1) They act as your advocate to doctors and nurses so that when its in the thick of things, they can be clear-headed and helping to say, "No, she would prefer only an epidural but nothing else, unless medically necessary" etc. 2) They're trained in relaxation techniques and can assist you with that. 3) They can help with breast-feeding and lead you through everything to do. 4) Some women who end up receiving lots of pain medications and things have trouble remembering the birth, but yet really want a clear view of what happened in the delivery room. The doula can help piece that information back together for you. Hope this helps. I'm hiring one and I'm going to be in the hospital's "alternative birthing center", but I'm also going to try for a natural birth.

smwilliams4 | March 21 , 2010 9:22 AM

Q&A: What's a doula?

A person who helps you with the baby?

joli1love | May 17 , 2010 9:54 AM

Q&A: What's a doula?

I live in central Florida and used a doula with my first son and we are meeting with her tomorrow to discuss my next delivery in August. She charged $500 for the entire process which included meetings during the pregnancy, coming to my home at the beginning of labor and staying with me in the hospital until the baby was born. She also offered to stop by our home to help with breastfeeding once we were home. She made me so comfortable that by the time I went to the hospital my son was born 13 minutes later with only 2 pushes. Even she was caught off guard by how far along I was in the delivery process. You can get more information about my doula at www.apositivebeginning.com She was wonderful and I could not imagine going through this process again without her. The only negative aspect about using a doula was the reaction from the nurses in the hospital. When I mentioned that I would have a doula when I was on the hospital tour one of the nurses literally rolled her eyes at me and I left in tears. I think some of the hospital staff want you to lay down, shut up, and do what they tell you which is exactly why I loved having someone on my side who knew what was going on.

FlaJen | May 25 , 2010 1:28 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

For anyone in the DC Metro area, Johns Hopkins has a free doula program to help nursing students get experience. I am going to meet with a couple to decide whether or not I want to go with one, but the idea has already made my husband more comfortable, as this is our first baby and he was feeling the pressure of being my muscle in the delivery room. LOL. I'll post my impressions.

switchfacexa1ex | July 13 , 2010 11:33 AM

Q&A: What's a doula?

My mom is my doula!! I am so lucky to have her. I highly recommend having family present during this time if at all possible.

lebennett | July 28 , 2010 12:07 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

Ok, so as much as I love the idea of a doula, isn't this what your husband is for? I mean seriously. He helped make it, he's taking classes with me, and he's done a great job taking care of me so far, as if I couldn't do it myself....long story short, I see it this way. the kind of dough you have to shell out for this person to help you out a couple of days a week, I would rather spend on a better nursery and diapers. Don't mean to sound cynical, this is just my opinion.

GaGaBean | October 22 , 2010 10:05 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

My mom is going to be the 'doula', but this got me thinking is there any guidance out there on how someone (like my mom) can be the most help to me during and after the birth?

jlprellop | October 27 , 2010 1:44 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

I agree with my fellow mommy-to-be's - Husband/Partners, and/or your mom or in-law (if you are fortunate to still have yours) can provide the BEST advice. They have watched you from day one, and are most likely well aware of your wants and desires for birth, and afterwards. However, if one has over $2k to shell out for the Doula, that's fine, but consider that money for more tangible items for baby, or yourself. Also, believe it or not, college will be right around the corner!!! To each her own, and I wish everyone a safe and easy birth no matter who is by your side =0)

kellyfox31 | November 29 , 2010 11:39 AM

Q&A: What's a doula?

I've hired a doula for my second birth, and I wish I had done so for my first birth. I am on a limited budget, especially with a hospital birth to plan to pay for, but I found a doula who needed some experience and references who was able to work with my budget. Hiring a doula can save you money in the end because studies have proven that doulas reduce your likelihood of needing additional interventions like epidurals, Pitocin, and C-sections. I had an epidural for less than two hours with my first daughter and it was an additional $800 after insurance for it! My doula is not even charging a quarter of that that and hopefully I can avoid the intervention that I never wanted. My husband was so upset at the pain I was in for the first birth that he was no help whatsoever with anything we had planned for. I strongly recommend any first-time mom and others to look at doulas. Signing up for a labor class like Lamaze, Bradley Method, or some other childbirth education class (hospital classes proved to be less than helpful in my case) would be a great way to learn how to handle the pain of birthing. If you don't want a doula, it'd be great to have a dedicated support person (husband, mother, best friend) to go with you. My husband and I went to the hospital classes and they only gave us a very one-sided view of things. He was also not the right person to help me through labor. He was too deeply involved and nervous himself to be able to calm me and help me focus.

Mommy2Ciara2007 | January 24 , 2011 12:07 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

I personally don't agree with having a doula, your partner or another family member should be your support. If you do decide to have one, just make sure they don't get in the way of the doctor or hospital staff doing their job. You went to the hospital for a reason, they have been delivering babies for longer than your doula has been alive! If you need extra support, fine. Just remember that the hospital staff has been doing this for a lot longer! It's not worth risking your life or your baby's if the doula gets in the way of medical care.

tripletfeb | March 03 , 2011 2:42 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

Doulas can remain calm where a husband or other family member may not. The hospital view of childbirth is NOT to always do what is best for mother and baby, but to make birth as fast as possible so that they can get you out of there and get new patients in. Sometimes it's just so the doctor can get home in time for dinner. This is why hospitals don't like people like doulas who really will advocate for you and not be manipulated by a nurse telling you that you really do need to induce your birth for the sake of your baby, which most times you don't. Hospitals are businesses. They like to induce births because that necessitates epidurals, which necessitates more pitocin, which too often necessitates unnecessary C sections. The hospitals get to charge your insurance for all of this unnecessary intervention and they know it. A doula can help you avoid this cycle because of their education and being less emotionally involved the way your husband might be. I think a doula is more important in a hospital than any other birth scenario, where you are more vulnerable to unnecessary intervention.

sarahhutto | March 09 , 2011 9:33 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

@sarahhutto great answer! Another note, it has been found in studies that even if your Doula was to sit in the corner of your hospital room as you delivered it would lower your risk/chance of intervention by 10% because it visually reminds the people at the hospital what kind of birth you are determined to have. (Unless of course a true problem or emergency arises.) @tripletfeb Doulas understand childbirth and are not there to get in the way of the hospital or prevent needed medical intervention but to help you make sure you don't get unneeded intervention. Also to state that hospitals have been delivering babies for longer then a doula is inaccurate. - Hospitals don't deliver babies, doctors, nurses, or midwives do and it is quite possible to have a Doula who has attended as many or more births than your delivery assistant.

Little Heater | May 31 , 2011 3:03 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

Also, she wrote down an account of the entire birth which was really nice to have afterward.

mommytotwogirls | June 22 , 2011 6:12 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

I will be hiring a doula for my hospital birth, for many reasons. I want to have a natural birth, and although I am planning to attend classes with my husband, I know he'll be too excited and nervous to remember everything they tell him. Also it will be helpful to have someone who knows about comfort techniques, and can show my husband how to be the most helpful to me. I specifically chose the hospital I'm delivering at because they encourage natural childbirth and welcome doulas. So just because you will be delivering in a hospital, doesn't mean it has to be a hostile environment. I understand this is not the norm, but hopefully it will become normal.

AmieLittles7 | July 12 , 2011 12:58 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

I LOVE my doula, she is an amazing woman who has attended over 600 births and has been involved in childbirth advocacy since the 70's. I know that she will make my experience in labor more bearable and manageable by suggesting positions to labor in, massaging me and encouraging me when I need it. My husband will be helping her with all of this as well, but since this is his first baby he doesn't know anything about giving birth but the Doula does. She will not get in the way if their is an emergency and I need medical intervention, but she will be able to make sure I have all of the facts before I make a decision about that medical intervention. She is worth every penny I am going to spend because she already makes me comfortable and puts me at ease about my impending labor. People don't think twice about spending 1000 dollars on another flat screen tv or vacation so why would you have to think about spending that for one of the most important experiences of your life.

cdelbove | July 20 , 2011 12:54 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

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watson012 | September 22 , 2011 6:49 AM

Q&A: What's a doula?

@ switchfacexa1ex or anyone else in DC Metro/Baltimore area: What did you find out with the John Hopkins program? I've had a very long run of bad luck w/ pregnancies and this is a first for my SO but I also have the support of my BFF who is a nurse and has 2 kids--- not sure if I want to involve someone else or not..... BFF is knowledgable and confident enough to speak up for me if need be.....but another friend back in PA was a doula and she said it may be a really good idea to find one anyway..... Please feel free to EMAIL me response @ meque183@yahoo.com

meque183 | September 25 , 2011 11:26 AM

Q&A: What's a doula?

http://brendalane.suite101.com/doulas-more-effective-than-staff-or-mothers-family-friends-a351488 This is a great article that shows how doulas really do help in labor and delivery!

duelingsith | December 12 , 2011 7:34 PM

Q&A: What's a doula?

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you asked...

Q&A: What's a doula?

Re: My neighbor had a doula who was there when she gave birth and for a few weeks after. What exactly is a doula and why would I need one?

re: Q: Doula basics?

re: Q: Doula basics?

re: Q: Doula basics?

re: Q: Doula basics?

re: Q: Doula basics?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

Q&A: What's a doula?

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