D: What is a doula?
Filed under: Pregnancy & birth, A - Z of health
The word doula comes from a Greek word meaning a woman in service.
A doula can offer experienced support to a couple or a woman before, during, or after childbirth. They cannot offer medical support and therefore would not replace a midwife.
There are a few different training courses for doulas in the UK. A doula may or may not have given birth herself.
Her exact role would be decided between the doula and the family involved, but as an example, a birth doula could visit before the birth, offer phone support, and then attend the birth to provide emotional help and encouragement.
She may give advice on birth positions, breathing, or movement and exercises to help during pregnancy and labour, or assist in writing a birth plan.
If requested, she may be able to provide her care during the entire labour. This can be important to some women. Nurses and doctors might change shifts during the birth and it can be reassuring to see the same face throughout the process.
Doulas may also help after a birth. A postnatal doula could visit your home to give breastfeeding or other newborn care advice, or they may cook for the family, walk your dog, take your other children to school, keep on top of the ironing and washing up, and help with other general household jobs as required.
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