Expert doula and doula trainer
What is a doula?
A doula, pronounced “doo la”, is also known as a birth companion and originates from the Ancient Greek word to mean female servant or slave.
Generally a female, she is a non-medical person who assists a woman before, during, or after childbirth, as well as her partner and/or family by providing information, physical and emotional support. They provide continuous support during labour and when combined with the help provided from nurses, family, friends and doctors, is associated with improved maternal and fetal health and a variety of other benefits.
The overall goal of a doula is for the pregnant person to feel safe, comfortable and informed of their choices. This complements the goal that midwives and doctors have, which is to ensure a safe birth for mother and child . Doulas have no clinical role, duties or decision making.
The range of support provided by a doula during childbirth may include physical assistance and comfort, caring for the mother by providing food, drink and rest, emotional support, advocating the mother’s needs and rights and reminding future parents of all the information we discussed before the birth event.
The Birth Support page goes into further detail about all the ways that I help during childbirth. In addition, many birth doulas, including myself, offer postnatal support which can take many forms according each family’s needs. You can read more about my postnatal services here.
“Being a doula is a vocation, a calling. It is why we are so drawn to giving from our hearts. It’s not always joy and oxytocin though. When we make a pledge to walk with our clients we do so with fierce loyalty and sometimes this means journeying to places that we’d all rather not go…and yet, we walk by their side, support, hold and listen, seek out information, signpost, offer hugs and tea and care. Sometimes our thoughts keep us up at night, sometimes we’re called to a birth at 2am never knowing when we’ll return home. Sometimes we ‘do’ and other times we ‘do nothing’ We learn with every interaction, we make mistakes and have to apologize, we are told “I couldn’t have done it without you” but we doulas know different! Mostly there is an abundance of deep satisfaction as a doula but we all need the light and shade in order to grow”
- Zara, Doulabud
What does research say?
Research has shown having a doula present at birth:
Shortens first-time labour by an average of 2 hours
Decreases the chance of a caesarean birth by 50%
Decreases the need for pain medication
Helps partners participate with confidence
Increases success in breastfeeding
Decreases risk of PND
Source: “Mothering the Mother”, Klaus, Kennell & Klaus 1993.
“We are here to help women discover what they are feeling…not to make the feelings go away.We are here to help a woman identify her options…not to tell her what options to choose.We are here to discuss steps with a woman…not to take the steps for her. We are here to help a woman discover her own strength…not to rescue her and leave her still vulnerable”
— Anonymous
Contact doulabud
I hope the information on my website will have answered as many of your initial questions as possible. You can contact me by phone, email and the contact form below. I really look forward to chatting with you soon.
Godalming, Surrey