Doula: what is one and what are the benefits?

You may have heard about doulas. Maybe someone recommended you get one, or you read about it online, or have seen some accounts pop up on social media. But what are they? And how do they actually help?

What is a doula?

A doula is someone there to support you - emotionally and practically - through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Doula's provide information and advocacy, and can help you to make informed decisions as you navigate the maternity systems (if you're using them) and birth prep. Doula's give you continuous care, and you can build a relationship with them full of trust, and it is so important to have people you trust around you when you're giving birth. Unfortunately continuous care is not common within our current maternity system, and you'll often meet many different midwives throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Whilst I am sure most of those midwives are brilliant and lovely, this doesn't give you an opportunity to build relationships and trust with them - this is important to be aware of and to take into consideration when planning your birth.

Most doula's will provide antenatal sessions (often at least 2, some offer more) where you can get to know each other and they can share lots of information about birth. Your doula will go "on call" around 38 weeks of your pregnancy until you birth your baby, which means they will be ready to come over to you as soon as you want them there during your birth. Doula's will also come and see you postpartum, and some offer extended postpartum support. Most doula's offer coninuous support via messaging and over the phone from your pregnancy to birth. Doula's are not medical professionals and cannot provide or replace any medical support. Doula's often work alongside midwives and other health care professionals to ensure you're getting the care you need and that is best for you.

All doula's offer slightly different support, care packages, and prices. It is really important that you find a doula who feels right for you. Someone you connect with! Someone who can provide you with what you're looking for.

What are the benefits of having a doula?

Research shows that having a doula can mean:

• shorter labour

• reduced stress and anxiety

• reduced chance of caesarean birth

• reduced chance of induction of labour

• reduced chance of instrumental birth

• reduced use of pain relief and epidurals

• improved breastfeeding success

• lower rates of postpartum anxiety and depression

• positive impact on mother and babes well-being

(Sobczat et al, 2023; Falconi et al, 2021)

Furthermore, as mentioned above, doula's provide continuous care. There are many benefits of this type of care, and research shows that it means:

• more likely to have spontaneous vaginal birth

• less like to report negative feelings of birth experience

• shorter labour

• reduced chance of caesarean birth

• reduced chance of instrumental birth

• reduced use of epidurals

• improved outcomes

(Bohren et al, 2017)

So many amazing benefits to having the continuous care and support of a doula! I really encourage you to consider having one, and to take your time researching doula's that are local to you. Of course use google, but you can also use instagram and other social media sites, as well as Doula Directories (like Doula UK), and ask around!

References:

Bohren, M., et al (2017). Continuous support for women during childbirth. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6/full

Falconi, A., et al (2021). Doula care across the maternity care continuum and impact on maternal health: Evaluation of doula programs across three states using propensity score matching. Available here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(22)00261-9/fulltext

Sobczat, A., et al (2023). The Effect of Doulas on Maternal and Birth Outcomes: A Scoping Review. Access here :https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10292163/

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