International Doula Month -- May! What's a Doula?

I am a blogger, but I am also a doula. I also train doulas.

First time moms -- you may want to read about this too!! Doulas are good for your health!

So, what's a doula? A doula is a trained professional that helps with labor, childbirth, and postpartum phases. There are also bereavement doulas who help moms with a miscarriage or stillbirth. Birth doulas work mostly with moms during pregnancy and at their time of labor. A birth doula will accompany a mom to the hospital and work with her as continuous labor support.

Here's some doula stats borrowed from my friend Lydia DeCastra who is taking our Catholic Bereavement "Certified Sorrowful Doula" Program:

Studies have consistently and continually shown proven benefits when birth is attended by professional birth companions:

1. 28% fewer cesarean sections (“The Evidence For Doulas” www.evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas

2. 60% fewer requests for epidurals (“Having a Doula: Is a Doula for Me?” http://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/having-a-doula/)

3. 31% reduction in the use of synthetic oxytocin for inductions or augmentations (“The Evidence for Doulas”www.evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas)

4. 9% reduction in the use of pain medication (“The Evidence for Doulas” www.evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas)

5. 25% reduction in labor length* (“Having a Doula: Is a Doula for Me?” http://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/having-a-doula/)

6. Increased rates of breastfeeding at 6 weeks postpartum (“Impact of Doulas on Healthy Birth Outcomes” by Kenneth Gruber, PHD; Susan H. Cupito, MA; Christina F. Dobson, MEd https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3647727/ )

7. Higher esteem and less anxiety/depression (for mom) at 6 weeks postpartum (“Doula Information” http://www.serenitylifedoula.com/doula-information/)

So, we can see that doulas as professional birth workers can help make a difference as a doula and postpartum doula too.

A postpartum doula comes to help mom in the home after birth. She can do the dishes, do light tasks like laundry, help make meals or make freezer meals for the family to eat later. She is usually paid by the hour. Birth doulas usually have a flat rate though sometimes that can vary.

Bereavement doulas usually do their work pro-bono, but sometimes a person will offer them a donation for their work to help families with healing after loss.

Anyway, I hope this helps peak your interest in doula work. Many moms who are newly married will want to learn more about doulas.

A lot of doulas also help with VBAC birth -- which means a mom had a C-section previous and now she is trying for natural birth the second (or third time) around.

If you want to learn more about doulas -- here are a few links:

DONA -- www.dona.org

Catholic Doula Program www.catholicdoula.com -- We plan to post more about that specifically in a later article on this blog.

God Bless!