What is a Doula?

The word "doula" is from the Greek word doulos (δοῦλος) which means a bond-servant. A bond-servant is one who serves with no regard for their own rights. For Christians, we understand the irony of being an abject slave to another coupled with the dignity and honor associated in giving our service to another in love (Galations 5:19). 

At first, I was a little put off by the word for it doesn't have a magical sound. It sounds like "doolittle" to me, which I have always associated with a doodle-brain. Or even worse, a "doo-doo". Or even a "dodo". But now that I understand what a doula does, and how she is there to serve the mom and dad--not with her own ideals for birth--helping them achieve their ideal birth and offering empathetic support if that ideal doesn't play out; I think there is no better word that could be used in defining my role.

A doula is usually always a woman, trained in childbirth and labor techniques, who assists the mom and partner through labor and delivery of their baby. She does not replace the partner, for that is impossible; she is there to augment the labor team, and her role is distinctly different in that she is unswervingly devoted to her client without distractions, obligations or functions. 

What she does*:
-Recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life.
-Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor.
-Assist the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth.
-Stays by side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor.
-Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint, and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions.
-Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and the clinical care providers.
-Perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman's memory of her birth experience.

What she does not*:
-Offer medical advice.
-Perform medical exams/checks.
-Tell you what your ideal birth should look like.
-Speak for you.
-Impose her ideal birth upon you or your partner.

*DONA Manuel 2012

A doula can be a trusted family-member or friend, though it is especially nice to have woman who is familiar with hospital protocols, physiology, and an objective view point. Some women prefer a doula who has birthed her own children, others who have not had their own children come to the birth with no prior expectations, so they don't have any assumptions. A doula may be more familiar with home-births, while others feel more helpful with epidural or VBAC clients. Just as faceted as couples, doulas have differences to match. Finding the right doula for you and your partner takes a little time. If you are considering a doula, remember that a good doula recognizes her role in a sisterhood. She is not an isolationist, hunting down clients. Doulas are all on the same team; we are not trying to outdo the other and we often refer to each other or work as back-ups for each other. You should feel confident in hiring a doula as a team player: she understands she is part of a community.

Ultimately, a doula is a servant; in heart and in mind and in hands. Her service is one of love. Just as a freed bond-servant would remain under the master because of loyal allegiance, so a doula remains because of her love for her clients, their partners, their birth, their children, their story…she is a servant because of love. 

Love, Lauren