South Bay's Pregnancy & Birth Concierge
What is Doula?

Doula is a Greek word for “woman’s servant.”
A birth doula (Professional Labor Support) is a supportive companion professionally trained to provide physical, informational and emotional support during labor and birth.
She is a valuable part of your birth unit and teams up with your partner so that you have the most comprehensive care during labor and delivery.
A doula provides continuous support, beginning during early or Active Labor, through birth, and for approximately 2 hours following the birth. The doula offers help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement, positioning, and massage.
She also assists families with gathering information about the course of labor and their options. Her most critical role is providing continuous emotional reassurance and comfort.
Doulas attend home births and hospital births; medicated births and un-medicated births, with women whose care is being overseen by doctors or midwives. Doulas may be the only support person for the mother, or may be part of a labor support team including mom’s partner, friend(s), and/or family members.
Doulas specialize in non-medical skills, and do not perform clinical tasks, or diagnose medical conditions. They do not make decisions for their clients. Their goal is to provide the support and information needed to help the birthing mother have a safe and satisfying birth as the mother defines it.
Proven Benefits of Doula-Supported Childbirth
Decreased Medical Intervention in Labor*:
Reduces need for Cesarean-Section by 50%
Reduces length of labor by 25%
Reduces use of artificial oxytocin by 40%
Reduces pain medication use by 30%
Reduces the need for forceps/vacuum extraction by 40%
Reduces epidural requests by 60%
6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:
Less anxious and depressed
Had more confidence with baby
More satisfied w/ partner (71% vs 30%)
More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)
*These statistics appear in “A Doula Makes the Difference” by Nugent in Mothering Magazine, March-April 1998. For more about the research, see http://www.dona.org/publications/position_paper_birth.php
**Study cited in “The Doula” by Klaus in Childbirth Instructor Magazine, Spring 1995
A birth doula (Professional Labor Support) is a supportive companion professionally trained to provide physical, informational and emotional support during labor and birth.
She is a valuable part of your birth unit and teams up with your partner so that you have the most comprehensive care during labor and delivery.
A doula provides continuous support, beginning during early or Active Labor, through birth, and for approximately 2 hours following the birth. The doula offers help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement, positioning, and massage.
She also assists families with gathering information about the course of labor and their options. Her most critical role is providing continuous emotional reassurance and comfort.
Doulas attend home births and hospital births; medicated births and un-medicated births, with women whose care is being overseen by doctors or midwives. Doulas may be the only support person for the mother, or may be part of a labor support team including mom’s partner, friend(s), and/or family members.
Doulas specialize in non-medical skills, and do not perform clinical tasks, or diagnose medical conditions. They do not make decisions for their clients. Their goal is to provide the support and information needed to help the birthing mother have a safe and satisfying birth as the mother defines it.
Proven Benefits of Doula-Supported Childbirth
Decreased Medical Intervention in Labor*:
Reduces need for Cesarean-Section by 50%
Reduces length of labor by 25%
Reduces use of artificial oxytocin by 40%
Reduces pain medication use by 30%
Reduces the need for forceps/vacuum extraction by 40%
Reduces epidural requests by 60%
6 weeks after birth, mothers who had doulas were:
Less anxious and depressed
Had more confidence with baby
More satisfied w/ partner (71% vs 30%)
More likely to be breastfeeding (52% vs. 29%)
*These statistics appear in “A Doula Makes the Difference” by Nugent in Mothering Magazine, March-April 1998. For more about the research, see http://www.dona.org/publications/position_paper_birth.php
**Study cited in “The Doula” by Klaus in Childbirth Instructor Magazine, Spring 1995