What is a Doula?

A doula is a trained birth support professional who provides continuous emotional, physical, and educational support throughout pregnancy, labor, and the early postpartum period. Her role is to walk alongside you, helping you feel informed, confident, and supported as you prepare to bring your precious baby into the world.

Doulas support families who are planning vaginal births, whether unmedicated or with medical pain relief, and whether that is at home or at the hospital, and provide compassionate support if birth plans change unexpectedly.

What’s the Difference Between a Doula and a Midwife?

Midwives are licensed medical providers who are trained to offer clinical care during pregnancy and birth, including monitoring labor and delivering babies.

A doula does not provide medical care. Instead, she focuses on non-medical support, such as comfort measures, education, advocacy, and continuous presence. Doulas do not perform vaginal exams, monitor fetal heart tones, prescribe medications, or deliver babies. Their role is to complement your medical care team, not replace it.

What does a Doula do?

Support typically begins several months before your due date. During prenatal visits, your doula gets to know you and your birth preferences, helps you explore pain-coping options, and prepares both you and your partner for labor and delivery.

Your doula is also available to help you recognize early labor signs, offer guidance on when to contact your provider, and provide reassurance as labor begins.

During labor and birth, your doula may:

  • Offer steady encouragement and emotional reassurance

  • Support natural comfort and pain-coping techniques, including movement, breathing, positioning, and relaxation

  • Provide hands-on comfort, such as massage and counter-pressure

  • Help create a calm environment to reduce stress and anxiety

  • Encourage partner involvement and provide guidance so they feel confident and supported

  • Help you understand your options so you can make informed decisions if unexpected situations arise during labor

After birth, many doulas remain briefly to support initial bonding and breastfeeding, staying until you feel comfortable and settled.

Benefits of Having a Birth Doula?

Having continuous support during labor can be a powerful experience. Research shows that families who have doula support often experience:

  • Lower rates of cesarean birth

  • Shorter labor lengths

  • Reduced use of pain medication

  • Increased breastfeeding success

  • More positive and empowering birth experiences

  • Added emotional and physical support for birth partners

Will My Partner Feel Left Out if We Hire a Doula?

Not at all. A doula’s role is to support, not replace, your partner. Through prenatal meetings, your partner will gain tools and confidence to be actively involved during labor and birth.

Your partner knows you best, and their presence is deeply important. A doula works alongside them to provide reassurance, guidance, and relief when needed, helping everyone feel supported on birth day.