FAQs

What is a doula?

A doula is non-medical support for a person experiencing childbirth, miscarriage, induced abortion, or stillbirth. Doulas advocate for birthing people, connect them with resources, and provide physical and emotional comfort. (Types of doulas include: birth doulas, postpartum doulas, abortion doulas, and antepartum doulas.)

Why have a doula?

Numerous studies have documented the benefits of having a doula present during labor. 

• Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth, found a very high number of positive birth outcomes and a more positive birth experience when a doula was present. Women were less likely to have pain-relief medications administered and less likely to have a cesarean birth. (Childbirth Connection)

• Having a doula as a member of the birth team decreases the overall cesarean rate by 50%, the length of labor by 25%, the use of oxytocin by 40%, and requests for an epidural by 60%

  (Hodnett ED. Gates S Hofmeyr GJ. Sakala C. Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. CD003766, (2003).