What specific types of assistance can a Doula/Birth Partner provide for Mother and Baby?

  • Continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy, labour, and childbirth.
  • Support from a person who understands and trusts the process of birth, and who helps facilitate the birth experience for the parents, baby, and primary care providers.
  • Emotional support.
  • Exercise and physical suggestions to make pregnancy and childbirth more comfortable.
  • Help with preparation of a birth plan.
  • Facilitation of communication between members of labouring woman’s birth team – though most doula certification programs discourage doulas from talking directly with caregivers for the mother/partners.
  • Massage and other non-pharmacological pain relief measures.
  • Positioning suggestions during labour and birth.
  • Support the partner so that he/she can provide support and encouragement to the labouring woman.
  • Help to avoid unnecessary interventions.
  • Help with breastfeeding preparation and beginning.
  • Some doulas offer a written record of the birth (birth story).
  • Is present during entire labour and afterwards as long as is needed by parent(s).

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