Glossary

Term · Getting Ready for Birth

doula

Also: birth doula, doulas

A trained companion who gives emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after birth. A doula does not provide medical care.

In plain words

A doula is a trained support person for birth and early postpartum. The doula supports the mother with comfort measures, information, and emotional care. They help the mother prepare, talk with the care team, and feel heard. A doula does not do clinical tasks such as exams or medical decisions. Some doulas work during labor, and some work after birth at home. Doula services can be paid privately, through insurance, or through state programs. Many mothers find that a doula helps them feel more prepared. A partner, family member, and doula can share the work. Choosing a doula is a personal decision, and interviewing a few is a common step.

The deeper version

Doulas provide continuous, nonclinical support in labor and postpartum, including comfort measures, advocacy, and information. Bohren and colleagues (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017) found that continuous support during childbirth was associated with a higher rate of spontaneous vaginal birth, shorter labor, fewer births, and more positive experience, with high-certainty evidence on several outcomes. ACOG Committee Opinion 766 (2019) on approaches to limit intervention during labor and birth recognizes continuous support as a low-intervention practice. Certification bodies such as DONA International set standards of practice, and training and credentialing vary. Controversy concerns the evidence quality in high-income settings, the cost barrier, and integration with clinical teams.

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Sources

  • Bohren MA et al. — Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Committee Opinion 766: Approaches to Limit Intervention During Labor and Birth, 2019

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