What is a doula? How can they help me?

doula squeezes laboring persons hips as they lean over a birth ball

What Is a Doula?

A doula is a trained, non-medical professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Doulas are dedicated to helping families feel informed, empowered, and cared for throughout the transitions of welcoming a baby. While doulas do not provide clinical care or make medical decisions, their presence has been shown to improve birth outcomes and enhance overall satisfaction with the experience. Different types of doulas offer support at different stages—most commonly during labor (birth doulas) and after the baby is born (postpartum doulas).

What Does a Birth Doula Do?

A birth doula supports pregnant people and their birth team emotionally, physically, and informationally before, during, and shortly after labor. They help clients prepare for birth by sharing evidence-based information about pregnancy, labor, birth options, and early postpartum recovery. During labor, doulas offer hands-on comfort, emotional reassurance, and help facilitate communication between the client, their support team, and medical providers.

Birth doulas do not provide clinical or medical care—this includes performing vaginal checks, monitoring fetal heart tones, prescribing herbs, or giving medical advice.

All of our doulas have recieved formal training. If a doula is also a licensed healthcare professional, they may offer clinical services—but only if clearly stated that they are not acting as a doula in that role. When needs go beyond a doula’s scope, appropriate referrals are made.

After birth, doulas help families process the birth experience and provide support with newborn care, feeding, and recovery.

Research shows that having a doula present can:

  • Shorten labor and reduce complications

  • Decrease the need for Pitocin, vacuum, or forceps

  • Lower the chance of cesarean birth

  • Reduce use of pain medication and epidurals

  • Improve birth satisfaction and reduce feelings of losing control

What Does a Postpartum Doula Do?

A postpartum doula supports families as they adjust to life with a new baby. Their focus is on the healing parent and overall family well-being, offering care that helps everyone transition smoothly.

Support may include:

  • Feeding and hydration for the birthing parent

  • Guidance on baby care and newborn behavior

  • Assistance with lactation and feeding

  • Supporting partners and siblings in their new roles

  • Emotional support and recovery guidance

The postpartum doula’s tasks vary based on the family’s needs and the doula’s agreed-upon role. They are not medical providers and do not offer clinical care, diagnoses, or medical advice. They are also not childcare providers—any infant care offered is brief and intended to support the parent’s rest and recovery.

All of our postpartum doulas are formally trained and provide evidence-based information and referrals. Duties and scope are clearly communicated with families before services begin.

If needs fall outside a doula’s role, referrals are made to appropriate healthcare or community resources.