Is a Doula Responsible for the Birth Outcome?

 
What Does a Doula do?

Birth doulas provide information and support during pregnancy, and labor and birth.  Below is a general list of what they do.  Each birth, each woman, and each family is individual, so needs will vary.

1. Birth doulas provide emotional support
2. Birth doulas answer questions and help find accurate information for informed choices
3. Birth doulas encourage partners to be involved as they choose
4. Birth doulas explain and demonstrate various comfort measures for labor
5. Birth doulas can attend prenatal appointments with clinical care providers
6. Birth doulas ask their clients lots of questions
7. Birth doulas help clients formulate a birth vision

Many doulas offer other services, such as placenta encapsulation, childbirth education, and lactation services.

Doulas providegreat support and comfort.  Studies show the increase in vaginal birth, the lower rates of cesarean-section, and increased confidence in mothering when women have the support of a birth doula. For more about the postpartum doula check out this blog post.

What happens when the birth that was envisioned, and all the practicing of comfort measures, and information provided does not create the desired birth outcome? What happens when a woman who wanted a natural birth has an epidural, and a long drawn out vaginal birth with much intervention, or a cesarean-section?

---

Read More