Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do Doulas only work with people who want a “natural” birth?
A: Doulas provide caring, quality labour support to women who choose many different ways to labour and birth. Whether a woman prefers to labour with epidural anesthesia or work towards a medication free labour, a doula is available to support her in the manner she desires.
Q: Will my Doula tell the nurses and doctors what I want and don’t want in labour?
A: A Doula does not communicate your desires to your medical team. It is your job to talk with your medical team. A Doula can make sure you have the information you need to make informed decisions and help empower your choices so that you feel confident when speaking to doctors and nurses.
Q: Won’t a Doula take my husband’s place at the birth?
A: A Doula will never “push out” husband willing and eager to be at his partner’s side during labour. A Doula will be ready to provide support to a woman whose husband does not wish to be the primary labour support and will give husbands guidance for providing essential support to their partners.
Q: Is a Doula redundant if I have a midwife?
A: While some midwives love to provide hands on labour support, many midwives find their strengths elsewhere. Most midwives will only join you in labour when you’re contractions are well established. Doulas typically join you in early labour or when you feel you need support.
Q: What if my doctor doesn’t like Doulas?
A: Despite the well-documented health and emotional benefits of continuous labour support by a non-medical, unrelated person, some doctors don’t like Doulas. This is very rare and most likely due to the doctor not understanding a Doula’s role and scope of practice. If you want Doula support during your labour and your doctor does not seem supportive of Doulas, ask your Doula to provide you with a handout explaining what it is that Doulas do.
** Obstetricians are wonderfully skilled surgeons who save the lives of mothers and babies all the time and I deeply respect their many years of experience, however, I have to wonder if when an obstetrician is particularly negative about their patients choosing Doula support they may feel their ability to control their patient’s labour choices is compromised. If your doctor is ever condescending or hostile about your reasonable pregnancy and birth choices, it may be time to re-evaluate if they are the right healthcare provider for you.
Q: Will I have an easy labour if I hire a Doula?
A: Birth can be unpredictable. Since there are a lot of different factors that contribute to successful labours, just hiring a doula can’t guarantee a smooth or easy labour. It can, however, give you a greater chance of avoiding many complications and interventions in labour and birth. Women who hire Doulas reduce their risk of having a c-section by 50%, reduce their need for pitocin by 40%, request epidurals 60% less often, have 40% fewer forceps deliveries than the general population and have labours that are 25% shorter than women who do not use Doulas
