A labor doula never leaves the laboring woman’s side. A doula helps her cope with labor pains and helps her have a pleasant birth experience, whether she chooses to give birth with or without medication or a planned cesarean birth. Doulas assists mothers with various comfort techniques, such as, breath awareness, positions and mobility, relaxation, visualizations, risks/benefits of specific procedures/options that may arise. Some doulas take pictures, videotape the birth, or write birth stories. She pampers the mother by giving her the things she really needs, such as, space, privacy, rubbing her back, wiping her face with a cool cloth, and encouraging/affirming her experience with childbirth as it unfolds. She is an advocate for the parent’s wishes. She also supports the father/partner’s unique journey through the birth process that ultimately changes him from a man/husband to a father (read more about Dads and Doulas). A doula celebrates the arrival of the baby, all the hard work, and the wonderful journey the parents have traveled to get through their birth no matter what the outcome is.

Because Doulas view pregnancy and childbirth as a natural process, they trust in the woman’s body to be able to birth her baby with respect to the woman’s individuality. Having someone at a woman’s birth who wants nothing more than for her to have a positive birth experience, who understands that there is a time and a place for medical interventions if needed, boosts confidence and eases anxieties for the laboring woman and her husband/partner. At the end, No one can really measure the value of hiring a doula. No one forgets the birth of their children and the special moments that follow - a doula can help assure that those memories are happy and healthy.