Doulas are trained professionals who provide emotional, physical, and informational support to mothers before, during, and after labor. Unlike medical providers, doulas do not perform clinical tasks, but they offer continuous, non-judgmental support, respecting the mother’s birth plan—whether she chooses an unmedicated or medicated birth, in a hospital, birth center, or at home (Dekker, 2019).
The Madriella Doula Code of Ethics
A Doula Will:
✔️ Assist the mother throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum by providing emotional support, physical comfort, advocacy, and evidence-based information.
✔️ Help the mother create a Birth Plan and facilitate communication between the mother, her family, and medical care providers.
✔️ Offer postpartum support, including discussing the birth experience, emotional adjustment, and basic lactation support, such as positioning and timing (Kozhimannil et al., 2013).
✔️ Act with professionalism, respect, and compassion.
A Doula Will Never:
❌ Make medical decisions for the mother or family.
❌ Offer medical advice, diagnose conditions, or perform clinical procedures.
❌ Interfere with medical professionals or argue with doctors, midwives, or hospital staff.
The Birth Team
Each member of the birth team has a unique role:
👩⚕️ Doctor or Midwife – Ensures the safe delivery of the baby, providing medical care as needed.
❤️ Partner or Husband – Offers emotional support, love, and connection.
🤱 Doula – Provides continuous, hands-on support throughout labor, including:
- Encouragement and reassurance
- Pain relief techniques such as massage and position changes
- Breathing guidance and relaxation techniques
- Advocacy to help the mother express her birth preferences
- Assistance with immediate postpartum needs, including newborn feeding support (Bohren et al., 2017)
Basic Doula Services
Doulas offer a variety of services, which may vary based on training, experience, and specialization. Common services include:
- Initial Consultation – Meet the doula, discuss expectations, and ask questions.
- Prenatal Meetings – Typically one or two sessions to go over birth preferences, comfort measures, and preparation.
- 24/7 Phone, Text, and Email Support – Most doulas offer ongoing support leading up to the birth, typically until one week postpartum.
- Labor & Delivery Support – Doulas provide continuous presence and assistance during labor, usually starting at 37 weeks gestation.
- Postpartum Visit – Within 3–5 days after birth, doulas may assist with newborn care basics, feeding support, and maternal recovery.
- Educational Resources – Many doulas provide books, birthing tools, and access to courses on childbirth, breastfeeding, and postpartum recovery.
The Evidence Behind Doula Support
Research has shown that having a doula present during labor leads to better birth outcomes:
✅ 39% decrease in the risk of Cesarean section
✅ 15% increase in the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth
✅ 10% decrease in the use of pain medication
✅ 31% decrease in the risk of reporting a negative birth experience (Bohren et al., 2017)
A doula’s continuous presence has been linked to shorter labor times, reduced stress for the mother, and increased satisfaction with the birth experience (Dekker, 2019).
References:
- Bohren, M. A., Hofmeyr, G. J., Sakala, C., Fukuzawa, R. K., & Cuthbert, A. (2017). “Continuous support for women during childbirth.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 7(CD003766).
- Dekker, R. (2019). “Evidence on: Doulas.” Evidence-Based Birth. Retrieved from https://evidencebasedbirth.com
- Kozhimannil, K. B., Hardeman, R. R., Alarid-Escudero, F., Vogelsang, C. A., Blauer-Peterson, C., & Howell, E. A. (2013). “Doula care, birth outcomes, and costs among Medicaid beneficiaries.” American Journal of Public Health, 103(4), e113-e121.
For more information regarding Doulas, visit these pages:
- The Value of Labor Support
- Reasons You Need a Doula
- Affording a Doula: Is It Possible?
- Are Doulas Covered by Insurance?
- When to Call Your Doula
