Doula, Schmoola. What is that?

“You’re a Doula? What’s a Doula?”

This is the question that is asked immediately when I express to someone that I am a Doula. I know this question is coming. I know that they often confuse it for a midwife, or simply just do not know what a Doula is. I know it is such an unfamiliar to term to many. And on the inside, I’m super excited to talk about what it is that I do as a Doula.

Let’s imagine a complex process, such as purchasing a home. First, you begin by searching for an individual who can assist you with this process: a licensed realtor. You express to your realtor the type of home you desire, its features, your preferential location and, most important, your budget for this home. Your realtor then begins the process of sharing pertinent information and resources with you: options for mortgage loan officers/companies, home-buying assistance programs, and home listings that aligns with the desires you are seeking. After you have imagined this scenario, I want to express to you that a realtor is an assistant to the home-buying process, as doula is an assistant to the process of navigating pregnancy and postpartum. You express to your doula the type of experience you’d like to have during your labor, your desires to breastfeed, and whether you will be having a home- or hospital birth. Doulas have extensive knowledge on the physiology and psychology of pregnancy, access to various resources to help families prepare for the impending birth of their new child, and have a wide range of skills and techniques that aligns with your desires.

The thought of bringing a child into the world may create some confusion and overwhelming emotions in general. There are many rapid changes that you are going through as you navigate pregnancy: physical changes to your body as your baby grows, mental changes as you shift mentality and gear up for motherhood, emotional changes as your body circulates many hormones to accommodate the progression of pregnancy, and subsequently the progression of the postpartum phase. So as Doulas, in addition to providing necessary information and resources, we also provide continuous emotional, physical, and spiritual support throughout the pregnancy, labor, and postpartum experiences. We put forth our best effort to ensure that you understand all of the options and resources that are available to you in order to make informed and educated decisions.

Doulas are a wonderful addition to your birth and postpartum team. Here is a general break down of the differences between a Labor Support Doula and Postpartum Support Doula, how it is beneficial, and why many women feel it has changed their outlook on pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum.

Labor Support Doula (also referred to Birth Doula)
A Labor Support Doula is a Doula that provides support services throughout a woman’s pregnancy, during her labor and delivery, and immediate postpartum phase. While a midwife or an obstetrician is typically concerned with the clinical aspect of the pregnant woman and her baby, a doula is more focused on non-clinical needs that the mother might have. As a Doula, we are very familiar with the physiological process of pregnancy and labor, and understand that labor can be an intense process, both physically and emotionally. Because of this understanding, we provide education on what to expect and the best way to employ different coping mechanisms in order to help maintain the mother’s comfort at all times.

If you have a spouse, partner, or significant other that plans to be part of the birth experience, do not fear that a doula will take this experience away from them. We have ways to be sure that your partner is part of this experience and also educate them on what to expect as a partner. Here is an awesome statement that I once heard and that I like to tell women who are considering a doula: Your partner knows you intimately, and a doula knows birth intimately. Together we can apply our knowledge and make a perfect team for creating your best experience.

It is generally advised to contract with a doula early in the pregnancy so that it allows the doula enough time to build a relationship with her client. This is also beneficial from a financial perspective, as it allows adequate time to satisfy any payments for this service..

Postpartum Suport Doula
A Postpartum Support Doula is a Doula that provides support after a woman has given birth. During the postpartum phase, rest, bonding, and healing are crucial, regardless of how birth was achieved. There are many demands after a woman has given birth: processing the pre-delivery events, the post-delivery events, adjusting to a newborn and their needs, and physical changes that require healing. A Postpartum Support Doula can help navigate this process by performing services that alleviates the mother of other demands that life may require: household chores, cooking, cleaning, running errands, and/or tending to other children.

Essentially, a postpartum doula is invested in your overall well-being and healing as you adjust to life with baby in your arms. She is equipped with the necessary tools and techniques to help make your postpartum stage a positively memorable one.

What else can you do?
Many Labor and Postpartum Support Doulas have other specialities that new parents may benefit from once their baby has been born. As an example, we may have extensive knowledge on breastfeeding, we might be a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician assisting with proper car-seat installation and education, a yoni steaming facilitator, may assist with belly binding, baby-wearing or cloth diapering. The list can be endless, but ultimately your Doula will let you know how she can assist, or she may provide a resource that helps fulfill your needs.

I hope this clears up any questions about what a Doula is, and whether you would like a Doula present on this journey. Let me know what you think in the comments!

Are you looking for a doula?
I currently serve the Metro-Atlanta area. If you reside within those limits please feel free to schedule a phone call with me. If you are outside of the area in which I serve, check out my Resources page for the doula directories that I have linked there.

updated 02/09/2025