DOULAS AND

LABOR SUPPORT
WORKING TO ACHIEVE HEALTHY BIRTH OUTCOMES

WHAT IS A DOULA?
A doula provides continuous emotional support, physical comfort, non-clinical advice,
and assistance in obtaining information to help make informed decisions regarding
options. The doula does not provide any clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, listening
to fetal heart tones, or vaginal examinations. During labor, the doula focuses on the
birthing parent through each contraction, offering calm reassurance, praise,
encouragement and comfort as needed.

IS THERE ANY RESEARCH BEHIND USING A DOULA?

28% less likely to have a cesarean section
31% less likely to have an augmented labor with the use of Pitocin
9% less likely to use pain medication
34% less likely to rate their birth as negative

MY FAMILY MEMBER OR PARTNER IS PLANNING

ON ACTING AS MY DOULA
That is awesome, we value your partner and family's role in the birth room more than
you can understand. However, as a doula, we recognize that your partner is
experiencing a big transition, and they need support too!

Recently, doula research has shown that effective non-clinical labor support cannot
be an "add-on" service (such as with a midwife, or labor and delivery nurse), nor can a
loved on provide all of the support a birthing person needs.

I HAVE A MIDWIFE, I DON'T NEED A DOULA

Your midwife and your doula are a team, they work beautifully in collaboration with
each other. Your midwife cannot do all the things to keep your comfortable during
your labor while remaining alert enough to make sure that your newborn is healthy or
deal with complications that may arise during your birth. Your midwife cannot stay
with you for hours upon hours and do that well.

HOW CAN I FIND A DOULA AND HOW MUCH DOES

ONE COST?
While some health agencies have a doulas on staff to provide assistance, many are
self-employed and contracted privately. 

The investment of a doula ranges, as some provide their services as a donation, some
operate on a sliding scale, and some have a flat fee of anywhere from $300-2500,
depending on location.

www.doulamatch.net

SEED OF LIFE BIRTHING SERVICES