Why to have a Doula
Support during labor is highly recommended
a. What is a doula? What do they do during the birth? What qualifications do they usually have?
A doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical and informational support to the mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. The doula’s purpose is to help women have a safe, memorable and empowering birthing experience because she recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life. The doula understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. She assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth. Stays with the woman throughout the labor and facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers. The doula does not take away from the partner’s role, she allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level.
At this point in time you don’t have to do anything to be a doula. But it is highly recommended and more respected, especially if you are charging for your services, if you go to an official training course and get a certification from a national organization such as DONA International or CAPPA. In order to receive these certifications you have to go through quite an extended process of volunteering for births and getting good reviews written by all the medical staff and family involved. Then you must read several books, write essays, and take a certification test.
b. How much does it generally cost to hire a doula?
The cost depends on the area you live in and the doula’s amount of experience and training. Also it will depend what the doula includes in her services or package that she offers. For example, she may take pictures for you during the birth as well or she may write a birth story to give to you after the birth. Her fee can range anywhere from free to 2,500. Yes, free! If you use a doula in training they may not
a. What is a doula? What do they do during the birth? What qualifications do they usually have?
A doula is a professional trained in childbirth who provides emotional, physical and informational support to the mother who is expecting, is experiencing labor, or has recently given birth. The doula’s purpose is to help women have a safe, memorable and empowering birthing experience because she recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life. The doula understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. She assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth. Stays with the woman throughout the labor and facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers. The doula does not take away from the partner’s role, she allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level.
At this point in time you don’t have to do anything to be a doula. But it is highly recommended and more respected, especially if you are charging for your services, if you go to an official training course and get a certification from a national organization such as DONA International or CAPPA. In order to receive these certifications you have to go through quite an extended process of volunteering for births and getting good reviews written by all the medical staff and family involved. Then you must read several books, write essays, and take a certification test.
b. How much does it generally cost to hire a doula?
The cost depends on the area you live in and the doula’s amount of experience and training. Also it will depend what the doula includes in her services or package that she offers. For example, she may take pictures for you during the birth as well or she may write a birth story to give to you after the birth. Her fee can range anywhere from free to 2,500. Yes, free! If you use a doula in training they may not