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What Does a Doula Do?


As a Taranaki based Birth & Postpartum Doula many of my clients ask me this.


They want to be supported, but they don’t want to be told what to do. They want help, but they don’t want anyone to take away from the special bonding time that is the birth of their child. I totally get this, because it is exactly what I wanted when I hired a doula as well.


This is your guide to knowing the answer to your question ‘What does a doula do?'




A Doula's Work

The word doula comes from Greek language and simply means “woman’s servant”. I always tell my clients that the role of a doula ultimately is to observe and serve. There are many ways I show up for my clients, and yet, how this looks, changes for each client.

Sometimes the best thing I offer a client is support to work through their fears before birth. Sometimes it can be the hand holding and counter pressure. Sometimes it's helping create a birth plan. Other times it's supporting a Dad with how to support his partner.



A doula is a trained professional that provides continuous support to a mother. That means instead of popping in and out like most of her medical team, a doulas job first and foremost is whatever the mother needs.


Doulas provide emotional and physical support, and help mothers collect and interpret information about their birth so they can advocate for their wants and make decisions she (the mother) feels confident about.




What does a Doula do before birth?

When I was pregnant with my second child, my doula sat across from me as I sat on my couch and cried about my first birth experience. I was overwhelmingly scared to do it again. She listened and helped me to process my experience. She helped me know how to better prepare so I did not end up in the same place again. She also helped me realise that even if I did have an emergency, I would never be left alone and I would have someone by my side supporting me and helping me use my voice. This was invaluable.


Before birth, a doula will help you by:

  • listening and acknowledging any concerns or fears you may have around your upcoming birth

  • supporting you to find evidence-based information which allows you to make educated decisions about your birth plan

  • help you to define your birth preferences and create a clear vision of your birth

  • connecting you with local resources in the community

  • helping you know your options as far as birth locations and providers

  • being available to talk through any unexpected changes to your birth plan

  • supporting you with information about what interventions may be offered to you and guide you in ways to express your desires around these.


What Does a Doula Do During Birth?




A Doula Will Help You Physically By:

  • ensuring you stay well hydrated

  • providing snacks for you and your birthing team

  • using pressure points and hip squeezes to give the counter pressure you crave

  • making suggestions for different movement and positions

  • going with you for a walk if you need a change

  • making you laugh with a dance party when you need to pick the energy up

I distinctly remember being in the birthing pool and having my doula place a cold flannel on my forehead while she fed me ice chips, my husband rubbing my back while my midwife listened to the baby's heartbeat. Everyone had a role, and I was glad I could take that moment to fully rest between contractions. My team took care of me. I did not have to ask for what I needed. My focus was on birthing my baby. Just as important as the doing of the things I needed, was knowing the things I needed. Which often she knew even before I did


A Doula Will Help You Emotionally By:

  • her reassuring presence

  • encouraging you to tap into your inner strength when things get tough

  • counteracting that voice in your head that says you can’t do it

  • providing you with ideas for managing pain

  • suggesting different ideas that could help your labour progress if you feel stuck

  • encouraging you to change things up if you start to feel defeated or deflated

My doula did wonderful things with counter pressure, birth positions and more. But the most important thing she did was hold the space for me to listen to my body. I felt like I was managing contractions fairly well until I hit transition. Then there it was, a contraction so big I felt like I could break in half from its intensity. At this moment, when I felt like going into panic mode, I looked at my doula. She smiled back at me. It was so simple. Without saying anything, I instantly felt safe and supported. Three more contractions like that and I was through transition and pushing. This was incredibly hard work, but not overwhelming for me. My husband was there breathing with me and holding my hand through this.

His support was amazing, and I will remember it forever. But without my doula’s presence, experience, and confidence, I would have entered full panic mode during the intensity of transition.


A Doula Will Free Up Your Partner To Support You By:

  • guiding your partner on where to apply pressure to give you the most relief

  • taking pictures so your partner can be right next to you, rather than trying to document everything

  • reminding your partner of the words you want to hear

  • supporting your partner through their feelings and to cope with the fact that they are witnessing you in pain and they cannot take it away no matter how much they want to

  • being a calm and confident presence

  • giving them a chance to take a break from supporting you so that they can go to the toilet, or get something to eat

  • making sure that you are not alone when it is 3 in the morning and they are exhausted and need a nap

Partners get overwhelmed during birth too. It is incredibly difficult to watch the person you love go through something so intense and not be able to take the pain away from them. A doula will be there to reassure and support your partner and work through any concerns or fears they may have.


We often say that when a baby is born, so is a mother. But it is also true that this is a huge transition for the partner in your life as well. Having a doula means that your partner will have someone to encourage and guide them through the journey as well. Often a doula can help a partner find their place in the birth room when otherwise they could feel a little lost.


What Does A Doula Do During a C-Section?


C-sections can be an incredible way to give birth. Often, if a c-section is unplanned, a doula can help you process your emotions about the change and help you to feel safe and comfortable. If for any reason your partner is separated from you to be with the baby, a doula stays with the you and offers support.

  • Often she can go into the operating room with you where she can offer support and comfort

  • She can help you focus on the birth of your baby instead of the many distractions in the room.

  • She can take pictures of your first moments with baby as a new family

  • She can provide information about what is going on and how to cope with side effects such as shaking or nausea

  • Assist with skin to skin and support you with baby's first feed

What Does a Doula Do After Your Baby is Born?

You might think a doula’s job is done after the baby is born, but it’s not quite over yet. Your doula will visit you after you give birth to check on you and see how you’re doing, physically and emotionally. At the visit, your doula can offer a listening ear, encouragement, and—yet again!—plenty of information.

One of the best parts of having a doula is that you can talk to someone who totally gets it. Most new parents want to talk about what they went through to get the baby, and not everyone wants to hear all the gritty details. But nothing will phase your doula.

Even if you find it hard to talk about the labour and birth (if it was traumatic, for example), it will probably be therapeutic to talk it through with someone experienced in birth, who cares about you.

Your doula was there, was part of the experience, witnessed it all. Best of all, your doula probably has a clearer view of the event than you do! (You were a little busy.) She can share with you the whole story from a different view. This can help bring clarity, especially if there were complications or anything unexpected came up. For some birthing people, the experience is a bit of a blur, and it’s comforting to have someone tell you exactly what happened so you can remember it better.






Postpartum Doula

You don't want someone to come in and take over after you've had your baby - you need a friend to come alongside, who's happy to walk in and take you and your house as they are.

No set agenda other than seeing what needs doing.

A postpartum doula's support is tailored to your family's needs and can include practical aspects such as making meals, tidying up, folding washing, through to helping siblings adjust to their new baby, a listening ear and supporting you to create your village so that you can relax and enjoy your family.

What Does a Doula Do?

As a birth doula, I provide emotional and physical support to a woman during her labour and delivery. I can also facilitate communication with the staff to ensure that you have the information you need to make informed decisions regarding your baby’s birth. I can provide reassurance and perspective to you and your spouse/partner, make suggestions for labour progress, and help with relaxation, massage, positioning and other techniques for your comfort. I am independent and self-employed, and as such, am working for YOU, not your caregiver or place of birth. Having a doula doesn’t guarantee you will get everything you want during your birth, but it does mean that no matter what happens you will have a person equipped to support you by your side helping you navigate the new and unfamiliar waters.


As a postpartum doula, I provide a range of different services, tailored to each individual family's needs. Services include, but are not limited to, help with self-care recovery, postpartum comfort measures, infant care, parenting information, assistance with learning to feed and take care of your baby, as well as other practical services. I also help you to connect to your local community and resources and guide you in creating your village. Postpartum doula services for a family last anywhere from a few days, up to a few months after bringing home a new baby.








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