What is a birth doula and what do they do?
What Is a Birth Doula?
A birth doula is a trained, non-medical professional who provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to a birthing person and their partner before, during, and shortly after labor and birth.
Unlike doctors or midwives, a birth doula does not perform clinical tasks or make medical decisions. Instead, a doula’s role is to support you, helping you feel informed, confident, and supported throughout your birth experience.
What Does a Birth Doula Do?
A birth doula may support you by:
Offering evidence-based information so you can make informed decisions about your care
Providing comfort measures during labor such as breathing techniques, position changes, massage, and relaxation strategies
Offering continuous emotional support and reassurance throughout labor and birth
Helping you communicate your preferences with your care team
Supporting your partner so they can be fully present and confident in their role
Research from organizations like the CDC, NIH, and major universities consistently shows that continuous labor support from a doula is associated with:
Lower rates of cesarean birth
Reduced use of pain medication
Shorter labors
Higher satisfaction with the birth experience
Who Can Benefit From a Birth Doula?
Birth doulas support families across all birth settings and feeding choices, including:
Hospital births
Planned cesarean births
VBACs
Unmedicated or medicated labors
First-time parents and experienced parents alike
Whether your goal is a low-intervention birth or simply to feel calm, supported, and informed, a birth doula meets you where you are, without judgment.
Is a Birth Doula Evidence-Based?
Yes. Birth doulas rely on current, peer-reviewed research and guidance from trusted sources such as government health agencies and academic institutions. The goal is not to replace medical care, but to complement it, ensuring families understand their options and feel empowered throughout the process.
