When I meet with expectant couples for a consultation, they often want to know how I, as a doula interact with hospital staff and/or their midwife and assistant(s). It is an excellent question! Today I'd like to clear up any confusion about how a doula fits into the birth team.
The doula and hospital staff
A good doula aims to be a team player. The doula's focus is on the birthing woman and her partner. Often the way in which she helps the birthing couple is helpful for the hospital staff as well. A doula facilitates communication between the birthing couple and the hospital staff. This is helpful for the birthing couple AND the hospital staff.
Also, a doula takes care of many of the emotional and physical needs of a birthing couple. This may mean that the couple is less reliant on nurses and care providers for those needs. The nurses and doctors still offer some level of support and encouragement, and they are able to keep their attention where it is most needed.
Will the doula get in the way or interfere?
No! A doula strives to be out of the way and to not interfere with any medical procedures that are being done. Occasionally a doula may find herself in a less-than-ideal position and she will do her best to move out of the way so that hospital staff can do what they need to do and do so in such a way that the birthing woman continues to feel supported.
Will the doula tell the staff what to do?
No! That is not a doula's place! A good doula empowers the birthing couple to make their wishes known. A doula will never tell hospital staff what a birthing woman wants, needs or should do. And she will never tell the staff what THEY need to do. The doula may ask questions if she feels that the answers will be helpful to the birthing couple. She may remind the birthing couple that they had wanted to do (or not do) something. She may even alert the couple to things that are happening that the couple may otherwise be unaware of. But she does not tell the staff how to do their job!
What about homebirth?
At a home birth a doula's job is much the same as at a hospital birth. A midwife is usually focused on the whole woman – physically, emotionally, and medically. This means that the addition of a doula is very helpful, especially for moments when the midwife and/or her assistants need to be focused on the medical elements. Having multiple people present who are focused on the birthing woman and her growing family is often helpful. A doula will not tell a home birth midwife or her assistants what needs to be done, but will help ensure that the birthing couple is empowered to speak for themselves.
The doula and hospital staff
A good doula aims to be a team player. The doula's focus is on the birthing woman and her partner. Often the way in which she helps the birthing couple is helpful for the hospital staff as well. A doula facilitates communication between the birthing couple and the hospital staff. This is helpful for the birthing couple AND the hospital staff.
Also, a doula takes care of many of the emotional and physical needs of a birthing couple. This may mean that the couple is less reliant on nurses and care providers for those needs. The nurses and doctors still offer some level of support and encouragement, and they are able to keep their attention where it is most needed.
Will the doula get in the way or interfere?
No! A doula strives to be out of the way and to not interfere with any medical procedures that are being done. Occasionally a doula may find herself in a less-than-ideal position and she will do her best to move out of the way so that hospital staff can do what they need to do and do so in such a way that the birthing woman continues to feel supported.
Will the doula tell the staff what to do?
No! That is not a doula's place! A good doula empowers the birthing couple to make their wishes known. A doula will never tell hospital staff what a birthing woman wants, needs or should do. And she will never tell the staff what THEY need to do. The doula may ask questions if she feels that the answers will be helpful to the birthing couple. She may remind the birthing couple that they had wanted to do (or not do) something. She may even alert the couple to things that are happening that the couple may otherwise be unaware of. But she does not tell the staff how to do their job!
What about homebirth?
At a home birth a doula's job is much the same as at a hospital birth. A midwife is usually focused on the whole woman – physically, emotionally, and medically. This means that the addition of a doula is very helpful, especially for moments when the midwife and/or her assistants need to be focused on the medical elements. Having multiple people present who are focused on the birthing woman and her growing family is often helpful. A doula will not tell a home birth midwife or her assistants what needs to be done, but will help ensure that the birthing couple is empowered to speak for themselves.
Kayla Wells Smith, Birth Doula, HCHI
I am a homeschooling mom of two little boys and wife to a musician who also works as a freelance
videographer. We have three beautiful cats (which is admittedly too many), two fish, and a gazillion “rolypoly's" outside that the kids claim as pets. I enjoy gardening and researching everything.
My introduction to doulas came when I was 36 weeks pregnant with my first child. My midwife looked at me and said, “You need a doula.” I had no idea what a doula was, but she gave me an email address for an amazing doula who eventually attended the birth of my first.
When my first little guy was just 7 months old, I found out that I was pregnant with my second. I promptly called my doula friend who said, “You need Hypnobabies!” I signed up and took the Hypnobabies class she was teaching at the time and never looked back! My Hypnobabies birth was amazing! My husband and I could hardly believe that birth could be so comfortable and calm! After a fabulous second birth experience I decided that I wanted to be a part of helping families have the best birth for them. I started by becoming a doula. I trained with DONA International. In 2014 I decided to begin the process of becoming a Hypnobabies Instructor. I was officially certified as a Hypnobabies instructor and Hypnodoula in June of 2015. I love helping families become educated about childbirth and supporting them through pregnancy. In 2016, I officially completed the Becoming Dad Certification process and am now "Becoming Dad Certified."
E-mail: kayla@nashvillebirthandbabies.com
I am a homeschooling mom of two little boys and wife to a musician who also works as a freelance
videographer. We have three beautiful cats (which is admittedly too many), two fish, and a gazillion “rolypoly's" outside that the kids claim as pets. I enjoy gardening and researching everything.
My introduction to doulas came when I was 36 weeks pregnant with my first child. My midwife looked at me and said, “You need a doula.” I had no idea what a doula was, but she gave me an email address for an amazing doula who eventually attended the birth of my first.
When my first little guy was just 7 months old, I found out that I was pregnant with my second. I promptly called my doula friend who said, “You need Hypnobabies!” I signed up and took the Hypnobabies class she was teaching at the time and never looked back! My Hypnobabies birth was amazing! My husband and I could hardly believe that birth could be so comfortable and calm! After a fabulous second birth experience I decided that I wanted to be a part of helping families have the best birth for them. I started by becoming a doula. I trained with DONA International. In 2014 I decided to begin the process of becoming a Hypnobabies Instructor. I was officially certified as a Hypnobabies instructor and Hypnodoula in June of 2015. I love helping families become educated about childbirth and supporting them through pregnancy. In 2016, I officially completed the Becoming Dad Certification process and am now "Becoming Dad Certified."
E-mail: kayla@nashvillebirthandbabies.com
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