What Is A Doula & What Do They Do?

My Health Assistant09 Aug, 2023Health

A doula is a person who provides support to women throughout pregnancy, labour, birth, and sometimes the postnatal period. They?re not medically trained and don?t provide advice, but can help with practical tasks, provide informational support based on their experience, and look after emotional needs. Doulas can be appointed at any point during pregnancy or in the weeks or months after the birth of a baby. Some doulas?typically known as birth doulas?will focus on the journey to pregnancy and labour itself, while others?called postnatal doulas?specialise in providing support in the first stage of motherhood. It?s also not uncommon for doulas to take on both duties, working with the same family from the beginning of their pregnancy into the early years of their child?s life.