Birth Doulas

Studies have shown that when doulas attend births, labours are shorter and have fewer complications, and babies are healthier and breastfeed more easily.

A Birth Doula

• Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labour
• Assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for birth
• Stays with the woman or couple throughout the entire labour and immediate postpartum period
• Provides emotional and physical support as well as an objective viewpoint
• Helps her clients get the information they need to make informed decisions during the prenatal period and throughout labour and delivery
• Facilitates communication between the labouring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
• Encourages and supports the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level
• A birth doula certified by DONA International is designated by the initials CD(DONA).
• A birth doula certified by CAPPA is designated by the initials CLD.

A Birth Doula DOES NOT

• Replace the woman’s partner or care providers
• Make decisions for (or speak instead of) her client
• Perform clinical or medical tasks or provide clinical diagnoses.