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As a postpartum doula, you will assist new families in adapting to life together in the first few weeks after birth. The Doulas of North America (DONA) website notes that a postpartum doula "provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period."
A doula is a skilled labor and birthing assistant. Although not medically trained, doulas are required to be certified in order to practice. The Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators (ALACE) operates doula training and certification through The Organization of Labor Assistants for Birth Options and Resources, also known as toLabor. This association has set specific guidelines for doula training that adhere to universal health and safety practices and support its birthing ideology.
Women expecting a baby often want someone with them at the delivery, besides the physician or nurse, who has experience with the birthing process. Doulas provide this type of service, which includes advocating for the pregnant woman's desires, explaining about the birth process and assisting with newborn and postpartum care. Fortunately, there are many doula certification programs available to ensure doulas have the necessary experience and knowledge to provide such service.
According to DONA International, a doula is "a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period." There are a small amount of grants and awards available for professional doulas and midwives.
As professional labor attendants, doulas help hundreds of women before, during, and after childbirth. They offer emotional and physical support and can provide additional insight into techniques that help pregnant women achieve healthy births. When women enter into the last few weeks of pregnancy, they often ask doulas for tips and techniques to speed up the labor process.
