What A Doula Does (In Early Labor)

I love to recommend Penny Simkin’s book “The Birth Partner”* to couples that I meet who either can’t afford a doula or have decided that having a doula attend their birth is not for them. Penny writes the book for birth partners and directly addresses them through the entire book. The book itself is rather thick and can be a bit intimidating, especially if you aren’t an avid reader. If you aren’t a big reader, (but still feel like you want to read something  to prepare for the upcoming birth) there are pages in the book that are marked by the color gray on the edges.These pages are the really important stuff you should know about labor, birth and how you can be the best birth partner on the big day. One of my favorite things about this book as a doula, is how Penny addresses the birth partner in the book and explains what a doula will do at a birth to help the birth partner and the mother as a team.

What Does A Doula Do (In Early Labor)?

Quoted Text from "The Birth Partner"

Beginning with your phone call to her, the doula will probably:

•             Ask what’s going on. Tell her about the signs of labor, the contraction pattern, and how you both are feeling and coping.

•             Ask to speak to the mother, and assess her distractibility.

•             Listen to her through a contraction to get an idea of how she is coping (does her breathing or moaning sound relaxed or tense?) and to encourage her in her planned ritual, perhaps by breathing audibly with her through the contraction. This will help the mother relax and breathe rhythmically.

•             Ask the mother the all-important question: “What was going through your mind during that contraction?” As she listens to the mother’s response, the doula assesses whether the mother is positive and coping well or feeling distressed.

If the mother is coping well and you do not tell her otherwise, the doula will probably conclude that you do not need her to come yet. She will remind you of things to do and make a plan for staying in touch.If the mother is distressed or asks the doula to come, the doula may suggest some coping strategies to try until she gets there, and then jury to join you. She should tell you just when and where she’ll arrive- at your home, the hospital or the birth center. When the doula joins you, she will:

•             Wash her hands, and, if you are at the hospital or birth center, introduce herself to the staff.

•             Asses the mother’s needs and how you are feeling

•             Assist as appropriate, keeping in mind your planned support role, which you, the mother and the doula will have discussed in a previous meeting.

•             Sit quietly through a contraction or two to observe the two of you working together, so that her role will fit with what you are doing. She may fix a cup of tea for each of you, give the mother a shoulder or foot rub, or in other ways create a calming atmosphere.

•             Help you figure out when to go to the hospital or birth center, if you are still at home.

Most doulas are great at doing whatever needs to be done, and providing help where you and your partner need it. Every couple and every birth are different. As a doula, I strive to tailor my services to meet the individual needs of the mother and her chosen labor partners.

*The Birth Partner, Third Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions (Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, &)