What is a doula?
A doula is a trained companion who is not a healthcare professional and who supports another individual through a significant experience (usually health related), such as childbirth, miscarriage, induced abortion or stillbirth, or non-reproductive experiences such as end of life care. A doula may also provide support to the client's partner, family, and friends. The doula's goal, and role, is to help the client feel safe and comfortable, complementing the role of the healthcare professionals who provide the client's medical care.
Research has shown that the presence of a birth doula helps a laboring person’s outcomes in a variety of ways including a reduced risk of cesarean section, a decreased likelihood of use of any medications during labor, an increased likelihood of a shorter labor, and ultimately increases their chance of having a positive memory of their birth experience. Doulas are valuable in empowering the birthing person and allowing the birthing person to feel connected and secure.
*A doula is NOT a midwife, nurse or doctor and cannot administer medication or other medical treatment or give medical advice.
Perinatal Care
What does it mean?
The term "perinatal" can be used in a generic or a very specific way. It means around (peri-) the time of birth (-natal), so it can be used to refer to the entire or parts of the period around conception and through the first year of life. I will often use this term while referring to both the birth and postpartum period(s).
Other terms
You may hear these words used interchangeably: postpartum -- postnatal
prenatal -- antepartum/antenatal