Are you pregnant and looking for a doula? Or are you considering becoming a doula yourself? Research has demonstrated that having a doula join the care team during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum significantly improves outcomes. But what is it about the doula's "special sauce" that helps to bring about such significant results? It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what doulas really do, when the patient feedback tends to be fairly general statements such as feeling more satisfied and supported during these important life events.
Quite simply: doulas show up and pay attention!
As we thought more specifically about how doulas really work their magic, a few things bubbled up to the top of the list. Here are DTI's Top 3:
- Doulas practice active listening.
- Doulas model how to remain calm and caring, even if the going gets tough.
- Doulas focus on a specific need and keep things manageable.
Check out the descriptions below for more details on how doulas work effectively and change outcomes for the better.
Active Listening: A Key Part of the Doula's Toolkit
One of the first skills that doulas learn and practice during DTI trainings is the concept of listening actively. That is, listening with an intent to understand on a deeper level, rather than with the primary intent of responding. Doulas know that reflecting back what they believe they heard gives the client a chance to say even more, or to clarify if something was misunderstood. We create this sort of open exchange by asking open questions and using some specific language designed to encourage a comfortable dialogue. And in healthcare settings, a sense of being heard and understood is the first step towards more compassionate care. A doula is there to ensure that every member of the care team really understands what the client / patient is expressing and what their needs are.
Modeling a Calm, Caring Approach
Doulas are experts at managing the energy in a space. If the energy is chaotic or stressful for no apparent reason, we know exactly how to cool things down so the client can catch their breath. In the space that doulas create with their calming presence, the members of the care team, as well as other friends or family members who may be present, can work together more effectively to support the client's needs. During physically demanding processes such as labor or breastfeeding, the body can often more easily do its job when the nervous system is calm, as the individual feels a greater sense of safety and security. Having the calming presence of a doula by your side is like having a translator in a foreign country. It's been said: "If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it."
Doulas Keep Things Manageable
In our trainings, the educator team guides participants to create a sustainable work load and set their practice up to thrive. Sometimes a big part of that is deciding how many clients to take on each month. Getting adequate rest in between client care is also essential.
Medical care providers have an extremely challenging role. They may be managing high patient loads, complex patient cases, substandard conditions, and workplace politics. While doulas have a very different skill set than a medical provider's, and we do not perform any medical tasks, we contribute a great deal to the team by ensuring that practical needs are met and by keeping a sharp focus on the patient's emotional well being.
The most effective doulas help to improve outcomes by filling in the gaps that may be present due to less than ideal conditions. Doulas provide emotional as well as physical comfort measures, we keep close tabs on birthing progress so we can keep the nursing staff informed, and help nurses out with small tasks as requested if they are busy or overwhelmed. This allows patient satisfaction to be met more consistently across the board.
And when doulas support clients in settings outside of the hospital, such as a birth center or at home, we are able to focus entirely on encouraging, soothing words and comforting touch, arranging the room just right, helping the client change positions, and so much more. (We do all of this in the hospital, too!) If the midwife recommends a transfer to the hospital for additional care, the doula accompanies the client/patient and helps the transition and the change of plans to be much smoother.
With a doula by your side, a patient/client never has to feel alone, scared, or abandoned. Even clients who have supportive partners may feel this way in cases where the partner themself is overwhelmed. A terrified partner may freeze and lacks the presence of mind to respond to the birthing parent in the way they deserve. Doulas help to steer the ship back to a place of relative calm and safety.
While there are many other nuanced ways that doulas improve outcomes, this overview highlights a few of the simplest yet most impactful approaches. To make an impact, Find a Doula or Join a DTI Doula Training!