What even IS a doula?
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A person who supports the physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing during a transformative or challenging time in your life.
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A person with extensive knowledge of the birth process and the postpartum period.
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A person who can help guide you and your support people in advocating for your specific needs.
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A person who can provide suggestions and model ways for your partner to support you.
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Research shows that having a birth doula present improves outcomes - decreases unnecessary interventions, decreases rates of cesarean births, decreases instances of low birth weight babies, improves individuals' birth satisfaction, increases rates of breastfeeding, and decreased rates of postpartum depression (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) - even when they haven't met prior to labor. In general though, if we are provided the opportunity, meeting and forging a relationship before you go into labor is preferable and allows you to feel more comfortable which is why I schedule two prenatal visits.
What ISN'T a doula?
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A replacement for your partner (if you have one and want them to be at your birth or in your home postpartum).
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A person facilitating and managing your medical care, i.e. a midwife, OB, or other medical professional - though those individuals may have doula qualities.