What's a Doula?

If you have continuous labour support, you and your baby are more likely to have better outcomes.

  • 31% decrease in the use of syntocinon
  • 28% decrease in the risk of caesarian
  • 12% increase in the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth
  • 9% decrease in the use of medicinal pain relief
  • 14% decrease in the risk of newborn admission to NICU
  • 34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with your birth experience

Find out more at www.evidencebasedbirth.com/doulas

DOS DOULAS DO

DOS DOULAS DON’T

Support their client’s choices and follow the client’s wishes as outlined in their birth plan

Impose their own beliefs or views about birth onto their clients

Offer comfort measures and coping strategies

Perform any clinical tasks or offer any diagnoses

Provide evidence-based information outlining the client’s options, allowing them to make an informed decision

Make decisions for the client, persuade them, or advocate for the client on their behalf

Inform client of hospital practices and protocols

Liaise or negotiate with care givers

Strive to maintain a good working relationship with hospital staff and primary care givers

Attend planned, unassisted home births

Work with a couple prenatally to identify their preferences and expectations

Take responsibility for the birth outcome

Testimonials

The services of a doula have become an integral part of my practice in the care for birthing women. They provide an invaluable service and care to the pregnant mother not only in the antenatal period but more so during their labour. (…)”
Dr. Paul Tseng, TLC Gynaecology Practice, TMC

The value of well-trained and experienced doulas has been established by researched that continuous support during labour has clinically meaningful benefits.”
A/Prof Chong Yap Seng, Senior Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NUH

“Having a doula provided me with continuous support that enabled me to give birth naturally. As I ended up with an extremely long labour, I was grateful for my doula’s unwavering support.”
Emma Norton, Mum of Sophia

“Having a doula played an important part during my pregnancy and proved even more invaluable during labour. She provided emotional and physical support (…) we could not have done it without her!”
Agnieszka and Rob Sims, Parents of Oscar

“Engaging a doula was one of the best decisions we could have made for our birth experience.”
Kyokaa and Greg, Parents of Sara

“My doula gave emotional and physical support not only to me but to my husband as well. She was with us through several shift changes and we were so grateful to have someone we knew and trusted with us throughout.”
Candice and Rob Tan, Parents of Jeremy

“Our doula helped us understand what options were available. We couldn’t have done it without her and decided to hire her again for our second.”
Katie Robinson, Mother of Ella and Evie