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
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 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 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