What doulas offer clients is different from what clinical staff has to offer. Clinical staff largely focus on the physical process of labour and delivery, yet there are psychological and emotional aspects to childbearing. Information and education can facilitate or diminish one’s feeling of confidence and competence and influence maternity care choices. Doulas work with women and their partners to address their birth expectations, fears, and create a birth plan. Doulas do provide clients information prior to delivery, but this should accompany and not replace a childbirth education class.
Doulas can provide reassurance and perspective to the woman and her partner, advocate for their wishes, and make suggestions for labour progress; however, doulas do not perform clinical tasks or make decisions for the couple. Doulas, however, are bound to and adhere to the DONA International Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. See www.dona.org for more information about doula’s role and benefits
For more Information, contact:
Rena Geibel, MPH
Box 17643-00500
Nairobi, Kenya
+254 0728 111 898
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