How do you know who to invite to your birth? Whose feelings do you have to consider if you don’t want them there? What if they are not the right person to have at your birth?

You may have had a friend recommend you invest in a Birth Doula, you may have read about what a Birth Doula can offer while browsing online, you may have even come across the role of a Birth Doula in a pregnancy or parenting magazine. Do you jump on google to find out more?

If I could give you a dollar for every time I have heard the question “What is a Doula?” well…….. you know the answer to that one……. But, seriously, let’s talk about what a Birth Doula is - because I sure wish I knew about them when I had my 3 children.

To understand the role of a Birth Doula first we must distinguish the role from that of others involved in the childbirth process as each has a defined role to play. Midwives and Obstetricians - are responsible for clinical and/or medical aspects in the care of the woman, it is their top priority. A Birth Doula is NOT trained to make any medical decisions, but that doesn’t automatically mean she is not medically trained.