What does a birth doula do? Your questions answered.

Birth Doula supports physically and emotionally during labour & birth! She guides and doesn’t give any medical advice.  Doula and the pregnant mother discuss everything during pregnancy and the mother takes a few consultations with the doula for better understanding and connection. That forms a beautiful bridge to work along during labour making it easier for the pregnant mother to transition into motherhood. So the top 5 things a doula will do is-

1. Help you make a birth plan.
2. Accompany you to your doctor visits.
3. Accompany you in labor and help you with coping and wait till delivery is done.
4. Help you establish breastfeeding.
5. Check on you once postpartum to monitor your mental health.

If the hospital doesn’t have a birth doula ,hire independently practising doulas! Mother can take the doula along with her in her prenatal visits to the hospital to introduce doula with her care provider. Doula and mother together can explain to the gynaecologist how they plan to work together in her pregnancy. Many gynaecologists now are aware of birth doulas and welcome their presence in the pregnancy. Collaborative Maternity Care works best 

If the hospital is not allowing the doula in the labour ward, doula can give support during her active labour, till then mother can get doula support ,around pushing stage the mother will be taken to labour ward, meanwhile doula can give emotional support to the birthing family and the father.

Alternative birth centres are gaining popularity in recent times as many mothers are looking for holistic experiences. Mothers want to be supported and not rushed into labour. Most alternative birth centres do encourage normal labour assisted by a doula and teach practices to deal with labour pain. It's a very good option for mothers to consider if its present in their city. In the future these centres might increase as mothers become more aware of what they want. These alternative birth centres are my recommendations-

Birth Village , Cochin 

Sanctum Birth Centre - Hyderabad 

Assagao Birthing Centre - Goa

Mother can definitely try such birth centres to experience the labour that starts on its own because they wait beyond the due date for the labour to start on its own. 

The charges will vary from city to city but in Bangalore it would be in the range of INR 25000/- to INR 30,000/- These charges include 1-2 meetings with mother to understand her expectations, 1-2 meetings with the gynecologist, presence with the mother from the time of labor till delivery, being available on call the rest of the time and helping mother to establish breastfeeding. Even if due to medical complications mother needs medical interventions, the doula will be there giving her physical and emotional support. Think about it like your mother in law without the judgements and the benefits of being trained in child birth and pre and postpartum care!

I personally recommend The Doula Collective , India. Mothers can connect with a doula in their city here. There are a lot of independent Doulas who are in practice, from various parts of India.