Doula is a Greek word that means ‘a woman who helps other women.’ The term has evolved to refer to women with experience in assisting with childbirth by providing physical and emotional support and offering information to the mother (and partner) before, during, and after childbirth.

The Doula listens to you, reassures you, and coaches you through challenging moments. She will especially help you relax and focus on your breathing. She can do this, for example, through meditations and visualizations. During contractions, she may try to alleviate the pain of childbirth by providing counterpressure or massages. She also guides you with different birthing positions to stimulate dilation and facilitate optimal descent of the baby.

Your doula is not there to make medical decisions, but because she has a lot of experience with a variety of births, she is well aware of the possible medical interventions. She can therefore help with communication with the healthcare providers around your delivery bed. For example, by providing additional explanations, so that you have all the information you need to make the right choices. And if, for example, an emergency intervention is needed, she will ensure that you and your partner know exactly what is going to happen. In this way, she ensures that even when things get hectic, the birth goes as smoothly as possible. She takes you through the birth step by step.

The doula will be available to answer questions before the birth. It is also helpful to create or discuss your birth plan together. If the doula is well aware of what you want, she can provide you with even better support from the moment the birth begins. At times when you are not able to tell people what you would like, your doula can take over for you. The doula ensures that your birth goes as smoothly as possible. We believe it is important that every woman receives the support she deserves, and that is what we provide at Korall’s Doula Care.