Giving birth can bring excitement, anticipation and plenty of questions. Even with a supportive partner and a trusted medical team, you might wish for someone whose focus is simply on helping you feel comfortable, reassured and confident throughout labour. That’s where a doula comes in. For expectant mums, doula support can offer an extra layer of personalised care during childbirth.
What is a Doula?
A doula is a trained, non-medical professional who provides emotional, physical and practical support to expectant mums and their partners during pregnancy, labour and birth. They also support early bonding, skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding after delivery, and can provide additional support during the postpartum period. Their role is to help you feel informed, comfortable and confident throughout your birth experience.
There are different types of doulas. Birth doulas support you as you prepare for and go through labour and childbirth. Depending on your needs, this might include helping you prepare for birth, demonstrating different positions and movements for relaxation, providing reassurance, guiding breathing techniques, offering a massage and supporting your partner during labour. Postpartum doulas provide practical breastfeeding and emotional support as you adjust to life with a newborn.
What is the difference between a doula, a midwife and an OB-GYN?
Doulas, midwives and obstetricians (OB-GYNs) play different, but complementary roles in supporting you during childbirth. Unlike medical professionals, doulas focus on your personal experience of childbirth rather than clinical care.
Can a doula replace a midwife or doctor?
No. A doula cannot replace a midwife, obstetrician or other medical professional. Doulas do not perform medical examinations, monitor your baby’s health, diagnose complications,provide clinical treatment, or make medical decisions. Instead, they work alongside your medical team, offering continuous emotional and physical support during labour and birth.
At Malaica Maternity Hospital in Nairobi, our doulas provide in-hospital support during labour and birth, complementing the care provided by our clinical team.
How does a doula support you during pregnancy, labour and after birth?
Doulas can provide different types of support at different stages of your maternity journey. Here’s what that can look like.
Before birth: Preparing for labour
A doula’s role can begin even before labour starts. During pregnancy, a doula can help you explore your options, prepare emotionally and mentally for birth. She can support you in developing or going through the birth plan you’ve discussed with your doctor to ensure it reflects your preferences and values.
A doula can also help you build on what you’ve learned in your birth preparation course, whether that’s exploring positions to ease contractions, discussing non-medical pain relief techniques or preparing for unexpected changes to your birth plan.
If you have not yet booked a birth preparation course, explore Malaica’s upcoming events for birth preparation and other relevant sessions.
During labour and birth: Comfort and reassurance
When labour begins, the doula becomes your steady anchor. She’s there to remind you to breathe when the pain feels unbearable, massage your back during contractions, offer encouraging words, and help you find comfort through position changes or relaxation techniques. Her presence is reassuring, not just for the mother but also for the birth partner or support person. Many fathers or birth partners admit they feel nervous and unsure about how to help during labour. A doula gently guides them too, making sure they’re involved, suggesting what to do or say, so the whole experience feels more connected, empowering, and less overwhelming.
Research suggests that continuous support during labour may improve birth experiences, increase the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth and reduce the need for some medical interventions, including caesarean births. For many mums, the value also lies in having someone dedicated to their comfort throughout labour.
After birth: postpartum support
Support doesn’t necessarily end when your baby arrives. Some birth doulas offer a short follow-up after delivery, while postpartum doulas specialise in supporting families in the weeks after birth.
During those early, hazy days when feeding, recovery, and sleep deprivation collide, a postpartum doula can offer a reassuring presence and practical help. Depending on their training and services, this might include newborn-care guidance, lactation support, help with light household tasks or simply a listening ear as you navigate the changes that come with becoming a parent.
Whether during pregnancy, labour or after birth, the right doula support can make a meaningful difference. If you’re preparing for childbirth, a birth doula can be an important part of your support team.
| Interested in having a doula by your side during birth? Malaica now offers in-hospital doula support at Malaica Maternity Hospital in Nairobi. Working alongside our medical team, our doulas offer personalised emotional and physical support throughout labour and birth, helping you feel supported, reassured and empowered. Want to know more? Explore our guide to birth doula support in Nairobi[1] , including what to expect, costs and how to book. Want to book birth doula support at Malaica Maternity Hospital? Get in touch with our team. |