Birth doulas work collaboratively with nurses, midwives and physicians to provide holistic support for their clients throughout the birth process. Often, a doula can help facilitate conversation between a birthing person and their provider to ensure their questions are being answered, their concerns are being heard and their preferences are being honored.
Birth doulas offer a unique role on the birth team in that their only responsibility is to the birthing person and their family. Often in pregnancy, doulas and their clients develop a level of trust and familiarity that is a welcomed addition to the birth room in which providers can be unknown.
Because doulas do not perform any clinical tasks, conduct exams or make diagnoses, they are able to focus their attention solely on how the birthing person is feeling and coping with the experience at any given moment.