Benefits of Doula Care

Oct 2

By Rebecca Belenky, CBD, CPD, CLE, doula and founder at Los Angeles Birth

We were not meant to do parenthood alone. I have a very clear memory of being a new mom in a support group with my five-week-old baby. My postpartum time up to that point had been really difficult. We had feeding challenges. My body was still very sore. I was very sleep-deprived, and my husband and I did not have much extra support. The group’s facilitator said, “Here, we are still doing life with our newborn, and doesn’t it feel a little bit easier when we are doing it together, alongside each other?” Yes, yes, it did feel so much better. I was surprised by how good it felt to be together and understood by the other mothers there.

Hiring a doula is a little bit like that. The experience of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is a huge life event and brings about transformation in many forms. Having someone walk alongside you and support you through the twists and turns of your journey can just make it all feel less scary. Feeling respected, cared for, and heard can make even the most challenging births a positive experience.

I’m a birth and postpartum doula, so of course I believe in the benefits of doula support. If you are just learning about doula support in pregnancy, a birth doula offers emotional, physical, and informational support from pregnancy through postpartum. But to me, a doula is a guide who listens to your values and desires for birth and works with you to support your vision for your birth and postpartum time.

A lot of research supports the benefits of doulas. The research on doulas states that families who hire doulas are:

More likely to describe their birth experience positively.
More likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth.
Less likely to have a cesarean or an assisted vaginal birth.
Less likely to use pain medication, including an epidural.
Babies are born with higher Apgar scores
In labor for a shorter time.

But how do doulas do this? Doulas are non-medical professionals; we don't make medical recommendations (that is for providers), and we don't make medical decisions (that is for the pregnant person).

So how do doulas actually change outcomes for their pregnant clients? Here are some simple but profound ways I see my support affect the trajectory of my clients' births.

Doulas offer continuous care through birth and postpartum.

There is comfort in having the same person support you from pregnancy through postpartum. Someone who understands your fears and hopes, knows you, and has experience with birth. Your medical team is looking after many patients on the labor and delivery floor. Your doula is there just to focus on you and your partner. Doulas offer connection and understanding throughout your experience.

Experienced doulas have inter-institutional knowledge.

Your provider has their way of doing things, but doulas get to see births with different doctors, midwives, in different hospitals and community birth settings. And let me tell you, it can look wildly different from place to place. A doula sees how it works from the inside. We can offer perspective about routine care vs. evidence-based care in hospitals around your city, and help you advocate for the style of care you want and deserve.

A doula can go deeper.

Doulas get to know each client and their partner—and explore birth topics that matter to them. Most doulas meet families during pregnancy, so we can build a relationship and share hours of conversation. We can go over what to expect in labor, coping and comfort measures, lactation, and postpartum preparation.

Doulas are knowledgeable about early labor.

Early labor is often the longest and most confusing part of labor. Doulas are experts in early labor because we accompany our clients through that phase. Contractions may start and stop, or you may wonder whether it is time to do something different. Because doulas spend time with people in all the phases of labor, we can help you manage expectations, try ways to cope with discomfort, rest when you can, and know when to encourage more patience.

Doulas are all about options and alternatives.

Informed consent is at the center of all medical care. But as a doula, I am obsessed with informed consent. Often in the hospital setting, patients are told what they’re meant to do. It might sound like, “We’re going to break your water now,” or “We’re going to do a cervical exam.” Having a doula there who is skilled in advocacy can help bridge gaps when care isn't centering the client’s right to consent.

You don’t have to do this alone

Birth and postpartum will ask a lot of you, and there will be surprises along the way and things that you feel unprepared for. A doula is someone you can turn to with questions, someone who can sit beside you when things feel uncertain, and someone who knows your story and is there with you from pregnancy until after birth.

Sources

For more on continuous labor support, see the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Partnering With Doulas in Clinical Settings” (2026) and “Approaches to Limit Intervention During Labor and Birth” (2019).

About the Guest Blog Author

Rebecca Belenky is a Los Angeles–based birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and lactation educator who has supported families since 2014. Through her practice, Los Angeles Birth, she offers compassionate, trauma-informed care that helps parents feel informed, steady, and grounded through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

How the Pelvic Model Works with Doulas

At the Pelvic Model, we love doulas because they add another layer of support for parents who are having pelvic floor concerns and aren’t sure where to start. Doulas can be a first point of contact for pregnant or postpartum parents when pelvic floor symptoms move into the realm that is not normal. If you are pregnant and feel like something in your pelvic floor is feeling “off,” please reach out for support. We work with you to reduce pain, improve function, and help you feel more at home in your body.

Rachel Daof