She will convey the parent's needs and wishes to the hospital staff providing the expectant parents the opportunity to focus on labor and delivery. The theory is that mothers attended by doulas produce lower levels of stress hormones than mothers left alone in labor or attended by inexperienced coaches. If you are serious about not using drugs, a doula may be your best ally and even if you think you might want to receive an epidural , a doula can help make the experience less stressful and more satisfying. Another great benefit of choosing to have a doula during labor and delivery is that since babies don't wait for hospital nursing shift changes to be born, a doula will be with you continuously no matter what is going on elsewhere on the floor. A doula is also a welcomed relief for most nurses since if it is a busy time chances are they will have several patients at once.
Doulas are relatively new players in the birthing game.
Most health insurance companies do not cover their services so you will probably end up paying for a doula out of your own pocket. The cost of hiring a doula varies from area to area and doula to doula. What you pay for your doula will be based on how much experience she has and the going rate in your area. Because most doulas feel so strongly about what they do, if fees are an issue, many times doulas will barter, set up a sliding scale or payment plans to help those who can't afford the service. Don't let cost keep you from researching and hiring a doula.