Doulas should be one of the main supports for a program of family-centered maternity care, Taylor said. Their purpose is to make the mother feel safe, comforted and supported during labor. It means a change in philosophy beyond guiding babies down the birth canal. Doulas offer a continuous presence in active labor. Although nurses may come and go, a patient knows her doula will be there throughout the labor.
Doulas offer a comforting touch with encouraging words throughout the birth process.
Sometimes the patient's viewpoint means asking for more medication, not less, and it's the doula's job to see that the patient's wishes are followed. I talked to her about doulas, and she was enthusiastic about having one present. But once this patient had been in labor awhile, she decided she wanted an intrathecal narcotic at the last minute. It was the doula who went out to find Taylor and tell him about the patient's wishes. And the patient was grateful.