What is a Birth Helper/ Doula*

A birth helper is someone who provides continuous physical, emotional, spiritual, and informational support to a birthing person before, during, and after childbirth, and during the *full spectrum of reproductive health experiences as described below. A birth helper can be a valuable member to the birth team, in addition to the partner, family, labor nurse, midwife and/or doctor. As Alaska Native birth helpers, we support and center a family’s cultural practices. 

 

What does a Birth Helper do:

• Share information and resources to help prepare for birth, postpartum, parenting

• Provide one-to-one support during labor

  • be a continuous supportive presence

  • help to create a comfortable environment

  • provide reassurance

  • support birthing person’s decisions

  • help with comfort techniques

  • share support to entire family

• Help with breastfeeding and postpartum support

• Maintain ethical practice and confidentiality

 

A birth helper does not make any decisions for the birthing person, perform any clinical tasks, or access the birthing person’s private health information.

 

Benefits Research shows that birthing people who use a trained labor companion are:

• More likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth (less likely to need Pitocin)

• More likely to have a shorter labor than they would have otherwise

• Less likely to have a cesarean birth (or a forceps/vacuum assisted vaginal birth)

• Less likely to use any pain medication

• More likely to have positive feelings about their childbirth experience

 

*Doula is a title given to the birth helper role in recent times. The word ‘doula’ comes from an ancient Greek word that means “female servant.” This is not a title commonly known in Alaska Native communities and not a word that we identify with. ANBC would like to use a title for this ancient role that feels more familiar to us. Until further discussions are had in our community to decide what that title should be, we will use the terms ‘birth helper,’ ‘prenatal/ labor/ postpartum (perinatal) support person,’ and ‘labor companion’ interchangeably. 

 

We offer *full spectrum or full circle support during the reproductive years. In addition to prenatal, labor, postpartum support, we will sit alongside you while trying to become pregnant, while trying not to become pregnant; during miscarriage, abortion, fetal or infant loss; during adoption; while accessing care as a LGBQT2s+ person; and during other rites of passage you would like support for (first menses, receiving traditional tattoo, last menses, etc). We do not claim to be specifically trained for or experienced in all phases and experiences of life, but will be with you, help hold space, and help connect you to resources as requested.