Pregnancy, Labor and
Postpartum Support

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 of 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?

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

• Provides one-to-one support during labor

  • Is a continuous supportive presence

  • Helps to create a comfortable environment

  • Provides reassurance

  • Supports birthing person’s decisions

  • Helps with comfort techniques

  • Shares support with the entire family

• Assists with breastfeeding and postpartum support

• Maintains ethical practice and confidentiality

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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.

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Benefits of Having a Birth Helper

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

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Read more about the research here. ​​​