The Doula: Empowering the Birth Experience

Dodge doesn't consider patients who ask questions to be a nuisance.

"I see that as part of good care," she said.

"We love working with doulas. It's an extra set of hands and an extra person with experience that might have some ideas and tricks, including ideas about little position changes that might be helpful," she said.

Dodge believes childbirth is a huge transition in a woman's life and that most of us reach into our spiritual portfolio when we are going through those types of transitions.

"For many women it's kind of the first big physical challenge they go through. I think it's a really empowering experience if it goes well. It can really even kind of change their self-image of their body," she said.

Kathy Mullins of Mansfield has been a professional doula for about five years. Also a registered nurse, who is working as an OB nurse in Florida, Mullins said there are a lot doulas who assist women, who have their babies at home. Mullins said doulas typically are lay people who are paid privately. They are not medical providers.

"It's strictly emotional and physical care," she said.

Mullins explained that some doulas also offer their services free of charge.

"Like a volunteer thing. I even know men who are doulas," she said. "If I normally provide a doula service I usually do it for friends and family and I don't require pay. I usually do it because I enjoy it."

Mullins, who is in her early 50s, estimated most doulas spend at least 12 hours with their clients during the birthing process. She thinks it's a good idea for doulas, who have their own businesses, to have partners that can provide back up.

"If something happens and you can't be with the woman during labor, you have a back up that can provide that in-hospital experience for her," she said.