Alta Bates Summit Medical Center encourages you to request support from family and friends during childbirth. Some women also choose to utilize the services of a trained doula during labor. We want to outline the scope of a doula’s practice when working with a mother at this medical center. We hope this will help you select a doula who can support you during labor and work collaboratively with our staff.

Definition: A doula is a trained and experienced support person for a laboring woman. A doula has no professional relationship with Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and understands and agrees that the physicians, midwives, and nurses caring for you are responsible for the assessment and treatment of both you and your baby.

A Doula’s Role includes:
* Providing physical and emotional support to aid you in effectively coping with labor.
* Working harmoniously with your other support persons and the health care team.
* Offering advice and support in your movement and positioning for comfort in labor in breathing, relaxation and visualization techniques, in massage, and in the use of hydrotherapy.
* Aiding you and your family to understand your medical care and support communication with the health care team.

A Doula’s Role Does Not Include:
* Performing clinical tasks such as assessing your medical needs, your baby’s condition, or your progress in labor. This is the role of your physician, midwife, and nurse while you are in labor.
* Diagnosing medical conditions affecting you and your baby or offering medical advice. This is the role of your physician or midwife.
* Making decisions for you or discouraging you when you have made an informed decision regarding care. It is everyone’s role to support you in your decisions once all of the options have been presented to you.

We look forward to caring for you and your baby during this very special time and we want to assure you that all members of your support and health care team will be focused on providing you with the safest and most memorable birth experience. Please note that all labor and delivery services are provided at the Alta Bates Campus in Berkeley.

If you would like more information on doulas, visit the website for Doulas of North America at www.dona.org.


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