Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Dec;27(6):e214-21.
doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2010.09.006. Epub 2010 Nov 4.

Postpartum doulas: motivations and perceptions of practice

Kimberly Campbell-Voytal  1 , Judith Fry McComish, Joan M Visger, Carolynn A Rowland, Jacqueline Kelleher
Affiliations

Postpartum doulas: motivations and perceptions of practice

Kimberly Campbell-Voytal et al. Midwifery. 2011 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the perceptions of a US cohort of experienced birth doulas who were among the first in the country to be trained to provide postpartum support.

Design: A qualitative, longitudinal study using ethnographic methods; participant observation and semi-structured interviews.

Setting: Midwestern, urban, US; postpartum home care over three months.

Participants: Four postpartum doulas; 13 families.

Measurements: Participant observation during six postpartum home visits per family; 13 semi-structured interviews with doulas at the completion of each family's care; four summative interviews with doulas at the end of the study.

Findings: When describing their postpartum practice, four themes emerged: supporting women, taking the mother's perspective, empowering women and empowering families. When speaking of the motivations, three themes emerged: being 'called' to practice, interest in preventing negative experiences, and career development.

Key conclusions and implications for practice: In the US, new mothers see midwives and doctors sporadically after discharge from the hospital. Postpartum doulas fill this gap in continuity of care by providing support for families as they transition to life with their new infant. Understanding the beliefs, values and practices of these important paraprofessionals will help midwives effectively integrate postpartum doula care into the care of women and infants.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Abramson R, Altfeld S, Teibloom-Mishkin J. The community-based doula: an emerging role in family support. Zero to Three. 2000 October/November;:11–16.
    1. Association Doulas de France. The European doula guide. 2007 May; [last accessed 10 August 2010]; 2007 http://www.doulas.info/cahier2.php.
    1. Ballen LE, Fulcher AJ. Nurses and doulas: complementary roles to provide optimal maternity care. Journal of Obstetrical, Gynecological, and Neonatal Nursing. 2006;35:304–311. - PubMed
    1. Benner P. From Novice to expert: excellence and power in clinical nursing. Menlo Park, Calif: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company; 1984.
    1. Benoit C, Wrede S, Bourgeault I, Sandall J, DeVries R, van Teijlingen ER. Understanding the social organization of maternity care systems: midwifery as a touchstone. Sociology of Health & Illness. 2005;27:722–737. - PubMed

Publication types