Doulas are for Dads, too!As a doula, part of the work that I do is fostering the relationship that the couple has.
Part of the beauty of this work is that we can really help the dads to have a better birth experience too and also give them the opportunity to support his partner is his own way, whether that be right in there in the thick of it all, or in a more back of the scenes way.
The moms don't have to get upset at their partners when he just doesn't seem to know what to do because we are there guiding him while we serve both of them.
I don't think the dads are giving over their role at all. I do find, however, that at some point during labor even the most actively supportive dads step back just a bit into a more protective role and allow the "women's work of birth" to take over. Most of the time when this happens it is as labor becomes very active, just before full dilation when it can get very intense. They always come right back to it when she is pushing.
There was some study done, maybe by Klaus and Kennell showing that moms who have doulas and their spouses with them feel closer to their spouses after the birth than those who don't have doulas.
A good doula makes the dad look like a hero!
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