April 9th, 2020

Statement by the Nova Scotia Doula Association (NSDA) regarding doula support and COVID-19.

The Nova Scotia Doula Association (NSDA) represents doulas across the province. Doulas are trained professionals who provide physical, emotional and informational support during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, either as volunteers or privately hired by families.

The NSDA recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our lives in unprecedented ways and presents a significant threat to the health and wellbeing of our citizens. We appreciate our local health authorities taking concrete measures to minimize the spread of the virus in our communities. We want to thank all of those who are on the front lines providing care, often at great personal cost.

Before this pandemic, doulas were considered an integral part of the care team for birthing families. At this time, in hospitals across Nova Scotia, labouring persons are limited to one support person. Doula support is not currently an exception to the visitor policies on local birth units. Birthing families are expressing growing concern with the increasing limitations on their birth choices.

While we appreciate the reasons behind limiting visitors to hospital, we want to advocate for the inclusion of doulas as an essential part of a family’s birthing team, especially at this uncertain time. Expecting families are under a greater deal of stress and depriving them of the support they feel they need not only makes the transition to parenthood more difficult but may also result in poorer outcomes for the family.

As the US Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) recognizes, doulas are not visitors but an intrinsic part of the care team and provide support to birthing persons and their partners. The AWHONN opposes hospital policies that restrict the presence of a doula in the inpatient setting during an infectious disease outbreak.

Amidst the current limitations, doulas have been finding creative ways to support families by making use of phone, text and videoconference technologies. We want to thank nurses and other care providers who have recognized the important role that doulas play, and have helped facilitate this virtual support as much possible.

Other jurisdictions have developed protocols that allow doulas to maintain in-person support with their clients and remain a part to the care team. British Columbia’s Interior Health Authority, for example, has established guidelines that allow doulas meeting certain conditions, and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, to accompany birthing families through the delivery process.

The NSDA strongly encourages health authorities in Nova Scotia to explore this type of innovative solution. Doulas promote better outcomes for birthing parents and infants. With appropriate safety measures in place, their continued presence at births should be a choice between the doula and the families they support.

For inquiries, please email chair@novascotiadoulas.org