Doulas should provide evidence-based information to support decision-making in childbirth.

Decision-making in childbirth can feel like standing at a crossroads with a lot of voices in your ears. Family, friends, online chatter, and the medical team all weigh in. For clients, the most helpful guide a doula can offer isn’t a personal take or a flood of feel-good stories. It’s clear, trustworthy information that’s relevant to childbirth itself. In other words: evidence-based information. Let me explain why that matters and how it looks in real life.

What “evidence-based information” really means in doula work

When we say evidence-based information, we’re talking about data and guidance drawn from solid research, clinical studies, and credible guidelines. This isn’t about proving one option is right for everyone; it’s about presenting the options with their risks, benefits, and likely outcomes. The goal is to help clients choose what aligns with their values, health needs, and life context.

Here’s the thing: people respond to stories. Stories are powerful; they’re comforting and memorable. But personal anecdotes—your birth story or a favorite positive tale, for example—are inherently subjective. They don’t capture the full range of possible experiences. Evidence-based information, on the other hand, summarizes what research shows across many cases, which helps set realistic expectations and reduces surprises. A balanced mix is okay—empathy paired with accurate information—yet the client’s decision should be anchored in data, not just sentiment.

Why this approach matters for informed decision-making

Decision-making in birth is about consent—knowing options and their implications so a client can choose with their eyes open. Evidence-based information supports informed consent by:

• Clarifying options: What are the available approaches to labor, pain relief, monitoring, or birth setting?

• Outlining risks and benefits: What might be the likelihood of a cesarean, a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), or a longer hospital stay?

• Reflecting current standards: What do major health organizations recommend, and how might guidelines apply to a specific situation?

• Respecting values: How do a client’s beliefs about intervention, autonomy, and comfort shape the choices they’re willing to make?

If the information is skewed toward a single outcome or if every option feels framed as a must-do, clients can end up feeling pushed rather than supported. That’s not what a doula relationship is about. The aim is to empower clients to make choices that fit who they are.

What kind of information to bring to the table

Doulas should be prepared to offer information that helps clients weigh options in practical terms. Examples include:

• Pain relief and comfort options during labor: What options exist, how they work, when they’re typically offered, and what each option means for mobility, labor progression, and potential side effects.

• Labor management approaches: Evidence around continuous support, mobility, position changes, and labor progress in various settings (home, birth center, hospital).

• Medical interventions: Indications for induction, augmentation, epidurals, C-sections, and other procedures, plus associated outcomes.

• Safety data: How specific choices affect both the birthing person and the baby, with an emphasis on probabilities rather than absolutes.

• Resource considerations: How costs, insurance coverage, and access to facilities influence options, without letting fear drive decisions.

• Cultural, linguistic, and literacy considerations: Information presented in plain language, with visuals or translated materials as needed.

Presenting information without pushing a choice

Neutral presentation is essential. Clients deserve a space where they can ask questions, test their understanding, and feel heard. A good doula will:

• Explain options in plain language, avoiding jargon unless it’s clearly defined.

• Break down benefits and risks, using absolute and relative terms where appropriate (for example, “this option reduces the chance of X by Y%” rather than “might help”).

• Use decision aids or visuals—simple charts, diagrams, or comparison sheets—to illustrate outcomes.

• Check in with the client’s understanding using teach-back or a quick recap: “Can you tell me in your own words what you’d consider if you chose option A vs option B?”

• Invite further questions and provide balanced responses, even if that means acknowledging uncertainty or limits in the evidence.

Where doulas source their information

Reliable information comes from established, up-to-date resources. Some trustworthy anchors include:

• Major medical organizations: ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), WHO (World Health Organization), NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines.

• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses: Cochrane Collaboration findings and other high-quality reviews.

• Reputable consumer resources: MedlinePlus, UpToDate summaries for patients (when accessible to clients), and university hospital patient information portals.

• Local and national health system data: Facility-specific statistics and regional care pathways, interpreted with care and context.

The role of the doula in sourcing and presenting

A doula’s role isn’t to replace medical advice but to bridge understanding. This means:

• Curating credible sources and sharing them in an accessible way.

• Keeping information current to reflect evolving guidelines and research.

• Tailoring content to the client’s reading level and language preferences.

• Providing context for why certain options are more or less common in a given setting (home birth vs. hospital, midwifery-led units, etc.).

• Encouraging clients to discuss medical questions with their care team and helping them prepare thoughtful questions.

Distinguishing evidence from anecdotes and hype

Let’s be honest: everyone has a story that resonates. A doula should acknowledge the emotional truth of such stories while clarifying how typical or atypical they are. For example:

• Anecdotes can illustrate what a given experience might feel like or how support can look, but they don’t capture measured outcomes across many births.

• Hype or fear-based messaging around interventions can distort risk perceptions. A doula’s job is to help clients separate the emotion from the evidence and to verify what’s true for their situation.

Practical tips for real-world conversations

Here are some actionable steps a doula can take to support evidence-based decision-making:

• Start with values and goals: Ask open-ended questions like, “What matters most to you in birth?” This centers the conversation on what the client values.

• Build a decision framework: Present options, then lay out risks, benefits, and what would trigger a change in plan.

• Use teach-back routinely: Have clients explain back what they’ve understood. This helps catch gaps early.

• Adjust to literacy and culture: Use simple language, visuals, and translations when needed. Don’t assume one approach fits all clients.

• Document preferences and questions: Create a living list of client questions, concerns, and chosen options to review with the medical team.

• Know when to refer to medical professionals: Recognize when a client would benefit from specialist input or consent-focused discussions with a clinician.

A quick scenario to ground these ideas

Imagine a client weighing induction due to a looming due date. The doula could:

• Explain induction options, typical timelines, and potential outcomes based on current guidelines.

• Compare outcomes for induction versus expectant management in similar situations.

• Highlight the client’s values—comfort, minimizing interventions, or reducing anxiety—and how different paths align with those values.

• Offer a decision aid that summarizes probabilities in plain language, then invite questions and schedule a follow-up discussion with the client and their care team if needed.

In contrast, relying on a single positive birth story about induction or telling clients that “everything will be fine no matter what” can skew perception. The careful mix—empathy, data, and professional boundaries—helps clients navigate the decision-making process with confidence.

Where this fits into a broader role

A doula’s contribution to birth is uniquely supportive. By coupling compassion with evidence-based information, a doula helps clients feel empowered rather than overwhelmed. This approach also reinforces trust with families, who learn to view the doula as a steady, knowledgeable guide rather than a cheerleader for a specific path. When clients know they’ll receive balanced information and a nonjudgmental space to explore options, they’re more likely to engage openly with their care team and make choices that truly align with their values and health needs.

A practical checklist for doulas (quick reference)

• Confirm sources: Are they current, reputable, and relevant to the client’s setting?

• Simplify the message: Can you explain the core options and their implications in plain language?

• Personalize: How do the client’s values, medical history, and social context shape the choices?

• Use visuals: Would a chart or diagram help illustrate risks and benefits?

• Teach-back: Can the client repeat the key points in their own words?

• Invite questions: What else would you like to know, and who should be involved in the conversation?

• Prepare follow-ups: What notes should be shared with the client’s healthcare team to support informed decision-making?

In the end, the guiding principle is clear: when a doula provides evidence-based information relevant to childbirth, clients gain a sturdy foundation for decisions that matter. It’s not about steering anyone toward a single outcome; it’s about widening the sense of possibility, grounding choices in reliable data, and honoring each person’s unique values, fears, and hopes.

If you’re building your approach as a doula or refining how you support clients, remember this core idea. The most helpful information isn’t merely comforting—it’s accurate, accessible, and aligned with the real-world context of birth. With that foundation, clients can make decisions with clarity, confidence, and a sense of agency that’s as powerful as the birth itself.