Some men are concerned that a doula will take their place as the mother's main source of support during their child's birth. Rather, a doula completes the picture of the birth team. A doula does not take the place of any other member of the birth team, she only offers support for the family where she is needed. She assesses each birth separately and finds the areas where she can best serve the woman and her partner. Sometimes she is the primary support person, but more often she helps the baby's father and offers insight from her experiences and the training she has completed. She can help with information gathering and comfort measures, and can encourage the partner in his role, including providing him with breaks and helpful suggestions. It is often the fathers who claim that they could not have made it through labor without the doula!

"During my labor, my husband was my right hand and my doula, my left"