Birth Doula Training questions with verified
answers
"3 to 6 phase" Ans✓✓✓ The "getting into active labor phase" - usually when
contractions reach 4-1-1.
- May take 2-4 hours or more!
- Laboring person may lose confidence and feel out of control
- If the laboring person doesn't feel judged and feels emotionally safe, they may
become more instinctual and find their "spontaneous ritual"
2010 study on labor progression Ans✓✓✓ "6 is the new 4" - when active labor
begins
- Dilation sped up around 6cm
- On average to get from 3-4cm took 1.8 hours
2020 Study on Medical Induction Ans✓✓✓ 80% of nearly 600 primary cesareans
were diagnosed as "failed inductions" after not being given too little time to labor
2nd stage interventions Ans✓✓✓ Episiotomy, forceps, vacuum
5 Factors that Influence the Length of Labor Ans✓✓✓ 1. Prior vaginal birth
2. Medications in labor
3. Position of baby in pelvis
4. Mobility of person in labor
5. Pelvic mobility and shapes
,6 ways labor progresses Ans✓✓✓ 1. Cervix softens/ripens
2. Cervix position moves from posterior to anterior
3. Cervix thins and shortens (effaces): 1.5 inches/3.5cm is 0%, 3/4 inches/1cm is
50%
4. Cervix dilates
5. Baby's chin tucks to chest (flexion) and head rotates
6. Baby descends (station from -4 to +4)
A birth is made up of: Ans✓✓✓ - 50% mom
- 50% baby
- 50% support team
- 50% environment
*A large portion is out of mom's control, even if she does everything "right"
Active Labor Ans✓✓✓ Laboring person:
might become more instinctual, focused, and less verbal.
They benefit from a quiet space, moving around, and little disturbance.
Active phase Ans✓✓✓ 3-6 cm
Woman might feel: pain, quiet, withdrawn, discouraged, trapped - need to be
mobile, can't walk/talk through ctx, no longer distractible.
Partner: Reinforce or change ritual, bath or shower, match her mood, move in
close, begin focus and feedback.
, Adrenaline Ans✓✓✓ Fight or flight.
Feeling uncomfortable or fearful during birth can cause adrenaline to go up and
oxytocin to go down, postponing labor.
Failure to progress is the #1 reason for cesarean section births in the US.
#1 pregnant person is feeling stressed - they begin to worry about everyone else!
*the goal is to avoid stress in early labor, because it is needed for pushing!!
Advocacy Ans✓✓✓ Advocating for an individual by helping them advocate for
themself
Advocacy method Ans✓✓✓ - Ask "Is this an emergency where minutes count?"
- Have the definitions in hand (from ACOG or EBB)
- Ask for more time by acknowledging their concerns and saying "yes, and we
would like to..."
Afterpains Ans✓✓✓ Cramping pain after childbirth caused by alternating
relaxation and contraction of uterine muscles.
Typically disappear after 1 week.
answers
"3 to 6 phase" Ans✓✓✓ The "getting into active labor phase" - usually when
contractions reach 4-1-1.
- May take 2-4 hours or more!
- Laboring person may lose confidence and feel out of control
- If the laboring person doesn't feel judged and feels emotionally safe, they may
become more instinctual and find their "spontaneous ritual"
2010 study on labor progression Ans✓✓✓ "6 is the new 4" - when active labor
begins
- Dilation sped up around 6cm
- On average to get from 3-4cm took 1.8 hours
2020 Study on Medical Induction Ans✓✓✓ 80% of nearly 600 primary cesareans
were diagnosed as "failed inductions" after not being given too little time to labor
2nd stage interventions Ans✓✓✓ Episiotomy, forceps, vacuum
5 Factors that Influence the Length of Labor Ans✓✓✓ 1. Prior vaginal birth
2. Medications in labor
3. Position of baby in pelvis
4. Mobility of person in labor
5. Pelvic mobility and shapes
,6 ways labor progresses Ans✓✓✓ 1. Cervix softens/ripens
2. Cervix position moves from posterior to anterior
3. Cervix thins and shortens (effaces): 1.5 inches/3.5cm is 0%, 3/4 inches/1cm is
50%
4. Cervix dilates
5. Baby's chin tucks to chest (flexion) and head rotates
6. Baby descends (station from -4 to +4)
A birth is made up of: Ans✓✓✓ - 50% mom
- 50% baby
- 50% support team
- 50% environment
*A large portion is out of mom's control, even if she does everything "right"
Active Labor Ans✓✓✓ Laboring person:
might become more instinctual, focused, and less verbal.
They benefit from a quiet space, moving around, and little disturbance.
Active phase Ans✓✓✓ 3-6 cm
Woman might feel: pain, quiet, withdrawn, discouraged, trapped - need to be
mobile, can't walk/talk through ctx, no longer distractible.
Partner: Reinforce or change ritual, bath or shower, match her mood, move in
close, begin focus and feedback.
, Adrenaline Ans✓✓✓ Fight or flight.
Feeling uncomfortable or fearful during birth can cause adrenaline to go up and
oxytocin to go down, postponing labor.
Failure to progress is the #1 reason for cesarean section births in the US.
#1 pregnant person is feeling stressed - they begin to worry about everyone else!
*the goal is to avoid stress in early labor, because it is needed for pushing!!
Advocacy Ans✓✓✓ Advocating for an individual by helping them advocate for
themself
Advocacy method Ans✓✓✓ - Ask "Is this an emergency where minutes count?"
- Have the definitions in hand (from ACOG or EBB)
- Ask for more time by acknowledging their concerns and saying "yes, and we
would like to..."
Afterpains Ans✓✓✓ Cramping pain after childbirth caused by alternating
relaxation and contraction of uterine muscles.
Typically disappear after 1 week.
