The Observer Effect in Doula Work: Why How We Watch Shapes Birth, Confidence, and Care

One of the first things many people say when they feel drawn towards doula work is,

“I don’t know what it is, but I’m good at being with people.” They may not have the language for it yet, but they are describing something essential. The ability to notice without hovering, to be present without interfering, to support without taking over.

At The BirthBliss Doula Academy, this quality sits at the heart of how we teach doula training. Long before someone learns positions for labour, comfort measures, or how to structure antenatal sessions, we explore something quieter and more powerful: how presence affects people.

This is where the observer effect becomes deeply relevant to doula work.

What is the observer effect, and why should doulas care?

In simple terms, the observer effect describes how the act of observing changes what happens.

This idea comes from science, psychology, and social research, but you don’t need a background in physics to recognise it. You see it every day in real life.

People behave differently when they feel watched. Bodies respond differently when they feel assessed. Confidence rises or falls depending on how attention is given.

In birth and postnatal spaces, observation is never neutral. It carries meaning, power, and emotional weight. For doulas, understanding this is not theoretical. It is a practical skill that shapes how safe a woman feels, how freely her body responds, and how confident parents grow into their role.

Observation in maternity care versus observation in doula support

Many women come into pregnancy and birth already accustomed to being observed in medical settings. Measurements are taken. Notes are written. Progress is monitored. Questions are asked while someone types.

For some, this feels reassuring. For others, it brings tension, self-consciousness, or fear of getting things “wrong”.

The body responds whether or not this is spoken aloud.

Research into birth physiology shows that labour is highly sensitive to the environment. Dr Sarah Buckley’s work on the hormonal physiology of childbirth explains how oxytocin, the hormone that drives labour and bonding, is easily disrupted by stress hormones such as adrenaline, which rise when a woman feels unsafe, rushed, or scrutinised.

When someone feels watched, evaluated, or pressured, the nervous system often shifts into a protective state. Muscles tighten. Breathing changes. Instinctive behaviours can become inhibited.

Doula support works differently.

A doula observes, but she does not assess. She notices, but she does not monitor. She watches, but she does not judge.

This difference may sound subtle on paper, yet in real life, it changes everything.

Why this matters in doula training

At The BirthBliss Doula Academy, we train doulas to understand that how you are in a room matters as much as what you do.

Many people who come to doula training are caring, capable, and intuitive. What they often lack is permission to trust that being present is enough. Society has taught us to fix, to advise, to perform usefulness. BirthBliss doula training gently unpicks this conditioning.

The observer effect gives language to something doulas often sense instinctively. When a doula enters a space, she becomes part of the system. Her energy, pace, posture, tone, and attention all influence what unfolds.

That influence can either support physiology or disrupt it.

Soft observation and physiological birth

Physiological birth relies on conditions that support the release of oxytocin. Privacy, safety, trust, and a sense of being unhurried all play a role.

French obstetrician Michel Odent has written extensively about the importance of privacy and minimal disturbance during labour. His observations showed that when women feel watched or evaluated, labour often slows, whereas when observation is discreet and respectful, the body is more likely to follow its own rhythm.

Soft observation supports these conditions.

Soft observation looks like:

• noticing breathing patterns without commenting on them

• seeing a woman change position and trusting her body’s wisdom

• recognising emotional shifts without immediately asking questions

• allowing silence to do its work

• staying present without filling space

This approach allows labour to unfold rather than be managed.

In BirthBliss doula training, we spend time helping students learn how to read a room, how to listen to what is happening beneath words, and how to resist the urge to interfere when nothing needs fixing.

This is not passive. It is skilled restraint.

The nervous system and being watched

From a trauma-informed perspective, the observer effect becomes even more important.

Many people carry experiences where being watched meant being judged, corrected, or shamed. For some, it meant danger. For others, it meant having their autonomy taken away.

The nervous system does not forget this.

Trauma research shows that perceived loss of control and lack of safety can activate the body’s threat response, even in environments that appear calm. This can lead to hyper-vigilance, muscle tension, disconnection from sensation, and difficulty trusting one’s own instincts.

Bessel van der Kolk’s work on trauma and the body helps explain why these responses are automatic rather than chosen. The body reacts first, often before the mind has caught up.

A doula trained in nervous system awareness understands that safety is communicated non-verbally. How you look at someone, where you position yourself in the room, whether you sit or stand, how quickly you move, all send signals.

BirthBliss doula training places strong emphasis on understanding the nervous system, not as a medical concept, but as a lived experience that shapes birth, feeding, bonding, and recovery.

Observation in the postnatal period

The observer effect does not end with birth.

New parents are often under intense observation. Family members, professionals, social media, and internal expectations all create a sense of being watched. Feeding choices, soothing techniques, sleep patterns, and emotional responses can quickly feel like performances.

This pressure can undermine confidence at a time when reassurance matters most.

A major Cochrane Review on continuous support during childbirth found that women who experienced consistent, calm support reported more positive birth experiences overall. While this research focuses on birth, the same principles apply in the postnatal period.

A postnatal doula trained through The BirthBliss Doula Academy understands how powerful it is to be a steady, non-judgemental presence. Someone who notices strengths before problems. Someone who reflects competence rather than highlighting perceived mistakes.

Confidence grows not because someone tells parents what to do, but because they feel trusted to find their own way.

Learning to observe without projecting

An often overlooked part of doula training is learning to observe without projecting your own beliefs, experiences, or anxieties.

Every doula brings a personal history into the work. Past births, parenting experiences, professional backgrounds, and personal values all shape how we see things.

BirthBliss doula training encourages deep self-awareness. Students are invited to notice their own reactions, assumptions, and triggers. Not to judge them, but to understand them.

When a doula can recognise the difference between what belongs to her and what belongs to the client, her presence becomes clearer and more supportive.

Observation as a doula skill, not a personality trait

People sometimes say, “You either have it, or you don’t.”

In reality, observation is a skill that can be learned, refined, and deepened.

Good doula training helps students:

• slow down their own internal pace

• become comfortable with not knowing

• trust the process rather than trying to control it

• develop confidence in silence

• recognise when support is needed and when space is more helpful

At The BirthBliss Doula Academy, we see again and again how students grow into this role. Many arrive worried they won’t know what to say or do. They leave understanding that presence itself is one of the most valuable forms of support.

The observer effect and ethical doula business

Ethical doula work includes knowing when not to step in.

Over-observing can feel intrusive. Over-talking can disrupt intuition. Over-supporting can undermine confidence.

BirthBliss doula training places strong emphasis on boundaries, respect, and humility. Doulas are not there to lead the birth or direct parents. They are there to support personal choice, bodily autonomy, and informed decision-making.

Understanding the observer effect helps doulas stay in their role. It reminds us that influence exists even when we say very little, and that responsibility lies in how that influence is used.

Becoming a doula who understands the power of presence

If you are considering doula training, or are already working as a doula, it is worth reflecting on this question:

How does my presence affect the people I support?

This is not about perfection. It is about awareness.

At The BirthBliss Doula Academy, we believe that great doulas are not created by piling on information, but by helping people reconnect with skills they already carry. Listening. Noticing. Holding space. Trusting.

The observer effect reminds us that how we show up matters.

Birth does not need an audience. Parents do not need to perform. Bodies do not need to be managed into submission.

They need safety, trust, and respectful witnessing.

That is something doulas can learn, practise, and embody through thoughtful, grounded doula training.