What is a Doula, and Why Do I Need One?
Imagine that you have envisioned your perfect wedding day for years, before you’d even laid eyes on your partner. You’ve dreamt of the most stunning dress, the seamless progression from a romantic ceremony to an upbeat reception, and every picturesque detail in between. You would never dream of making it all the way to the big day without hiring a professional, someone well-versed in the nitty gritty of wedding planning and coordination, to help carry out your vision and remove some of the pressure so that you could enjoy your day to the fullest; that would be risky and almost downright irresponsible! So, why would you approach the birth of your baby, a momentous occasion that you’ll remember forever and that will shape your child’s entrance into this world, without hiring a like-minded professional to guide you through the unknown?
Enter the doula. A doula is a non-medical birth professional who is trained to provide emotional, informational, and hands-on support to a birthing person during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. As your doula, I am very much like a sports coach; while I’m not feeling contractions or birthing a beautiful newborn, I am educated and experienced in all that birth entails. I’ve been through this before, so I can provide encouragement and reassurance, support your decision-making with research-based information and discussion facilitation, suggest positions and other techniques to minimize pain or speed labor progress, and coach your partner in providing support within his or her comfort level. Unlike most medical staff, I am by your side at all times; your comfort and well-being are my only priorities.
While I do not make diagnoses or perform medical tasks, my full focus is on helping you achieve the birth you’ve dreamt of, to the best of my abilities. For example, I am not qualified to perform cervical checks to inform you of your current dilation and effacement. However, upon learning this information from medical staff, I might suggest new laboring positions to help speed things up or slow them down, depending on your particular needs. Similarly, I cannot offer or perform medical interventions such as Pitocin or Cesarean surgery. I can, however, serve as a sounding board when unplanned interventions are suggested. I might ask medical staff for a few moments to think things over, during which time we could privately discuss these interventions’ benefits and risks, brainstorm alternative options, and facilitate a meaningful follow-up discussion between you and your medical provider. Of course, these types of medical decisions are not mine to make, but I take pride in allowing you to take pause, consider the options, and advocate for yourself in making the decision with which you and your partner are most comfortable.
Prenatal + Postpartum Support
Doulas’ impact extends well beyond the birth itself. I always meet with my clients on several occasions before the birth to provide information on medical interventions and help craft a birth plan that suits your wishes. I also demonstrate various laboring and birthing positions and hands-on comfort measures that I may use during labor, taking note of any preferences or accommodations I may need to make for your body and comfort level. What is arguably most important during these meetings, however, is that we take the time to form a trusting relationship with one another. This is critical in being able to effectively provide support and reassurance during your birth.
During the postpartum period, I love to meet with my clients to answer any questions, assist with breastfeeding, if desired, and make referrals to specialists such as lactation consultants or postpartum therapists as needed. We wrap everything up by celebrating and reliving your birth story, and of course, I am always available for questions as they arise in the following weeks/months of new motherhood! As a new mama myself, I truly believe that we’re all in this together, and I take pride in helping you through this journey in any way that I can.
Benefits of Hiring a Doula
Including a doula in your birth team has a multitude of benefits, beyond simply helping you feel more prepared for and relaxed about your birth. Numerous studies have shown that having a birth doula’s support can shorten your labor, decrease the need for medication in labor, greatly decrease your chance of Cesarean birth, and decrease the likelihood of being dissatisfied with your overall birth experience. Hiring a doula has also been shown to increase your chance of having a spontaneous vaginal birth, as opposed to an induction or Cesarean delivery (Source). Additionally, a doula’s presence has been shown to improve bonding between the mother and her baby (Source). Many of these benefits may be attributed to the fact that having a doula’s continuous support in labor leads to decreased levels of stress and anxiety in birthing people (Source). In general, the biological processes necessary for birth can function as nature intended when stress hormones do not get in the way. A doula’s emotional connection with her client and calming presence helps in maintaining a serene birth environment to the extent it is possible, thus keeping harmful mental and physical barriers at bay.
The birth of your baby should be a joyous and empowering occasion that you will remember fondly for the rest of your life. Much like a wedding, your baby’s birth is one day, one monumental day in which your life will change forever. When you include a doula in your birth team, you are taking a large step toward preparing for the birth you’ve always dreamt of. With a doula’s encouragement, physical support, and resources and preparation, you can face the birth of your baby and new motherhood with confidence and ease.