The first question I often get when I tell people that I'm a doula is "What is that?!"
A doula can have many different responsibilities throughout prenatal, labor and birth, and postpartum care. A doula's main job is to provide information, resources, mental, physical, and emotional support to both mom and dad (and sometimes siblings!), encouragement, and an extra set of hands. The Webster definition of a doula is: a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth. This can look like so many different things! A doula may go from providing counter-pressure to mom, to refilling her water, to showing dad how to use a rebozo, to comforting an older sibling, to grabbing supplies for the midwife, and back to holding mom's hand.
A doula is NOT responsible for any medical care. We will not check heart tones, or your blood pressure. We will not catch your baby (but we WILL remind you that you can!). We will not check your cervix (if you choose to do it) or provide any newborn screenings. That's why you'll have a midwife or OB on your birth team! Our sole purpose and responsibility is to you - your comfort, your pain management, your support, your advocacy. Having someone there that is completely at your disposal for whatever you need and can help you maintain your involvement is invaluable in birth! Because birth doesn't happen TO you, you must be an active participant in the decisions surrounding your birth, and a doula can help you do that.
So is it worth it? Having a doula attend your birth is certainly an investment! But there are so many proven benefits to having a doula there with you on such a life-altering day!
Having a doula present at your birth has shown to:
- Lower the likelihood of having a c-section (if that is not the desire)
- Lower the likelihood of utilizing outside/medicinal pain relief (epidural or otherwise)
- Increase the likelihood of having a positive birth experience
- Reduce the length of labor
- Increase naturally occurring Oxytocin in mom
- Lower the likelihood of low apgar scores in baby
- Increase the likelihood of spontaneous labor
Statistically, there is no evidence of negative affects of having a doula, but there are sooooo many positive benefits! Women who have doulas attending their births report more satisfaction in their birth experiences and both mother and baby have better outcomes. What more could you want?!
Having a doula present at your birth has shown to:
- Lower the likelihood of having a c-section (if that is not the desire)
- Lower the likelihood of utilizing outside/medicinal pain relief (epidural or otherwise)
- Increase the likelihood of having a positive birth experience
- Reduce the length of labor
- Increase naturally occurring Oxytocin in mom
- Lower the likelihood of low apgar scores in baby
- Increase the likelihood of spontaneous labor
Statistically, there is no evidence of negative affects of having a doula, but there are sooooo many positive benefits! Women who have doulas attending their births report more satisfaction in their birth experiences and both mother and baby have better outcomes. What more could you want?!
If you have any questions or just want to learn more about me and the support I provide, please reach out. I would love to encourage you and set you up for a successful birth!