Why Hire a Doula?

Doulas are Available for Support

Sometimes, when you are pregnant, you have questions that you don't want to bother your midwife or OB with. Doulas are just a phone call, text, or email away. I've answered questions from "I am having weird contractions, what should I do?" to "Should I have my placenta encapsulated?" to "I can't find a comfortable position to sleep, help!" Just knowing you have that support can be priceless to a nervous parent.

Statistics Are in Complete Support of Doulas

Statistics show that doulas who provide continuous support are such a huge factor in the successful outcomes for birthing parents and their babies.

Acccording to a Cochrane Review in 2012, parents who had continuous labor support were:

less likely to use pain medications (such as an epidural)
less likely to need a cesarean section, forceps or vacuum extractor to give birth
more likely to go into labor naturally, and give birth spontaneously
had slightly shorter labors
more likely to be happy with their labor and birth.

And, there are so many benefits to the baby as well...babies born under doula support are less likely to have low 5-minute Apgar scores!

Laboring at Home

Many decide to have a doula to have the support to labor longer at home, before going into a birthing center or hospital. This brings down the odds of needing medical interventions, such as an epidural, pain medications, inductions or sweeping of membranes.

With doula support, it becomes easier to determine where in the stages of labor the parent is. Most parents go to the hospital too early, and some go too late. The doula can make sure the parents go to the hospital or birthing center at the right time.

Support Without Judgement

Plain and simple, your doula is for you and your partner. Generally, doulas don't work for a medical team, whether it be a midwife or OB, so they only answer to you. They won't be concerned about your medical needs; rather, their sole purpose is to be a neverending support to make sure you do well physically, emotionally, and mentally. They bring no demands to the table, so you can be sure they will support you whether you choose to give birth at a hospital, birthing center, or at home. They will not force you to go with or without pain medication, or make you do anything during the laboring process you don't want to do. They follow your lead, not the other way around.

Taking the Pressure Off Of The Partner

Throughout history, the role of the partner has changed, but, up until the 1970s, partners stayed out of the labor and delivery room, only coming in after the baby was born. These days, the opposite is the norm, and the expectation is that they should perform like a doula, which can cause stress in the partner, and subsequently, the laboring parent. Having a doula can take the pressure off the partener, allowing them to act as a partner, rather than a doula...and that can mean they are more present, relaxed, and more helpful to their partner's needs.

Doulas Take Care of the Parents

Birth is Intense. A lot of the time, this means both parents forget to take care of themselves. Doulas remind everyone to rest, eat, use the bathroom, change positions, etc. It is so easy to forget to do these things. The doula is there to take care of both parents...she may encourage the partner to take a quick walk, go home and change if labor is still going and will be for a while, and show the partner the best ways to make the laboring parent more comfortable.

Legitimate Encouragement

Most doulas, if they haven't given birth themselves, have attended many births. It can be a huge relief to you to have someone there who not only understands the discomfort and pain, but to also know what is normal and what isn't. When your partner tells you that you are doing great, in the throes of a surge, you can't help but wonder how he knows or even understands how you feel. On the other hand, when your doula tells you that you are doing great and you are so strong, you can't help but feel encouraged and relax a little because, yes, what you are feeling is normal.

Doulas Can Be Your Memory Bank Regarding Birth Maps

If you don't know already, you'll soon come to the conclusion that birth is never 100% straightforward. If you choose to birth at a hospital or birthing center, your birth map may not have been seen or acknowledged by everyone in your medical support team. Doulas are a big help, by reminding you of the things you wanted, and encourage you to make your wishes known. Some requests you may have include (but not limited to):

limited cervical checks
the ability to change positions, walk around, or labor in water
no pain medications
not removing the baby from you following birth for the first hour
delayed cord clamping

Doulas are excellent at helping you make your voice known, so you are able to stay focused and give birth to your baby. And, if plans change, doulas are a great support to have on hand to explain the changes, pros and cons for different choices, and to remind you of your choices for when things go "off-script" (like, if you need a c-section, your doula can remind you you wished for a "gentle" cesarean, and to request skin-to-skin in the OR).

Doulas Can Be a Gatekeeper

Birth can be such a joyful time, that everyone just wants to be a part of it! But most people prefer not to have a family reunion in the labor and delivery ward. This is where a doula comes in handy, working as a "gatekeeper"...making sure the right people are kept in the room, and the wrong people out. Your doula will go over this during one of your prenatal meetings, asking who you want in the room and if there are any people you definitely don't want in the room. Then she and your partner can handle making sure people leave the room if necessary, so you don't have to.

Doulas Help With the Intensity of Birth

One of the biggest positives of having a doula is to help the laboring parent navigate labor and birth. Most dont realize how intense labor can be, and it can be both surprising and terrifying. Doulas provide a calm, relaxing and encouraging presence, which can help minimize or eliminate fear, which then minimizes or eliminates pain.

Not only that, but, as labor gets more intense, the doula can remind the laboring parent that this is normal, and something to celebrate! It means the baby will be here soon!

Postpartum Doulas Help With Instilling Confidence in New Parents

One of the biggest roadblocks in postpartum life is not feeling confident in this new role of taking care of a newborn. Postpartum doulas ease the transition for parents, offering physical support by cooking meals, doing laundry, and helping the parents adjust their lives to make taking care of a newborn easier. They also offer emotional support, screen for postpartum mood disorders, and help inspire confidence to parents that yes, they CAN do this!