YOU DOU-WHAT?

Maybe this is the first time you've heard the word "doula." Or maybe you've read the vague "brochure-speak" definitions and you're still not sure what a doula does. Read on for my unique description of what a doula is and how they can help you have a birth you feel great about. The words are straight from my heart and my experience supporting parents-to-be just like you.

If you're like many pregnant people, you're excited about meeting your baby, but not so excited (perhaps even apprehensive) about giving birth. You may be thinking:

"How will I cope with the pain? What if I totally lose it?"
"Will my partner be able to provide the support I need?"
"What if I get pressured into something I don't want?"

What if you could replace those thoughts with:

"Whatever path my birth takes, I know I have the resources to handle it."
"My partner has the tools, knowledge, and support they need to be there for me."
"I can advocate for my wishes and my support team will back me up no matter what."

As a doula, I specialize in helping you get from point A (apprehension about birth) to point B (birthing in confidence). Witnessing these transformations is one of my favorite parts of the job!

But maybe you're still wondering, "What does a doula actually DO while I'm in labor?"

A doula is like your very own personal assistant—for birth! I get to know you as an individual, including all your hopes and preferences for your birth. On the big day, my focus is on you and you alone. I take care of all the little details allowing you and your partner to relax and focus on the important, exciting work of birthing your baby. Some of the ways I accomplish this are by:

Using touch, position changes, guided relaxation, and a wide variety of other techniques to increase your comfort;
Reassuring and encouraging you and your partner;
Creating a soothing environment through lighting, music, etc. and acting as a buffer against disturbances;
If needed, making suggestions to promote optimal fetal positioning and labor progress;
Helping you navigate the unexpected;
Getting beverages, snacks, a blanket, etc. so your partner can stay by your side or staying with so your partner can take a break;
Being a calming, grounding presence if you or your partner become overwhelmed;
And much more.

Maybe you're thinking, "That all sounds really nice, but I'm a numbers person. Is there any evidence that having a doula really makes a difference?"

Yes! The continuous support of a doula increases the likelihood of positive birth outcomes for you and your baby. A 2017 Cochrane review of 26 studies showed that doula support has the following physical AND emotional benefits:

39% decrease in the risk of C-section
15% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth
31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience

For more information, see Evidence Based Birth, “The Evidence for Doulas.”

Are you ready to take the next step toward your positive birth? Check out my birth support packages or schedule your free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Actually, partners often say that a doula helped them more actively participate the birth process. Your partner, sister, mother, or friend may feel very strongly about serving as your labor support. That’s great! The problem is, they might not know how best to support you. That's where a doula comes in. I can provide practical guidance and reassurance to your partner or other support person, so they're able to more effectively take part at whatever level is comfortable for them.

Birth is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the bonds between you and your partner or other loved ones. My skills will help you make the most of that opportunity, not detract from it. Your partner knows you best. I know birth. Together we'll make a rock solid support team.

Because of nurses' many other responsibilities, they actually spend very little of their time providing the kinds of support a doula provides (less than 10% according to a study in the journal Birth). In hospitals and birth centers, midwives and nurses may care for multiple patients at once. They also work in shifts, so they might not be with you for your entire labor.

Even in a home setting, the primary concern of nurses and midwives is still the physical well-being of you and your baby. This is especially true late in labor, which is typically when birthing people need the most emotional support. As a doula, my primary concern is your emotional well-being. When we work together, nurses, midwives, OBs, and doulas can provide a truly "whole person" model of care.

Surveys show that a pain-free birth does not always equal a positive birth. Doulas provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support whether you're in pain or not. People report that this type of support is a more important factor than pain alone in their feelings about their birth.

There's a right tool for every job. In some circumstances, epidurals are a great tool for labor. I can provide evidence-based information on the risks, benefits, and alternatives to an epidural (or any other intervention) in the context of your own unique situation. If you choose to get an epidural, I can suggest epidural-friendly position changes, pushing techniques, and more, to help keep your labor progressing as smoothly and comfortably as possible.

People who have a doula actually report feeling less pain. So who knows, you may end up not wanting an epidural after all! No matter what, I'll support and respect you as the person most qualified to make decisions for your body, your baby, your birth.

By the time you give birth, we'll be far from strangers! I'll have gotten to know you as an individual, which includes knowing and respecting your boundaries. I can also support you in communicating your boundaries to others; for example, if you want to limit the number of vaginal exams, or the number of staff who come into your room.

People's preferences can change while in labor. Someone who usually prefers to be alone may want constant company, while womeone who usually prefers company may want to be alone for a while. I stay tuned in and flexible to meet your needs, whether that means not leaving your side, or giving you and your partner some privacy.

You Dou-What?

Using touch, position changes, guided relaxation, and a wide variety of other techniques to increase your comfort;

Reassuring and encouraging you and your partner;

Creating a soothing environment through lighting, music, etc. and acting as a buffer against disturbances;

Helping you navigate the unexpected;

Getting beverages, snacks, a blanket, etc. so your partner can stay by your side or staying with so your partner can take a break;

Being a calming, grounding presence if you or your partner become overwhelmed;

And much more.

Will a doula make my partner feel left out?

Won't my nurse or midwife do the same things as a doula?

I plan to get an epidural. How would having a doula help me?

I'm a private person. Won't a doula just be another stranger in my birth space?