Welcoming a new baby into your home and life is such an incredible journey. But even with all the excitement and anticipation, it’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed by the decisions and childbirth preparation that come with it. That’s where a birth doula can help, offering support and guidance when needed.
So, what exactly is a birth doula, and should you consider having one by your side during pregnancy and birth? For many mamas, especially those on a natural childbirth journey, the answer is an absolute YES.
But, you should be informed and make the right decision for you. So, before you hire a doula, let’s dive into the role of a birth doula and how their presence can make a difference during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Whether you’re a first-time mama or already chasing littles, understanding what a birth doula brings to the table could be the key to shaping the birth experience you’ve been dreaming of.
What is a Birth Doula?
A birth doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and educational support to expecting mamas during pregnancy and childbirth. Unlike doctors or midwives who primarily focus on the clinical aspects of birth, a birth doula offers continuous, personalized care to support and enhance your overall childbirth experience.
A doula’s role usually begins during pregnancy, where they would assist you in preparing for childbirth by discussing your birth preferences and offering support as you navigate the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy.
During labor and delivery, a birth doula supports you by providing comfort measures such as massage, breathing techniques, and positioning suggestions (though it’s important for you to be prepared and knowledgable as well). They should serve as a reassuring presence, offering encouragement, advocacy, and reassurance to you and your partner.
If you have a doula on for postpartum support as well, they can continue to provide support, assisting with breastfeeding, newborn care, and processing the birth experience.
What Does a Doula Do?
The goal of a doula is to provide physical, emotional, and informational support during labor and birth. A doula is not a midwife, and her goal isn’t to deliver your baby. Instead, a doula spends her time focusing on what the mother needs throughout labor and delivery, as well as during her postpartum stage.
Your OBGYN or midwife might check how far dilated you are or time your contractions. Instead, your doula might rub your back, offer you sips of cold water and apply counterpressure where needed. Here are some other things a doula does:
- Massage pressure points
- Apply warm compresses on your back
- Prepare a hot shower or bath to ease the pain
- Help a mother stick to her birth plan and provide information before and during labor.
- Create the desired birthing environment, such as soft music or dim lighting.
- Supports the father or birth partner.
- Help laboring mother in walking to and from the bathroom
- Offer encouragement and praise
- Amplify mother’s voice and desires if being ignored or dismissed.
A doula’s support typically doesn’t stop at birth, though some might not provide postpartum support. After birth, your doula can be an integral part of your postpartum stage. She might ensure you eat and drink after labor. Doulas facilitate skin-to-skin with mom and baby. If you are nervous about breastfeeding, a doula can help you latch baby onto the breast and answer your questions.
Doulas typically visit mom and baby at least one time within the first week or two after birth. She checks in to see how things are going. Sometimes, a new mom needs to talk to someone who understands the struggles she is facing. She might take the baby, soyou can take that hot shower you are craving.
If you are interested in postpartum help, check out a postpartum doula. These doulas specialize in breastfeeding, babywearing, sibling adjustment, and taking care of the house for the mother. Postpartum doulas fold laundry, bring food to the mom, and cook dinners for the entire family!
What a Doula is Not
A doula does not replace your spouse or birthing partner. Rather, a doula helps your partner understand how better to serve you. She can help your partner understand where to rub and how to provide physical support when needed.
It is also important to understand that a doula is not a medical professional, and they don’t give medical advice. Your doula helps and encourages you in your birthing choices, but she will not make your medical decisions for you.
Throughout labor and delivery, a doula will not check your blood pressure, check your cervix, or monitor a baby’s heart rate. Those activities are left to medical professionals.
How Can a Doula Help You Have a Natural Birth?
A doula is a huge asset to mamas striving for a natural birth, whether in a hospital or home birth setting.
The most obvious way a doula supports you in your goal of natural birth is by helping manage pain. If you want to labor without any pain medication, a doula understands methods to reduce your pain, such as using a rebozo or applying pressure where necessary.
And this can be a game changer! Having continuous labor support (i.e. feeling supported in your goals and having assistance throughout each phase of labor) leads to decreased anxiety, increased mobility, increased self-esteem, and decreased pain. Together, these factors can decrease the possibility that you will need an epidural throughout labor.
Laboring without an epidural and with increased mobility reduces that risk that you will need other interventions, such as a c-section or Pitocin. All of these factors lead to better birthing outcomes for mama and baby, which leads to a better recovery.
You’ll often work with your doula to create a birth plan, and she’ll do her best to help you stick to your plan and navigate changes and challenges that come up during labor. If the plans have to change, having a doula there can help you understand the changes and fully understand what is occurring.
During labor and childbirth, encouragement, praise, and support are crucial. There may come a time when you feel like you can’t continue. That’s when your doula encourages you through the harder moments.
Benefits of a Labor Doula
Doulas can make a real difference in your labor and delivery experience.
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Women who have continuous support during labor are more likely to have a vaginal birth and less likely to need pain medication, vacuums, or a forceps-assisted birth.
A few other benefits of using a doula include:
- A positive childbirth experience
- A higher breastfeeding success rate
- Better maternal self-esteem
- Lower blood pressure
- Less pain experienced
- Lower risk of having a cesarean section
Many mamas will spend a lot of time finding the perfect OBGYN or midwife. We spend days perfecting our birth plans, but one thing that could make a big impact on your birthing experience is a good doula. Whether you are a first-time mother or an experienced mom, a doula provides multiple benefits for all mothers, no matter the birth experience they seek.
Do You Need a Doula?
You don’t need a doula, but you might benefit greatly from having one.
As more and more mamas learn about the fantastic benefits of doulas, we are seeing more women having doulas present at their births. There are over 3,000 doulas in the United States, and the numbers are growing rapidly.
Before you learn too much about doulas, realize they aren’t JUST for so-called “crunchy” mamas. In fact, doulas can attend c-section births and do other things like provide postpartum support.
Don’t think that because you aren’t super crunchy, you can’t have a doula. Desiring the support provided by a doula benefits all mothers, no matter how the mom gives birth.
The doula-client relationship starts before the birth. A mama can talk to her doula, express any fears or concerns, and ask questions. Doulas help mothers mentally prepare for labor. Most doulas call or respond to mothers throughout their pregnancy, developing a relationship before the delivery.
During labor and delivery, your doula will stay throughout the entire labor and delivery. The doctor may come and go, but your doula sticks throughout the entire process, providing you with all of the support you need.
The only situations where I don’t think hiring a doula makes sense are where you might already have a lot of experience giving birth, you can’t find one that meets your needs, or if you feel like you have it covered. I personally *didn’t* have a doula at either of my births, but I did have my husband and my OBGYN mom present. So I was really well-attended to and didn’t want to overcrowd the birthing room.
Why Should You Hire a Doula?
You should have a doula because the doula is a resource for mothers.
Mothers still need a midwife or doctor, but a doula provides benefits that doctors don’t offer. Doulas are your support system. The word “doula” is a Greek word that means “handmaiden” or a “woman who serves.” So, you can imagine that a doula is meant to serve the laboring mother.
Doulas undergo training to understand how to support a mother throughout childbirth properly. Some reasons you should have a doula are:
- A doula is a personal resource guide. She can help you figure out what is best for you and your family.
- A doula lowers birth risks. Women who use doulas have a lower rate of c-sections, less use of epidurals, and overall better birthing experiences. Mothers note that their pain is easier managed with the assistance of a doula, and the moms feel less stressed, overall.
- A doula works with doctors and nurses. During labor, you might feel stressed and struggle to understand medical terminology. You might find it difficult to convey your needs and desires. A doula works together with the medical team you selected, helping to create the labor you truly desire.
- Doulas help develop a birth plan. Throughout your pregnancy, you two will sit down and talk about the labor and delivery you desire. Your doula will help you create a birth plan that makes sense to you and help write it out. She might provide you with things to consider that you forgot!
- A doula helps you labor at home. You typically don’t want to run to the hospital at the first sign of contractions. Most doulas will meet you at home to encourage you throughout your early labor. Many first-time parents end up at the hospital too early, but a doula can help you decide when it is truly time to head to the hospital.
Deciding If a Doula is Right for Your Birth Experience
Only you can decide if using a doula is right for you. Speak to your midwife or doctor about using doula services during your labor and delivery. They might have a referral they can give you!
Doula services range in price. Depending on where you live, a doula may charge anywhere from $400-$3000 and even higher. Speak to the doula about what she offers and what you can expect from her before and during labor. Speaking to a doula can help you decide if their services are beneficial for you as you plan your natural birth.
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